It's so romantic to gaze at the starry sky. Peering into the endless scattering of luminous points, one wonders how to find famous stars among billions of similar ones. Despite the seeming impracticability of the task, looking for familiar constellations is not so difficult.
Necessary
binoculars
Instructions
Step 1
The easiest way to start your search is with the Ursa Major and Ursa Minor, known from childhood. The shape of these constellations resembles a bucket with a handle. On summer evenings, a large "bucket" can be seen in the northwest, on winter - in the northeast. In autumn, the Big Dipper is in the northern part of the sky, and in spring it is directly overhead.
Step 2
Find the North Star - it is located near the large "bucket". This star, one of the brightest in the sky, belongs to the constellation Ursa Minor. In the illuminated metropolis it is difficult to see the rest of the stars of the small "bucket" - unlike the large one, they are not so bright, but if you arm yourself with binoculars, you will see the whole constellation.
Step 3
Find the second star from the edge of the handle in the Big Dipper. If you look closely, next to it is a small star Mizar ("Horse"), and next to it - Alkor ("Horseman"). If you mentally draw a straight line through these stars to the Polar and further at about the same distance, you will stumble upon a constellation in the form of the Latin letter "W". This is Cassiopeia.
Step 4
In August and September, Vega is clearly visible in the southwestern part, high above the horizon. Residents of central Russia can see this star all year round - it never sets. Take a closer look - near bright Vega, you can see several dim stars. If you connect them with lines, you get a parallelogram. This is the constellation of Lyra.
Step 5
On one August night, look at the starry sky at midnight and find the North Star there. Stretch your hand towards it, placing your thumb and forefinger as far away as possible. Move your index finger to Cassiopeia, and lower your thumb perpendicularly down. It "touches" the constellation Perseus.
Step 6
Note the long chain of stars that runs south from Perseus. This is the constellation Andromeda with its famous nebula. Outside the city, it can even be seen with the naked eye - a dull speck in the center of the constellation.
