Cygnus the Swan flies along the Milky Way

Cygnus the Swan is a constellation that lies atop the Milky Way. Its brightest star, Deneb, is part of the Summer Triangle.

Boötes the Herdsman and its bright star Arcturus

Boötes the Herdsman is a large constellation that holds one of the brightest stars in the sky, Arcturus. Only 3 other stars and the sun are brighter.

Hercules the Strongman and a great globular cluster

Hercules the Strongman is a great constellation to view in June. With only a pair of binoculars you can see the globular cluster M13 in the Keystone.

Virgo the Maiden represents a Harvest goddess

Virgo the Maiden is the largest of the zodiac constellations. A handy mnemonic device - using the Big Dipper and its bright star Spica - make it easy to find.

Coma Berenices: How Leo the Lion lost his tail

Coma Berenices is the constellation of Queen Berenice's Hair. It used to be the tail of Leo the Lion before it became its own constellation.

Crater the Cup sits upon Hydra’s back

Crater the Cup is a dim constellation that sits upon the back of Hydra the Water Snake. You can see Crater best on April evenings from a dark-sky site.

Leo the Lion and its backward question mark

Leo the Lion - one of the zodiacal constellations - is a prominent fixture from April through June in the evening sky. It’s easy to spot by finding the Sickle.

Meet Gemini the Twins, home to 2 bright stars

The constellation Gemini the Twins is home to Castor and Pollux. Learn more about these bright stars, which you can see on northern winter nights.

Pictor and Reticulum, the Painter’s Easel and Net

Pictor and Reticulum, the Painter's Easel and Net, are two constellations in southern skies on either side of the Large Magellanic Cloud.

Phoenix is one of the Southern Birds

The constellation Phoenix lies in Southern Hemisphere skies and contains one of the oldest stars yet found. Look for it on December evenings.