HOWDY STARSHINES, TRACE HERE.
LEARNING THE STARS IS A BIG PART
OF SKY WATCHING, AND THE BEST WAY
TO LEARN SOMETHING NEW IS TO BUILD ON WHAT
YOU ALREADY KNOW; WE CALL THAT STAR HOPPING!
FACE NORTH AROUND 8:30 TO FIND SOMETHING EASY:
THE BIG DIPPER -- PART OF THE
CONSTELLATION URSA MAJOR, THE GREAT BEAR!
NOW, START YOUR STAR HOPPING! CONNECT THE DOTS ON
THE TWO STARS AT THE END OF THE BIG DIPPERS SPOON
AND CON-TINUE THAT LINE UP AND TO
THE RIGHT, AND YOU'LL RUN INTO A
STAR OF SIMILAR BRIGHTNESS. THAT'S
POLARIS, A.K.A. THE NORTH STAR.
THE NORTH STAR MARKS THE END OF THE MUCH
FAINTER LIT-TLE DIPPER. NOW MAKE ANOTHER
HOP - AND YOU'LL COME TO THE STAR IN THE
W-SHAPED CONSTELLATION CASSIOPEIA THE QUEEN.
AND ONE MORE HOP BRINGS YOU TO THE CORNER
OF A GIANT SQUARE OF STARS THAT
MARKS PEGASUS THE FLYING HORSE.
ADD THESE TO YOUR SKY-KNOWLEDGE
SO WE CAN HOP SOME MORE, AND
KEEP LOOKIN UP!