Recognising the Constellations

The evening sky can be a confusing mix of stars and planets. It is often difficult to point out which planet is which, and what constellations comprise what stars. With a little training and know-how, however, constellations can easily be identified, and you can turn your star-gazing into an exciting, even more interesting activity.

There are currently eighty-eight officially recognized constellations in the night sky. These constellations were handed down to us by the ancient Greeks, who first documented them. These observations were most likely compiled from findings by Greek, Sumerian, Babylonian, and Egyptian astronomers.

Many of the names of the stars, on the other hand, come from the Arabs, who republished the works of the Greeks and reintroduced them to Europe hundreds of years after they were first written.

Almost every culture on earth has ascribed meanings to the patterns of the stars. The ancient tribes of Britain, American Indians, Mayans, and Egyptians all had their names for the constellations. What they might not have known, however, is that the stars they saw were actually faraway suns, and the light from these suns had taken thousands of years to reach the earth.

Some of the stars the ancients saw may already be dead in reality. Today's night sky will still be peppered with both stars and planets.

The general rule is: if it twinkles, it's a star; if it doesn't, it's a planet. Moreover, the night sky of the northern hemisphere will look different from that over the southern hemisphere. The rules in this article will apply for northern hemisphere watchers, although the tools of the trade are somewhat the same. If you are an astronomy enthusiast wanting to do some night time work to locate and identify constellations, then you will need the following materials. 

If you live in a bright city, you may need a telescope to see parts of the sky that may be obscured by the city lights. A good pair of binoculars will be enough for watchers from suburban areas. If you live in the country, however, or have the chance to go stargazing in the woods, then all you need are your naked eyes. 

You will need star charts in order to check your bearings, and to see if you have identified the constellations correctly. Bring writing materials with you to encircle what constellations you find. 

You will need a dim flashlight in order to light up your star charts, and to keep bright light sources from disrupting your viewing. There are four basic sky charts depending on the time of the year that you go stargazing, and depending on whether you are tracking the constellations before or after midnight. If you are viewing the sky on a spring evening or winter morning, you can use the stars of the Big Dipper, which is part of Ursa Major (or the Great Bear) as a landmark.

This upside down gourd will be visible if you look due north. Right beneath the Big Dipper's mouth is Polaris, or the North Star, around which the sky revolves. Near the Big Dipper are several important constellations, which you can mark on your star map: Draco, between Ursa Major and Ursa Minor; and the bright Leo, which you can probably trace as a resting lion.

If you are watching the sky on a summer evening or spring morning, then look for the summer triangle, composed of three bright stars directly overhead or bright in the sky. If you aren't sure about the triangle, consult your star maps.

Near the summer triangle are important constellations that you can identify with the help of your map: Cygnus, or the Swan; Lyra, or the Harp; Aquila the Eagle; and, if your skies aren't too dark, Delphinus the Dolphin and Sagitta the arrow.

In good conditions, you can see the Milky Way streaking across the sky, and through the summer triangle. If you are tracking constellations on an autumn evening or summer morning, you will need the Great Square as your landmark.

This Great Square will be overhead or high in the sky, and three of them make up the constellation of Pegasus; the fourth is part of the constellation Andromeda. Near this constellation, marked by a hazy spot in the sky, is the Andromeda Galaxy. Near the constellation of Andromeda is a cluster of stars in the shape of a "W" This is Cassiopeia, and through it skirts the Milky Way. If you are stargazing on a winter evening or autumn morning, you will easily recognize Orion.

Orion's belt is made up of three bright stars, from which hang a "sword." The middle is hazy, and is actually the Orion Nebula, which you can see through your binoculars. Orion is part of the Winter Hexagon, which you can find easily overhead, or through the help of your star maps.

Near the hexagon are the constellations of Canis Major or the Great Dog; Gemini; Taurus the Bull; and the Pleiades, a cluster of six or more stars. With practice and patience, you will be able to identify many of the constellations. If you go star gazing with friends and family, you will have an even more exciting and interesting time as you tell them all about the stars that make up the confusing, but beautiful night sky.