Your first constellations

The International Astronomical Union divides the sky into 88 constellations with precise borders. The most famous shapes, like the Big Dipper, are asterisms instead: patterns made by a few stars of a constellation.

Winter

Orion, with the three stars of its Belt. Following the Belt to the left leads to Sirius, the brightest star in the sky; to the right, Taurus with the Pleiades cluster.

Spring

The Big Dipper is high. Following the curve of its handle leads to Arcturus in Boötes, a very bright orange star. Leo is recognised by its backwards question mark.

Summer

The Summer Triangle: Vega (Lyra), Deneb (Cygnus) and Altair (Aquila). From a dark sky the Milky Way runs through it. Low in the south is Scorpius with red Antares.

Autumn

The Great Square of Pegasus and, next to it, Andromeda: from a dark sky the Andromeda Galaxy looks like a small milky smudge. Cassiopeia is high, shaped like a W.

You don't need to learn them all: with five or six guide constellations you can find almost everything else.