Pointer Stars
The Pointer Stars are the two bright stars in Ursa Major that can be used to find Polaris, the North Star. The two stars, Dubhe… Read More »Pointer Stars
Asterism
Water Jar
The Water Jar is an asterism formed by four relatively bright stars in the constellation Aquarius: Gamma, Pi, Eta, and Zeta Aquarii. Also known as… Read More »Water Jar
Summer Triangle
The Summer Triangle is an asterism formed by Vega, Altair and Deneb, the brightest stars of the northern constellations Lyra, Aquila and Cygnus. With three… Read More »Summer Triangle
The Kite
The Kite is a large northern asterism that dominates the constellation Boötes. Also known as the Ice Cream Cone, it is formed by the constellation’s… Read More »The Kite
False Cross
The False Cross is an asterism formed by four bright stars in the constellations Vela and Carina. Located in the far southern sky, the diamond-shaped… Read More »False Cross
The Sickle
The Sickle of Leo is one of the most recognizable patterns in the spring sky. Formed by some of the brightest stars in the constellation… Read More »The Sickle
The Keystone
The Keystone is an asterism formed by four relatively bright stars in the constellation Hercules: Pi, Eta, Zeta and Epsilon Herculis. The trapezoid-shaped pattern makes it easy for observers to identify the constellation and to find several well-known deep sky objects. On a clear night, the Keystone can be seen between the bright Vega, the brightest star in Lyra, and the stars of Corona Borealis, the Northern Crown. The asterism represents Hercules’ torso.
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