Delphinus the Dolphin is a petite constellation that looks like the animal it's supposed to represent. Look for the dolphin leaping under the Summer Triangle. The post Delphinus the Dolphin has a graceful kite shape first appeared on EarthSky.| Constellations | EarthSky
If you’re in the Northern Hemisphere, look southward on your summer evenings for mighty Ophiuchus the Serpent Bearer. It’s surrounded by the constellations Serpens Cauda and Serpens Caput. Chart via EarthSky.Ophiuchus, the unofficial 13th constellation of the zodiac| EarthSky
Libra the Scales is a zodiac constellation home to 2 stars with pleasing names: Zubeneschamali and Zubenelgenubi. Chart via EarthSky.Look for the constellation Libra the Scales on Northern Hemisphere summer evenings (Southern Hemisphere winter evenings). It’s not the most flashy constellation of the zodiac. But its two brightest stars have the best star names: Zubenelgenubi and Zubeneschamali. The names rhyme with Obi-Wan Kenobi of “Star Wars.”| EarthSky
Scutum lies above the famous Teapot pattern in the constellation Sagittarius the Archer. And it’s near the bright red star Antares in Scorpius the Scorpion. Chart via Chelynne Campion/ EarthSky.org.In late July and early August, watch for one of our sky’s most beautiful sights. Look in a dark sky, far from the glare of city lights, for a hazy pathway that stretches across the sky. It’ll be in the southern sky in the Northern Hemisphere, or overhead in the Southern Hemisphere. This band ...| EarthSky
Lyra the Harp is a constellation that hosts the second brightest star in the northern sky, Vega. Look for it on summer nights. The post Lyra the Harp contains Vega, a summer gem first appeared on EarthSky.| Constellations | EarthSky
The constellation Hercules lies between the bright stars Vega in Lyra and Arcturus in Boötes. A famous globular cluster, known as M13, lies on the Keystone, an asterism in Hercules. Chart via EarthSky.Hercules (Heracles for the Greeks) is the strong man of ancient Roman mythology. He was a son of Jupiter who had to perform the famous twelve labors. Astronomers know Hercules as a constellation high in the northern sky on July evenings that’s home to an asterism known as the Keystone, where ...| EarthSky
Cygnus the Swan’s brightest star, Deneb, marks one of the corners of the Summer Triangle. And its bright double star, Albireo, is one of the finest in the heavens.If you have a dark sky, it’s easy to observe the edgewise view into our own galaxy – our Milky Way – spanning across the heavens. As you gaze toward it, you’ll also be looking toward the constellation Cygnus the Swan. Its brightest star is called Deneb, the Swan’s Tail. Additionally, the constellation Cygnus contains one...| EarthSky
Crux is the constellation of the Southern Cross. And it lies deep in Southern Hemisphere skies. Image via EarthSky.Your support = more stars, more science, more wonder. Donate to EarthSky and be part of something bigger.| EarthSky
Centaurus the Centaur is a constellation that lies in Southern Hemisphere skies. It’s home to the closest stars to our sun. Chart via EarthSky.Centaurus the Centaur is a constellation lying in Southern Hemisphere skies. The constellation is huge, ranking 9th largest of the 88 constellations. It sits so far south that if you live about 25 degrees north latitude, you won’t be able to see it. And by the way, Centaur contains the three closest known stars to the sun.| EarthSky
The constellation Virgo the Maiden is easy to find by using the handle of the Big Dipper to arc to Arcturus in Boötes, then speeding on (or spiking down) to Spica, Virgo’s brightest star. Image via EarthSky.Millions come to EarthSky for night sky news and trusted science. Your donation keeps it free and accessible for all.| EarthSky
Cancer the Crab, with its Beehive star cluster, needs a dark sky to be seen. It lies between the Gemini stars Castor and Pollux, and the bright star Regulus in Leo. Chart via EarthSky.Millions come to EarthSky for night sky news and trusted science. Your donation keeps it free and accessible for all.| EarthSky
You’ll see Leo the Lion in the sky in 2 parts. First, the stars making up a backward question mark represent Leo’s head. That part is known as the Sickle. Second, the triangle at the back represents the Lion’s hindquarters. Also, the bright star Regulus is the period at the bottom of the backward question mark. Chart via EarthSky.Leo the Lion is one of the easiest of the 13 constellations of the zodiac to see. You can start by finding the bright star Regulus. And then trace out a distin...| EarthSky
To spot Coma Berenices, look behind Leo the Lion. Coma Berenices also contains a famous grouping of stars, the Coma star cluster.The constellation of Coma Berenices| EarthSky
Taurus the Bull contains 2 star clusters that are easy to spot, the Pleiades and the Hyades.Taurus the Bull| EarthSky
Look for Canis Major, home to the sky’s brightest star, Sirius, on January evenings.For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, winter is the best time to observe the constellation Canis Major the Greater Dog. It’s easy to find since it follows Orion the Hunter up from the horizon, heading from southeast to southwest. Also, Sirius is the brightest star not only in Canis Major but in the entire sky. It’s so bright in our sky because it’s one of the closest stars to Earth, at 8.6 light-...| EarthSky
EarthSky founder Deborah Byrd wants you to come to know the constellation Orion the Hunter. It’s one of the most famous constellations because it’s easy to identify, with several noticeably bright and interesting stars. Plus, Orion can help you visualize your place in the Milky Way galaxy. What’s not to like? Click here for the video. Prefer to read? See below.| EarthSky
The constellation Boötes the Herdsman is an excellent target for June nights. Arcturus is the brightest star in the constellation. Chart via EarthSky.Boötes the Herdsman is a Northern Hemisphere constellation best seen in the late spring or early summer. It’s one of the largest constellations in the sky, ranking 13th out of 88. Boötes is most famous for its bright star Arcturus, which is the 4th brightest star in the night sky.| EarthSky
The constellation Scorpius the Scorpion. If you have a dark sky, look for M4, a globular star cluster, near red star Antares.Scorpius is among the most distinctive of constellations in the zodiac. With a little imagination, you can see its stars tracing the shape of a scorpion. The brilliant red star Antares lies at the Scorpion’s Heart. The constellation has the shape of the letter J, with the curved bottom of the J representing the Scorpion’s curved Tail. There’s even a Stinger, consi...| EarthSky
Cassiopeia overhead on autumn evenings| EarthSky
On December evenings, you’ll find Cetus the Whale already well placed in the sky as darkness falls. If you wait a few hours until it’s truly dark, Cetus will be even higher in the sky.On the nights until December 22, 2023, watch for the moon, as it will pass above the constellation Cetus the Whale. The moon will near the tail of Cetus, cross above the body and then appear near the whale’s head. So the moon can be your guide to Cetus on these nights. What else is nearby? Only our solar s...| EarthSky
The constellation Aries the Ram with its brightest star, Hamal.Aries the Ram isn’t a noticeable constellation. It ranks as the 11th smallest out of the 12 zodiacal constellations. And its stars are only moderately bright. December and January are great months to spot this faint constellation. Although Aries has few bright stars, there’s much to see telescopically within this constellation. And it figures prominently into the history of astronomy.| EarthSky
