A general ASTRONOMY site to get you started exploring the night sky
Monthly Snapshot
NOTES
1. The position of the constellations at the major cardinal points about 90 minutes after sunset.
2. The CLOCK POSITION of the Bowl of the Big Dipper is in relations to Polaris (the North Star).
January
Constellation Rising in the EAST: Cancer
Constellation near the SOUTHERN HORIZON: Cetus Constellation at the TOP OF THE SKY: Andromeda & Aries
Constellation Setting in the WEST: Aquarius
Clock Position of the BIG DIPPER BOWL: 5 o’clock
Meteor Showers
:
Quadrantids peaks on January 3 raining down
60 to 200 meteors per hour.
February
Constellation Rising in the EAST: Leo
Constellation near the SOUTHERN HORIZON: Orion
Constellation at the TOP OF THE SKY: Auriga
Constellation Setting in the WEST: Pegasus
Clock Position of the BIG DIPPER BOWL: 3:30 o’clock
March
Constellation Rising in the EAST: Bootes
Constellation near the SOUTHERN HORIZON: Canis Major
Constellation at the TOP OF THE SKY: Gemini
Constellation Setting in the WEST: Aires
Clock Position of the BIG DIPPER BOWL: 2 o’clock
April
Constellation Rising in the EAST: Serpens
Constellation near the SOUTHERN HORIZON: Hydra Constellation at the TOP OF THE SKY: Leo
Constellation Setting in the WEST: Taurus
Clock Position of the BIG DIPPER BOWL: 1 o’clock
Meteor Showers:
Lyrids peaks on April 22 raining down 20 meteors an hour.
May
Constellation Rising in the EAST: Ophichus
Constellation near the SOUTHERN HORIZON: Corvus
Constellation at the TOP OF THE SKY: Coma Berenices
Constellation Setting in the WEST: Gemini
Clock Position of the BIG DIPPER BOWL: 11 o’clock
Meteor Showers:
Eta Aquarids peaks on May 5 raining down 60 meteors an hour.
June
Constellation Rising in the EAST: Aquila
Constellation near the SOUTHERN HORIZON: Libra
Constellation at the TOP OF THE SKY: Bootes
Constellation Setting in the WEST: Leo
Clock Position of the BIG DIPPER BOWL: 10 o’clock
July
Constellation Rising in the EAST: Pegasus
Constellation near the SOUTHERN HORIZON: Scorpius
Constellation at the TOP OF THE SKY: Hercules
Constellation Setting in the WEST: Leo (the hind)
Clock Position of the BIG DIPPER BOWL: 9 o’clock
Meteor Showers:
Delta Aquarids peak on July 29 showering down 20 meteors an hour.
August
Constellation Rising in the EAST: Pegasus
Constellation near the SOUTHERN HORIZON: Sagittarius
Constellation at the TOP OF THE SKY: Lyra (east) & Hercules (west)
Constellation Setting in the WEST: Virgo
Clock Position of the BIG DIPPER BOWL: 8:30
Meteor Showers:
Perseids peak on August 12 showering down 140 meteors an hour.
September
Constellation Rising in the EAST: Pisces
Constellation near the SOUTHERN HORIZON: Sagittarius
Constellation at the TOP OF THE SKY: Lyra
Constellation Setting in the WEST: Bootes
Clock Position of the BIG DIPPER BOWL: 8 o’clock
October
Constellation Rising in the EAST: Pisces
Constellation near the SOUTHERN HORIZON: Capricornus
Constellation at the TOP OF THE SKY: Cygnus
Constellation Setting in the WEST: Bootes
Clock Position of the BIG DIPPER BOWL: 7 o’clock
Meteor Showers:
Draconids peak on October 8 showering down 56/hr. Orionids peak on October 21 showering down 20 meteors an hour.
November
Constellation Rising in the EAST: Taurus
Constellation near the SOUTHERN HORIZON: Piscis Austrinus
Constellation at the TOP OF THE SKY: Pegasus
Constellation Setting in the WEST: Ophiuchus
Clock Position of the BIG DIPPER BOWL: 7 o’clock
Meteor Showers:
Southern
Taurids peak on November 5 showering down 5/hr. Northern
Taurids peak on November 13 showering down 5 meteors an hour. The Leonids peak on November 17, showering down 100+ meteors an hour.
December
Constellation Rising in the EAST: Orion
Constellation near the SOUTHERN HORIZON: Sculptor
Constellation at the TOP OF THE SKY: Pegasus
Constellation Setting in the WEST: Aquila
Clock Position of the BIG DIPPER BOWL: 6 o’clock
Meteor Showers:
Geminids peak on December 14 showering down 120/hr. Ursids peak on December 22. showering down 10 an hour.