In the April 2012 issue of Astronomy, I wrote what turned into an illustrated spread named “How the constellations came to be.” Because the story ran only two pages, we didn’t have room enough for large images of star patterns.
Therefore, I present to you nine great ones for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy!
Aquila the Eagle
Aquila flies high across the Northern Hemisphere sky during summer and fall. Its brightest star, Altair (Alpha [α] Aquilae), is one of the three luminaries of the Summer Triangle.
Canis Major the Great Dog
Canis Major contains the night sky’s brightest star — Sirius (Alpha [α] Canis Majoris). To find this blazing gem in the winter sky, just draw a line downward from Orion’s Belt.
Corvus the Crow
Corvus is a springtime constellation from points north of the equator. Follow a line between its top two stars to the east-northeast, and you’ll find Spica (Alpha [α] Virginis), Virgo the Maiden’s brightest star.
Cygnus the Swan
Cygnus, like Aquila, is a constellation of northern summer and fall. Its brightest star, Deneb (Alpha [α] Cygni), also belongs to the Summer Triangle. Cygnus lies in one of the densest regions of the Milky Way. The brightest point in the lower right corner is Albireo (Beta [β] Cygni), one of the sky’s finest double stars.
Leo the Lion
Leo has two main parts. Its front (right side of this image) looks like a backward question mark and outlines the Lion’s mane. A right triangle (left side) is the beast’s hindquarters. Leo’s brightest star, Regulus (Alpha [α] Leonis), lies to the bottom right in this photo.
Orion the Hunter
A long-exposure unguided photograph of Orion the Hunter shows that constellation’s stars as trails. Just above and to the right of the main peak, the three stars in the Hunter’s Belt form a straight line. Copper-colored Betelgeuse (Alpha [α] Orionis) is near the top while blue-white Rigel (Beta [β] Orionis) is at the bottom right. The brilliant partial streak at the left is Sirius in Canis Major.
Pegasus the Winged Horse
The Great Square of Pegasus the Winged Horse is one of the sky’s most famous asterisms (a recognized pattern of stars that is not an official constellation). To the naked eye, there isn’t much to see within the Square. This long-exposure image, however, reveals a field packed with dark nebulosity.
Scorpius the Scorpion
Scorpius lies in the same direction as the center of the Milky Way, so this region boasts bright emission and reflection nebulae as well as lots of dark gas and dust.
Taurus the Bull
Taurus is easy to recognize because a large V marks its head (center of this image). The brightest star in the V is Aldebaran (Alpha [α] Tauri). The Bull’s horns extend toward the two bright stars on the left. Riding on its back is the Pleiades star cluster (M45), the packed bluish group near the top of this photo.
