Notable Constellations From 40° Latitude

Find The Constellations*

Note: These explanations may be confusing, or they may just not work for you. Also, depending on your latitude these constellations may be in different spots in your sky, and in different relation to other constellations. I learned to find constellations through looking at a star map and finding connections between constellations. Also, seeing how constellations relate to one another is helpful. Remember: finding stars in a way that works for you is the most important thing. I hope these explanations help!

*For More Resources To Help Locate And Find More More Constellations Click Here


Aries

Follow the path that Orion's belt makes away from Sirius, a star in the constellation Canis Major and the brightest star in the sky. You will cross over Taurus before getting to Mesarthim and Sheratan, the two stars farthest to the bottom of the image in the picture on the left. From there, moving towards Taurus, follow a line of from Sharetan (the third lowest star in the picture to the left) toward Elnath, the star at end of on of Taurus's "horns"-- the one farthest away from Orion. If you do this you will have found Aries.

Cancer

Follow a line from the star that represents the top joint of Ursa Majors "front leg" to the "middle joint". The stars are 29 UMa ("top joint") and 25 UMa ("bottom joint"). The first star you'll hit in Cancer will be 48-Cn, or the star farthest to the top of the image in the picture to the left. If you continue drawing the line that Ursa Major's thigh points you will pass through two more stars in Cancer. Then, from the last star you pass through, you will have to locate two more stars. The first star out and down (towards Canis Major) is the star on the right in the image to the left. The first star out and down (towards Hydra) is the star on the left in the image to the left. If you do this you will have found Cancer.

Gemini

Draw a line from Dubhe, the star farthest from the "handle of the cup" in the Big Dipper, toward Sirius, the brightest star in the sky. In this path, your line will pass over or near two bright stars, very close together. These two stars are Castor and Pollux. Castor will be the one close to your line, while Pollux will be the one farther away. To find the rest of the constellation start with Castor. Follow the line of three stars towards Betelguese, one of the two brightest stars in Orion. This is the "body" of Castor. To find the first "leg", branch off of the line towards Aldebaran, the brightest star in Taurus, for one star. This Castor's "foot". Travel parallel with Pollux to find Castor's other "leg" and "foot". Keep going in that direction to find Pollux's two "feet". From either of those, continue up towards Pollux to get his "waist". Continue in that line for another two stars to get Pollux's "body". Castor and Pollux are "holding hands" in the constellation. The first star between Pollux and his legs, closest to the star Pollux, represents Pollux's chest. If you continue away from the original line you drew from the big dipper to Castor and Pollux, parallel with Castor and Pollux, you will get Pollux's "left hand". Then, continuing towards your first line, and parallel with Castor and Pollux, follow a line of four stars to get Castor and Pollux's "hands" and "arms". Then, you have found the constellation Gemini.

Leo

To find Leo, find Ursa Major. The "farthest back leg" of the bear point directly towards the "tail of the lion" or an triangular asterism of stars (moving from "tail" to "head" you will find Denebola, Chertan. Zosma is above the two). The first star the line from Ursa Major's leg towards Leo points to is Zosma. From Zosma, continuing the line you will come to Chertan. Drawing a line towards a spot just below Cancer you will cross over Regulus, the brightest star in Leo and the star that represents the lion's front legs. Moving up (towards Ursa Major) you will find a prominent asterism of six stars (including Regulus) that resembles a backwards question mark called the sickle. If you do this you will have found Leo.

Libra

Follow a line that the two stars of the Big Dipper's "top of the handle" make. The stars are Benetnasch and Aizar A. In this path you will cross over two stars in Bootes, then blank sky. The first star you come to after the empty sky will be part of the Libra constellation. The star you hit is the "top of the scale", the star Zuben-El-Schemali. In the picture to the left it will be the star you see highest in the photo. Continuing that line will get will put you near the star Zuben-El-Akrab, another star in Libra-- the "top of the left scale tray". From Zuben-El-Schemali, draw a line at the same angel you used to get to Zuben-El-Akrab, but in the opposite direction. This star, Zuben-El-Genubi, will be parallel with Zuben-El-Akrab. From Zuben-El-Genubi draw a line in the general direction of the constellation Lupis. This line will get you to the star Brachium. In the picture to the left, it will be the lowest star on the right hand side of the image. From Brachium draw one final line towards Alniyat, a star in Scorpio. This line will cross over the two final stars you need to find to find the whole constellation Libra, 40 Lib and 39 Lib (40 Lib is the star slightly closer to Scorpio). If you do this you will have found Libra.

Scorpio

Find the constellation Libra. Next to Libra, on the opposite of where the Virgo constellation is you will see three bright stars. These stars represent the head of the Scorpion. From the middle star in this formation, continuing in the same direction, follow the line of prominent stars that form an "s" shape. These 12 (+) stars represent the body of the Scorpion. If you do this you will have found Scorpio.

Taurus

To find Taurus, find Orion's belt and follow it up the constellation to Betelgeuse, one of the two brightest stars in the constellation. Then, draw a line from Betelgeuse to Meissa, the northernmost star in the "body" of the hunter. Continue the line to the next brightest star which should be Aldebaran, the brightest star in Taurus. From there, follow the line of stars away from Castor and Pollux, two close bright stars in the constellation Gemini, to get the "tail" of the two horns. Draw a line towards Castor and Pollux to get the two "horns" of Taurus. Once you have done this, you have found Taurus.

Virgo

To find Virgo, first find the triangle of the stars Denebola, Chertan, and Zosma in Leo. The top star, is Zosma, and slanting at a 45 degree angle away from the "head" and towards the "feet" of the lion you will hit Denebola. Continuing that line you will get to 43-Vir, the star that represents Virgo's "left shoulder". Continue the line, and you will pass near the brightest star in Virgo, Spika. From Spika draw a line back towards Denebola. In this line you will cross over two more stars in Virgo, her "waist" and her "right shoulder". Then, also from Spika, draw a line towards Arcturus. In this line you will cross over Virgo's "left hip". From Virgo's "left hip", the star 79-Vir, draw a line towards Denebola. On this line you will again cross over Virgo's left shoulder. The five stars you have found form Virgos torso. From Virgo's "right shoulder", draw a line towards Regulus, the brightest star in Leo. The two stars that you will cross over or come near represent Virgo's right arm. To find Virgo's "left arm", draw a line from Virgo's left shoulder towards the end of the handle of the asterism the Big Dipper which is found in the constellation Ursa Major. The first--and only--star you cross over is the end of Virgo's "arm". Next, to find Virgo's "right leg", if you draw a line from Spica towards Zubeneschamali, the brightest star in the constellation Libra. The first star you cross over, 98-Vir, represents the end of Virgo's right leg. To find Virgo's left leg draw a line from Virgo's "right shoulder" to her "left hip" and continue. The two brightest stars you pass over will be the "left leg" of Virgo. If you do this you will have found Virgo.