Locating constellations in the night sky is a favorite pastime for stargazers. Once constellations are located, a study of the stars in the constellations yields stars of differing sizes, colors, and magnitudes.
Join Tom Campbell, BVAC member, as he highlights a prominent constellation and identifies the major stars in each formation. Click the button associated with each constellation and star hop to the constellation to study it in depth.
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CHAINED MAIDEN
The constellation of Andromeda contains many delights, including one of the most well-known galaxies. Messier 31, also known as the Andromeda Galaxy, is large and even visible with the unaided eye in dark skies. Objects include:
THE CHARIOTEER
Auriga is a rich area of the sky for both photographic and visual observers. Objects include:
THE SWAN
Nestled right along the backbone of the Milky Way, there are many celestial delights in Cygnus. Objects include:
THE TWINS
The constellation of Gemini depicts two brothers. The brightest two stars are the brothers' heads and are given their names. Objects include:
SON OF ZEUS
The constellation of Hercules lies north of the plane of the Milky Way and is home to a variety of celestial objects, including globular clusters, planetary nebulae and galaxies. There are actually two different asterisms located within Hercules. Objects include:
THE HUNTER
The three bright stars in Orion (Alnitak, Alnilam and Mintaka) that form a straight line in Orion's Belt are easily visible in winter evenings. Objects include:
THE SCORPION
Nestled right along the backbone of the Milky Way, there are many celestial delights in Cygnus. You will see double stars, clusters, nebulae, and supernova remnants. Objects include:
THE GREAT BEAR
Ursa Major is one of the oldest constellations in our night sky. It is also home to one of the most well-known and most easily recognizable asterisms, the Big Dipper. Objects include:
THE VIRGIN
Virgo faces away from the plane of our Milky Way galaxy, so most of the celestial objects we find there are other galaxies. Objects include:
THE LION
The reverse question mark shape of his mane is easily recognizable in the spring sky. Objects include:
THE HARP
VEGA is the fifth-brightest star in the night sky, and makes Lyra one of the easier constellations to find in the sky. Objects include:
THE HERDSMAN
Located in the northern celestial hemisphere, it is one of the largest and most ancient in the sky. Objects include:
THE QUEEN
Cassiopeia can be seen in the northern hemisphere all year long and is in the shape of the letter W or the letter M. Objects include:
Big Dipper (Large Asterism of the Constellation Ursa Major) and Polaris Photo by Randy Light, M.D.
CONTACT EMAIL:
contact@brazosvalleyastronomyclub.org
Coordinator - Randy Light, M.D.
PROGRAM REQUEST EMAIL:
outreach@brazosvalleyastronomyclub.org
Coordinator - Tom Campbell
GOOGLE DISCUSSION GROUP:
https://groups.google.com
Coordinator - Randy Light, M.D.
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Website by Ginger Wentrcek
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Member: Night Sky Network
The Brazos Valley Astronomy Club is a non-profit group located in Bryan-College Station, Texas.
Our goal is to promote astronomy and related science as a hobby for people of all ages.