1. Finding Your Way In The Sky

2. The Big Dipper

3. Directions in the Sky North is toward the North Celestial Pole
South is toward the South Celestial Pole
East is toward East on the ground (usually)
West is toward West on the ground (usually)
On a ground map you’re outside a sphere looking in.
On sky maps you’re inside a sphere looking out.
East and West on star maps are reversed compared to maps of the ground

4. Directions in the Sky

5. Directions Near The Pole

6. Stars and Constellations
Many proper star names are Arabic
Catalog labels also used (Alpha Centauri)
Constellation names are Latin
Ancient groups from Near Eastern myths via Greeks
Numerous 17th-18th Century inventions
89 Constellations
Fixed boundaries in sky
Every star is in one, and only one, constellation
There is no “official” way to draw constellations

7. About Constellation Names
Latin uses word endings where we often use prepositions (Compare English ‘s)
Possessive form different from normal form
Centaurus but Alpha Centauri
Andromeda but Alpha Andromedae
Gemini – Geminorum
Virgo – Virginis
Orion – Orionis
Ursa Major – Ursae Majoris

8. Recognizing Constellations
They change location
They change times they are visible
They change orientation
Best strategy: Learn shapes and relative locations
Different books use slightly different figures. Use whatever works for you

9. Stars Vary in Brightness and Color
1st Magnitude = Very Bright
2nd Magnitude = Polaris, Big Dipper
3rd Magnitude = Fairly obvious
4th Magnitude = Moderately Faint
5th Magnitude = Faint
6th Magnitude = Barely visible
Colors range from reddish through yellow to white and blue-white. Colors are subtle

10. Some Stars Never Rise or Set

11. North Polar Constellations

12. The Late Summer Sky

13. The Autumn Sky

14. The Andromeda Myth

15. The Andromeda Myth

16. The Andromeda Myth

17. The Andromeda Myth

18. The Andromeda Myth

19. The Andromeda Myth

20. The Andromeda Myth

21. The Autumn Sky

22. Winter Sky at Twilight

23. The Winter Sky

24. The Springtime Sky

25. Early Summer Constellations

26. Some Southern Stars

27. The Southern Cross

28. The Southern Cross

29. Southern Cross and Centaurus

30. Southern Cross and Centaurus