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!