Use the star map below (created for Memphis, 9:00 p.m. CDT on July 17, 2003) to find the summer constellations. Begin by facing north, to help with this, look for Ursa Major (The Big Dipper). It will be really low on the horizon at this time of year and may be partially obstructed by trees or buildings. Once you have found the Big Dipper, use the two stars that are farthest from the handle, follow them in the direction that liquid would flow out of the dipper (in this case up in the sky) until you come to a star that is almost alone in the sky. This is Polaris or the North Star. This star is also at the end of Ursa Minor (the Little Dipper). Ursa Minor is hard to find in Memphis because of light pollution, but you should have no trouble finding Polaris, then, hold this map over head (north should be in front of you). From here you can "star hop" to many other constellations and stars in the summer sky. Besides Ursa Major and Polaris, some other constellations that should be easy to find at this time of year from Memphis and similar latitudes are Cassiopeia, Cygnus the Swan and Cepheus. Once you have located these easier constellations, try your hand at some of the more obscure ones.
Ursa Major, Cassiopeia and Cepheus are all considered to by circumpolar constellations. These constellations circle the pole star "Polaris" and from the Memphis latitude (and most latitudes in the northern hemisphere) never set or go below the horizon at any time during the year or during the evening. Cygnus the Swan is considered to be a summer constellation because it is most prominent in the summer and at other times of the year goes below the horizon.
Each of these constellations has an ancient historical past and an interesting mythological story that explains it. For example, Cassiopeia was the wife of King Cepheus, the king of Ethiopia in Greek Mythology. Queen Cassiopeia had a bad habit of bragging that she and her daughter, Andromeda, were more beautiful than the sea nymphs. The sea nymphs complained to Poseidon who sent a monster to the land of Cepheus. In order to save the land, Cepheus sacrificed Andromeda to the monster. But, just before she was killed, she was saved by Perceus. As punishment for her bragging, Cassiopeia has been placed in the sky and sometimes hangs upside-down to remind others not to be boastful. All of the other characters in this story were also placed in the sky. Cassiopeia has a very distinct shape looking like a sideways "M" or "W" in the sky. Chepheus looks like a house and is just west of Cassiopeia in this summer sky.
Cygnus, the Swan, is also known as the Northern Cross because of its distinctive shape. The identity of Cygnus is uncertain. Some say that Cygnus is Zeus in the guise in which he seduced Leda, the mother of Helen of Troy. Others say that the swan is Orpheus, transformed and set in the sky near his harp. Still others say that Cygnus is a friend of Phaethon, the son of Apollo, the sun god. Whatever the story, Cygnus flies southward along the summer Milky Way and into the Summer Triangle. Look for these and other constellations in your own sky tonight.
Ursa Major, Cassiopeia and Cepheus are all considered to by circumpolar constellations. These constellations circle the pole star "Polaris" and from the Memphis latitude (and most latitudes in the northern hemisphere) never set or go below the horizon at any time during the year or during the evening. Cygnus the Swan is considered to be a summer constellation because it is most prominent in the summer and at other times of the year goes below the horizon.
Each of these constellations has an ancient historical past and an interesting mythological story that explains it. For example, Cassiopeia was the wife of King Cepheus, the king of Ethiopia in Greek Mythology. Queen Cassiopeia had a bad habit of bragging that she and her daughter, Andromeda, were more beautiful than the sea nymphs. The sea nymphs complained to Poseidon who sent a monster to the land of Cepheus. In order to save the land, Cepheus sacrificed Andromeda to the monster. But, just before she was killed, she was saved by Perceus. As punishment for her bragging, Cassiopeia has been placed in the sky and sometimes hangs upside-down to remind others not to be boastful. All of the other characters in this story were also placed in the sky. Cassiopeia has a very distinct shape looking like a sideways "M" or "W" in the sky. Chepheus looks like a house and is just west of Cassiopeia in this summer sky.
Cygnus, the Swan, is also known as the Northern Cross because of its distinctive shape. The identity of Cygnus is uncertain. Some say that Cygnus is Zeus in the guise in which he seduced Leda, the mother of Helen of Troy. Others say that the swan is Orpheus, transformed and set in the sky near his harp. Still others say that Cygnus is a friend of Phaethon, the son of Apollo, the sun god. Whatever the story, Cygnus flies southward along the summer Milky Way and into the Summer Triangle. Look for these and other constellations in your own sky tonight.
You may create a star map for your location by following this link to Your Sky and setting your local parameters.