Constellations and asterisms
A constellation is a defined region of the sky. A star pattern is a different way of reading the same sky.
Read the guide →A little context for the atlas
A practical guide to sky regions, star names, chart symbols and observing limits.
Reading a star chart
Read the coordinate grid, star symbols and boundaries, and understand what a fixed J2000 chart tells you.
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Sky regions and what you can see
Understand northern, southern and cross-equator constellations, then use your location and time to plan an observation.
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Constellation names, abbreviations and genitives
Learn which name to search, what a Latin genitive means, and how to read labels such as Alpha Orionis or UMa.
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