![]() ![]() Whenever Jupiter is visible it’s always a great target for backyard telescopes. You might even see its largest moon Titan. A small telescope will reveal Saturn’s beautiful rings. Cygnus the Swan, Aquila the Eagle, and Lyra the Harp are more easily seen under dark skies. Each of these stars is part of its own constellation. These may be the first stars you see as the sky begins to darken. Next, turn your gaze high overhead for the three bright stars that make up the Summer Triangle. This group of stars is officially known as Ursa Minor the Little Bear. Polaris is at the end of the handle of the Little Dipper. When you face the North Star, you’re facing due north. Polaris is not a particularly bright star, but it does remain fixed in the sky throughout the night and throughout the year. The central peak of this constellation’s W-shape also points you in the direction of Polaris. Whenever the Big Dipper is low to the horizon, Cassiopeia will be high enough to find. Look for a group of five stars known as Cassiopeia the Queen. Some of its stars even set below the horizon from our latitude.Īnother group of stars can help us find our way. It appears very low to the northern horizon in the early evening. However, the Big Dipper is harder to find in the autumn. The effect can be seen in the table by comparing April 1 and April 15 rows in the below table.Īpril 1, 7:00 PM Standard Time the February evening sky map is used.Īlso on April 15, 7:00 PM Daylight Saving Time the February evening sky map is used,īut remember 7:00 PM Daylight Saving Time is the same as 6:00 PM Standard Time.For much of the year, we use the stars of the Big Dipper to help us find Polaris, the North Star. Local Daylight Saving Time from April 15 through October 15.ĭaylight Saving Time is when clocks are moved one hour ahead of Standard Time. The time in the table is local Standard Time from January 1 through April 1, and November 1 through December 15. ![]() This table shows clearly how every 15 days later the same sky map is used one hour early.įor example, the sky map for September 15 at 6:00 AM is the same sky map for the following dates and timesĦ:00 AM Standard Time or 7:00 AM Daylight Saving Timeĥ:00 AM Standard Time or 6:00 AM Daylight Saving TimeĤ:00 AM Standard Time or 5:00 AM Daylight Saving Timeģ:00 AM Standard Time or 4:00 AM Daylight Saving Time ![]() If the intersection is blank select a one hour earlier or later observing time. The intersection on the month/date row and time column will give the best sky map to use. Then select the time column that is nearest to your planned observing time. To use it first select the nearest month/date row to your observing date. The below table is another way to determine which sky map to use. Notice on each sky map it shows other month/dates and times when that circle sky map is valid to use for observing.Īlso, see the second table below to see how the same sky map is used for Therefore the sky maps are titled January Evening, February Evening. The names for the sky map was selected as when you would use it 10:00 PM and 11:00 PM in the evening. Only 12 different sky maps used to cover the complete year and different times during the night. To determine the circle sky map to use select the month/date that is nearest to your observing dateĪnd then select the closest observing time.ĭo not be concerned that when you selected a circle sky map that the title is different than you expected. Repeat their positions in the sky on a yearly basis as do the stars.įor planet locations down load the freeware program Home Planet These sky maps only show stars and not any planets because planets do not Print a black/white sky map with black stars, constellation lines for night time observingĬlicking on the star map shows a more detail constellation sky map.Sky map with stars, constellation lines, names & constellation boundaries.Sky map with stars, constellation lines & names.Sky map with stars and constellation lines.These sky maps were created to show the entire sky and fill a printed page.įive versions of each sky map are available: Therefore, different sky maps are use through out the night The northern stars will circle the Polars in a counterclock wise direction. Most of the stars will rise in the east and set in the west. The stars will move across the sky during the night. Just like the Sun moves across the sky during the day All sky maps are used to located stars and other objects in the sky for a certain date, time and observing location. ![]()
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