Favorite Star Patterns

Coathanger: Looks like its name

By Bruce McClure in Favorite Star Patterns | 1 week ago

The star Albireo – part of the Summer Triangle – is your ticket to finding the Coathanger star cluster. It resembles its namesake and is easy to spot through binoculars.

Northern Cross: Backbone of Milky Way

By Bruce McClure in Favorite Star Patterns | 3 weeks ago

On summer evenings, look for this star pattern in the east, sideways to the horizon.

Find the Crown of the Scorpion

By EarthSky in Favorite Star Patterns | 3 weeks ago

Here’s another cool asterism, or noticeable pattern of stars. The Scorpion’s Crown consists of just 3 stars.

Find the Summer Triangle

By Deborah Byrd in Astronomy Essentials | Favorite Star Patterns | 2 months ago

Find the Summer Triangle asterism ascending in the east on June and July evenings. It’s a large star pattern made of 3 bright stars in 3 separate constellations.

Northerners’ guide to Southern Cross

By Bruce McClure in Constellations | Favorite Star Patterns | 3 months ago

The Southern Cross climbs highest – due south – in the evening around now. Latitudes like Hawaii can see it. It’s possible to see from latitudes like the far-southern contiguous U.S., but difficult.

Use Southern Cross to find due south

By Deborah Byrd in Constellations | Favorite Star Patterns | 3 months ago

From the Northern Hemisphere, a fairly bright North Star marks the direction north. From the Southern Hemisphere, the Southern Cross points the way south.

Know the Big and Little Dippers

By Bruce McClure in Favorite Star Patterns | 4 months ago

The Big Dipper is easy. And, once you find it, you can find the Little Dipper, too. Plus … learn how the stars of the Big Dipper are moving in space.

Hyades star cluster: Face of Taurus

By Bruce McClure in Favorite Star Patterns | 6 months ago

The V-shaped Hyades star cluster represents the face of Taurus the Bull. The cluster is easy to spot in the evening sky in January.

Winter Circle: Brilliant winter stars

By Bruce McClure in Favorite Star Patterns | 6 months ago

It’s a big circle of bright stars. In the Northern Hemisphere, we call it the Winter Circle, but it can be seen from around the globe.

Pleiades star cluster, aka Seven Sisters

By Bruce McClure in Clusters Nebulae Galaxies | Favorite Star Patterns | 9 months ago

November is often called the month of the Pleiades, because it’s when this star cluster – sometimes called the Seven Sisters – shines from dusk until dawn.

Teapot of Sagittarius: Galaxy’s center

By Bruce McClure in Favorite Star Patterns | 12 months ago

The Teapot asterism in the constellation Sagittarius is easy to spot in a dark sky. Look this way, and you’re looking toward the center of our Milky Way galaxy.

Great Square of Pegasus: Easy to see

By EarthSky in Favorite Star Patterns | 3 years ago

The Great Square of Pegasus consists of four stars of nearly equal brightness that make a large square pattern. It is best seen from September to March.