Learning constellations can be a rewarding (if a little daunting) pursuit. Having a mental picture of the major constellations will pay dividends keeping you oriented in your stargazing pursuits. Some of the easiest constellations to find aren’t technically constellations, but recognizable patterns known as “asterisms.”

You already know several, for example The Big Dipper isn’t a constellation, but a pattern of stars in the constellation Ursa Major (The Great Bear) that strongly resembles a kitchen utensil, even though it is meant to constitute the hind quarters of the bear in the classical imagery of Ursa Major. Same goes for The Little Dipper, also an asterism this time within Ursa Minor (The Little Bear)

There are several convenient asterisms that can help throughout the year, this week the Moon is moving through an asterism known as The Winter Hexagon, consisting of some brighter stars that will help you get acquainted with the mid-Autumn/early-Winter constellations!

Read Sky & Telescope’s guide here:

https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/watch-moon-winter-hexagon/

Don’t forget to view Mars in the eastern sky after twilight, having just passed opposition it will remain prominent for the coming weeks and visible the rest of the year.

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Stay well, and clear skies!

Nov. 2, 2020: Asterisms: A Great Way To Learn the Sky