In the thread How many countries can you name? I asked if there might be interest in doing a similar trick with the 88 constellations. There were a few replies that suggested it might be worth further exploration in a thread devoted to that issue, as opposed to continuing the hijack in the linked thread.
As a starting point for trying to develop a quiz or some easy memorization techniques, check out Constellation Families and then supply an even better link to help get a discussion going.
Whether before or after you check this link, how many constellations can you name? And how many can you identify in the night sky?
Not to contradict the link, but the British don’t call anything “the Plow”. I can only manage about ten constellations that I can think of right now - although I can pick out Vega, Sirius and Procyon I think it would be mendacious to claim Lyra, Canis Major and Canis Minor.
A couple of buddies and I made use of A Field Guide to the Stars and Planets (Peterson Field Guides) (Paperback) (even though it was an earlier edition – 60’s vintage) over the course of a few nights from sunset until maybe 2 or 3 am, to become familiar with all the ones we could see in the Middle Tennessee latitude. Learning the “pointers” and “pathways” from one brighter star to the next made the process much easier to do.
Since a goodly number of the constellations in the Southern Hemisphere never rise high enough to be seen in this area, I have only learned of them by name, since I have been no further south than Florida. But, as I mentioned recently in another thread, I did acquire a celestial globe which helped me get familiar with what’s down in that portion of the sky.
I would anticipate Dopers in the Southern Hemisphere having similar stories to tell about the Northern sky. Imagine never seeing the Big Dipper! (I can accept similar awe over our never seeing the Southern Cross.)
A related issue to naming the constellations is naming the brightest star in them. Some of the more noteworthy constellations, Orion to name one, have more than one bright star, and some of the less well-known constellations may be that way for not having a really bright star to connect with. Another book I found fascinating was Star Names: Their Lore and Meaning (Paperback) which had much more than just the names of the bright stars. It is worth trying to find if the general subject holds any interest for you.
Orion’s a fun example because a Orionis isn’t the brightest star in the constellation; Betelgeuse is variable but in modern times never exceeds Rigel (b Orionis) in brightness, and is usually some way behind.
There are some lovely star names around. I mean, what’s not to like about “Kornephorus” or “Zubenelgenubi”?
For the circumpolars, Ursa Major is easy, as is using the pointer stars to find Polaris. The curve of the dipper’s ladle can be used to find Arcturus and Spica. Cassiopeia’s easy, too–the W (or M, depending).
For the winter constellations, Orion is easy, as is Sirius. Within Orion, I can name Betelgeuse and Rigel, but I’m fuzzier with the others. Once you have Orion, the Pleiades (and Taurus) are easy to spot.
I’m worse with the summer constellations–though the Summer Triangle is easy to spot. (Do asterisms count?)
I used to be better at this–one of the perks of working at a planetarium for a few months.
I always like to spot the “Heavenly G” asterism (and yes, Mrs. Millamant, they do count for things to learn about in the sky – although they wouldn’t count in any “official” naming of the 88 constellations) which gets you to some of the brightest stars in the “cold weather” sky.
For its size, I think Lyra is one of the neatest constellations. It and Sagitta are fairly easy to spot. But the Summer Triangle was one of the first I learned since it was overhead in the late summer sky when we did our all-nighters learning the sky.
Learning how to see the Andromeda Galaxy was another high point. We referred to it as “the jug star.”
In the process of tryting to locate a website that would show a graphical representation of the Heavenly G asterism, I found Spacedog which might make for some fun browsing if you’re into the stars in any significant way.
