My Favorite Things - Katie Yelink

The Big Dipper and maybe Orion are often where star gazers start learning the constellations. They are beautiful and bright and a perfect way to start enjoying the stars.  If you’re ready to learn your way around the night sky, here are a few suggestions for next steps.

• Cygnus the Swan.  Cygnus makes a sideways cross high in the sky in summer.  The brightest star, Deneb, marks one corner of the Summer Triangle.  In winter, Cygnus stands as a large cross low in the western horizon around Christmas.

• Sagittarius the Archer.  One of the constellations of the zodiac, Sagittarius is another summer constellation. It sits low in the southern sky.  When you’re looking at Sagittarius, you’re looking toward the center of our Milky Way Galaxy.  For the more fanciful, Sagittarius is sometimes described as looking like a teapot with the Milky Way pouring out of its spout like smoke.

• Scorpius the Scorpion. Next to Sagittarius, Scorpius is one of the rare constellations that to my eyes looks like what it’s supposed to be.  Scorpius is famous for having the star Antares, which glows red to rival the planet Mars.

• Delphinus the Dolphin. This tiny constellation is also best seen in summer.  It’s also one of those rare constellations that looks like what it’s supposed to be. I just find it cute because it looks like a leaping bottle-nosed dolphin.

• Vulpecula the Little Fox. In between Delphinus and Cygnus, Vulpelcula makes you scratch your head.  How do these few stars form a fox? Still, the challenge and obscurity have caused this constellation to be close to my heart.  If you can find this constellation, it means you’re learning the constellations well.

Modern astronomy divides the sky into 88 constellations, so there are plenty for you to learn and enjoy. Soon you’ll figure out your favorites, too.

• Katie