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We plot the stars on the StarDome as they appear from 35° north latitude, so the map works well if you live between 25° and 45°. To find the other bright stars and constellations scattered across April's evening sky, simply turn the map to match the direction you're facing. Here you'll see the large constellation Ursa Major, with its group of seven bright stars known as the Big Dipper.
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Go back to Leo and Virgo, then crane your neck and look straight overhead. This arrangement looks odd when you look down on the map, but it's perfectly logical as you look up. Note that as you face south with the map overhead, east lies to your left and west to your right. The planet Saturn currently lies in southern Leo, below it as you look up. More than halfway up in the sky, you'll see two of spring's bright constellations: Leo and Virgo. Turn the map 90° counterclockwise and place the yellow "S" at the bottom.
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Next, shift your gaze to the southern sky. Only part of Orion remains visible, while the bright star Procyon and Gemini's twin stars, Castor and Pollux, appear prominent higher in the west. Late on April evenings, you'll see the stars of winter descending toward the horizon. Find the big yellow "W" on the map's right side, and orient it so the "W" lies at the bottom as you look due west.
#Free star chart how to#
I've mounted this map on cardboard to make it easier for you to see how to use it.īecause the sky lies overhead, we designed the map to be held above your head. Open it to the center, and you'll see the fold-out map we call the StarDome. I happen to have the April 2009 issue with me. The first question most beginners ask is: "How do I find my way around the sky?" The easiest place to start is with an all-sky map, like the one you'll find in the center of every issue of Astronomy magazine.