Most anyone, whether they have an interest in astronomy or not are familiar with the constellations - groups of stars that form a particular pattern when they are linked together. The Big Dipper, Orion, Little Dipper and Cassiopeia are just a few of these star groups that you might remember from childhood.

And who among us doesn’t still gaze up into the night sky every so often to locate the Big Dipper? Certainly, it is one of the easiest constellations to find but if you know the right direction to look in you will discover that seeing the others isn’t that difficult either.

To orient yourself, you might want to use a compass or just have an idea of where the sun rises and sets. Since the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, then you know that if you stand where the sun rises on your right, then you are facing north. Knowing what direction you are looking in is key to locating your favorite constellation with ease.

Sometimes, if you are trying to find constellations in the sky, the brightness of the moon can be challenging. What you want to do is make sure you acclimate your eyes to the night sky and then start searching.

Of course, finding stars is a lot easier if you are in an area where there are no man made lights. Did you ever notice that if you go away to a rural area camping or doing some other activity that is far from the city that the stars seems so much brighter? This is because there is no competition from man made lights! So if really want to see the stars shine, go someplace in the country - quite, peaceful and beautiful.

As you find the constellations in the night sky, you might want to keep a log or journal about where they are located in reference to where you are viewing from. You can also note any satellites or shooting stars you see. This will help you locate your favorite constellations easily every night!