The Big Dipper is a ladle shaped asterism that is always in the Northern sky. The best way to find Polaris is by first finding the Big Dipper, which is part of the constellation Ursa Major. We often think of this constellation as the Little Dipper. This is the brightest circumpolar asterism in the northern hemisphere Visible in urban settings all year long in the northern skyPolaris is part of a constellation called Ursa Minor. They all move East to West as seen from our perspective on Earth! Think of the path of the Sun, the Moon and the planets along the ecliptic. Everything in the sky appears to move East to West. Polaris is aligned with the Earth’s North Pole. The rest of the sky appears to rotate around Polaris in a counterclockwise direction as time passes. Not only is Polaris visible all year long, it is the only star to remain in a constant position in the night sky. This means that we will see Polaris, (the North Star), at 39 degrees above the northern horizon. Here in Colorado we are at a Latitude of approximately 39 degrees N. However, circumpolar constellations are visible all night long. Be prepared for this if it is your first viewing session. Not all constellations are visible year round, and the sky moves quickly above us throughout the night. Using both an app and a paper chart together is a very effective way to hone your skills! Once you develop an eye for the sky, it will be easier to identify constellations with a paper star chart. I highly recommend that first timer use a virtual Star Chart App on your smartphone or tablet.
Make sure your chart corresponds with the season and times when you are viewing! Your Star Chart should indicate the current season or the current the month (if you used my link).
Once you have your Star Chart in hand, and the sun has set, you are ready for viewing! Depending upon the season, different constellations will be visible at different times and at different locations in the sky. If you are looking for an easy start point for getting outside and navigating the night sky without traveling into a dark sky zone or purchasing new equipment, then this will provide you with a fine platform! **Beware though, you may be inspired to dig deeper after your initial interest is ignited! When they are too low, they often get lost in sky glow, and when they are too high they are difficult to identify unless you are laying on the ground looking up (which is a wonderful idea but not always practical). * Something to be aware of: Constellations are easiest to see when they are midway between the horizon and the zenith (top of the sky).
The more familiar you become with the constellations, the more eager you will be to explore them deeper! The constellations divide the sky into regions, kind of like state or country lines on a map, so once you can identify these regions it will become easier to find cool astronomical objects within them! Familiarize yourself with the night sky before getting too ambitious with your observation plan. Even if you plan to view from an urban setting you will be able to see many constellations, once you have trained your eyes to find their brightest stars first and then identify their basic shapes! Finding the constellations is the best first step in star gazing. It’s best to view constellations with the naked eye, in an area with minimal sky glow and a wide field of view! Seeing from horizon to horizon is optimal, but it is not always easy to find a viewing spot that meets both criteria, especially in a mountainous state like Colorado. binoculars, small telescope or the naked eye are all adequate for this viewing plan!.Star Chart (highly recommended! Print a pdf! (link)).
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