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How to Find Alpha Centauri in the Night Sky

Alpha Centauri is the closest star system to Earth and one the brightest points in the night sky. It is made up of three different stars, although they are impossible to distinguish with the naked eye, and can be found in the southernmost tip of the Centaurus constellation.

Instructions

- 1
  Wait for a clear summer night to view Alpha Centauri. You'll also need to be somewhere in the southern hemisphere, as the star system normally appears too far south to be seen from anywhere in the northern hemisphere.
- 2
  Locate the Centaurus constellation. It was named for Chiron, one of the wisest centaurs in Greek mythology, who was accidentally wounded by Hercules and awarded his spot in the stars by the Greek gods.
- 3
  Determine the head, arms and legs of the constellation. Its lower body is long and looks like that of a horse, while its upper body looks like that of a person standing up with arms akimbo (out to the side).
- 4
  Find what appear to be the centaur's forelegs.
- 5
  Try to figure out which of the forelegs is farthest from the centaur's head. Alpha Centauri is located at the end of this leg, forming what would be the animal's hoof.

Astronomy