Learn the patterns that map the sky.
The brightest, most useful constellations — when and where each is best seen, its leading stars, and a simple way to star-hop to it. Then let Stella show you exactly when it’s highest from your own location tonight.
Orion
The most recognizable constellation in the sky, anchored by three belt stars and home to the Orion Nebula.
Ursa Major
Home of the Big Dipper — the northern sky's master signpost and the pointer to Polaris.
Ursa Minor
The Little Dipper, tipped by Polaris — the star the whole northern sky turns around.
Cassiopeia
The unmistakable 'W' (or 'M') on the opposite side of Polaris from the Big Dipper.
Scorpius
One of the few constellations that actually looks like its namesake — a curving scorpion led by red Antares.
Sagittarius
The 'Teapot' that points to the centre of the Milky Way — the richest patch of deep sky there is.
Leo
A genuine lion shape led by the backwards-question-mark Sickle and bright Regulus.
Taurus
The bull's V-shaped face, the glittering Pleiades, and the remains of a supernova in one winter constellation.
Gemini
The twin stars Castor and Pollux, head of the winter Twins and source of the Geminid meteors.
Cygnus
The Northern Cross flying down the Milky Way — one corner of the Summer Triangle.
Lyra
Small but brilliant — led by Vega and hiding the famous Ring Nebula.
Aquila
The Eagle flying up the Milky Way, led by Altair — the third corner of the Summer Triangle.
Canis Major
Orion's hunting dog, marked by Sirius — the most brilliant star in the whole night sky.
Andromeda
Home of the Andromeda Galaxy — the most distant thing you can see with the naked eye.
Perseus
The hero of autumn, home to the Double Cluster, the 'Demon Star' Algol, and the Perseid radiant.
Pegasus
The Great Square — autumn's giant signpost and a launch point for finding Andromeda.
Boötes
A kite-shaped constellation led by Arcturus — the bright orange star you 'arc to' from the Big Dipper.
Crux
The smallest constellation in the sky, and the southern hemisphere's pole-finding signpost.
Centaurus
Home of our nearest stellar neighbour and the magnificent globular cluster Omega Centauri.
Draco
A long, winding dragon that coils between the Big and Little Dippers — circumpolar and ever-present.
Auriga
A bright pentagon high in the winter sky, led by Capella and strung with open star clusters.
Cancer
The faintest zodiac constellation — but home to the lovely naked-eye Beehive Cluster.
Aquarius
A large but faint autumn constellation hiding two fine planetary nebulae.
Carina
A southern showpiece holding Canopus and the vast, glowing Carina Nebula.