Observing the Sky: Constellations - Seasonal: Winter

The following constellations should be clearly visible to the south around 9 p.m. local time in the seasons indicated. Keep in mind that the sky is curved but our computer screens are flat, so those constellations that appear high in our graphics might be over your head. Choose one of the links below to jump to the current season and the constellations you can look for in tonight's sky. If you want to get a preview of the next season's constellations, just stay up later!

Winter Spring Summer Fall

Winter Constellations

The winter sky holds several distinct constellations and many bright stars. Orion the Hunter is easy to spot because of the row of three stars running East to West that make up his belt. A bright star marks each of Orion's shoulders and knees, and a group of stars seems to form a sword hanging from his belt. A curved line of faint stars outline a shield Orion holds high in front of him.

Orion is followed by his dog, Canis Major, the Great Dog. To locate Canis Major, simply follow the line of Orion's Belt to the East until you see a very bright star named Sirius, which marks the dog's nose. Also called the Dog Star, Sirius is the brightest star you can find in the night sky. Located high to the northeast of Sirius is Canis Minor, the Lessor Dog, which looks less like a dog than Canis Major! Canis Minor is really just a few stars highlighted by bright Procyon.

If you follow Orion's belt to the West, past his shield, you will find the constellation Taurus the Bull. A V-shaped group of stars known as the Hyades outlines the bull's head, with bright and reddish Aldebaran marking his eye. A fuzzy group of stars called the Pleiades, or Seven Sisters, sits on his shoulder.