Observing the Sky: Constellations - Seasonal: Summer

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

Summer Constellations

As Leo sets in the West when summer arrives, you can look for an asterism called the Summer Triangle. Three bright stars from three different constellations can be connected by your imagination to form a huge triangle in the sky. Low in the East in June, this group of stars rises high over head for July, August, and part of September. The brightest of the three stars is Vega, and it is part of the constellation Lyra. East of Vega is Deneb of the constellation Cygnus the Swan. Deneb means tail and marks the rear of the bird, which appears to be flying south through the sky. Cygnus is also called the Northern Cross, because the stars that form the swan's wings and neck are in the shape of a cross. To the south of Vega and Deneb is Altair, which is in the constellation Aquila, which means eagle.

If you are observing from a very dark place, you should be able to see what looks like a river of stars passing through the Summer Triangle, from the northeast toward the south. You are looking at part of the Milky Way, the galaxy in which we live. Follow the Milky Way southward to look for Sagittarius. The most visible part of this constellation looks like a teapot sitting above the southern horizon, with the hazy Milky Way rising from its spout like steam.