This page lists the 88 constellations in the night sky. There is a brief overview of the constellation followed by the mythology behind it if applicable, and a quick description of the constellation and its contents. A link to a dedicated page listing stars, DSOs and how to find the constellation in the sky is at the bottom of each constellations description.
These diagrams are by notexhaustive or one hundred percent accurate, and are for general reference in astronomy only.
Location.
Auriga is a equatorial constellation. It lies in the Milky Way, between the constellations Perseus and Gemini, and is almost directly north of Orion. Fully visible between latitudes 90 degrees north to -34 degrees south, the best time to see Auriga is around 10 pm December through to February.
Description.
The constellation Auriga consists of 9 stars arranged roughly in the shape of a hexagon, or a musical note. Three of its stars are arranged in a straight line and point towards the celestial north pole (CNP). Locates southwest of Capella are a distinctive triangle of stars called "the Kids".
Auriga is said to depict the lame Athenian King Erichthonius, whom Zeus placed in the stars for his invention of the four-horse chariot. He is depcted holding the reigns, but there is no depiction of the chariot or horses. Other depictions show him holding Capella (Greek for she goat) who suckled the god Zeus when he was ain infant, and the stars known as "the kids" are her offspring.
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Location.
Cassiopeia is a circumpolar constellation, visible throughout the year between 90 degrees north through to -12 degrees south. The best time to see Cassiopeia is around ten pm October through to December. It is roughtly opposite the constallation Ursa Major from Polaris, or between Polaris and Andromeda.
Description.
the constellation is formed from 5 bright stars roughly in the shape of a W or an M depending on your orientation to the sky and the time. Cassiopeia is named after the vain queen of Ethiopia, wife of King Cepheus. The constellation depicts her sat on her throne, combing her hair. At the apex of her vanity, Cassiopeia claimed to be fairer than the sea nymphs. There are two popular versions of her punishment for this boast.
The first, is that she was chained to her throne, and forced to suffer the indignation of hanging upside down for half of the day, which is how the constellation appears to aked eye viewers for some of the year.
The second is that Poseidon, God of the seas sent a sea monster to ravage the coast of her husbands country. Cepheus and Cassiopeia were forced to chain their daughter Andromeda to a rock as a sacrifice to the monster, but the hero Perseus killed the monster to save her.
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Location.
Orion is an equatorial constellation visible through out most of the year. Chasing Taurus through the sky, looking south, Orion is to the left or Taurus, chasing it across the sky, and to the left of Canis Major. Fully visible between latitudes 79 degrees north and -69 degrees south, the best time to see Orion is around ten pm December through to January.