Star Charts – A Guide to Constellations in the Southern Hemisphere
There are lots of constellations apparent within the night sky from the southern hemisphere. What you see will in the end depend upon your location plus the season. All those which are southern circumpolar constellations may be observed all year round. Southern Circumpolar Constellations: Apus, Chamaeleon, Circinus, Crux, Dorado, Hydrus, Mensa, Musca, Norma, Octans, Pavo, Triangulum Australe, Tucana, Volans
The following is a list of which constellations are visible during each season in the Southern Hemisphere:
Southern Spring Constellation: Andromeda, Aquarius, Aries, Cetus, Grus, Lacerta, Pegasus, Perseus, Phoenix, Piscis Austrinus, Pisces, Sculptor, Triangulum
Southern Summer Constellations: Auriga, Caelum, Canis Major, Canis Minor, Carin, Columba, Eridanus, Fornax, Gemini, Horologium, Lepus, Monoceros, Orion Antlia, Bo?tes, Cancer, Canes Venatici, Centaurus, Coma Berenices, Corvus, Crater, Hydra, Leo, Leo Minor, Lupus, Lynx, Pyxis, Sextans, Virgo, Pictor, Puppis, Reticulum, Taurus, Vela
Southern Autumn Constellations: Antlia, Bo?tes, Cancer, Canes Venatici, Centaurus, Coma Berenices, Corvus, Crater, Hydra, Leo, Leo Minor, Lupus, Lynx, Pyxis, Sextans, Virgo
Southern Winter Constellations: Aquila, Ara, Capricornus, Corona Australis, Corona Borealis, Cygnus, Hercules, Delphinus, Equuleus, Indus, Libra, Lyra, Microscopium, Ophiuchus, Scorpius, Scutum, Serpens, Sagitta, Sagittarius, Telescopium, Vulpecula
What most people find surprising when they first start to learn about southern hemisphere stargazing is that although the Southern Cross is depicted on Australia and New Zealand flags giving it worldwide exposure it is not the most striking of night sky features. In fact it is quite small and faint and you have to know exactly where to look – more on that later. In the southern hemisphere, there is no bright pole star as there is a north star for the northern hemisphere. However, once you locate the Southern Cross it quickly becomes your constant point of reference when looking for other constellations. A star map or planisphere is useful in helping you locate constellations as you can turn the dials to represent the date so you get an image of what to look for on your map. Just be sure to get one specific for the southern hemisphere!
So, to navigate a southern hemisphere night sky you must first locate the Southern Cross. Handy then that the Southern Cross is circumpolar in that it can be seen all year round – except in September to early November when it does dip below the horizon. When first looking up at a southern hemisphere night sky you will be amazed by how pronounced the Milky Way is. The Milky Way is easily recognised as a broad band of slightly lighter sky stretching across the centre of the skies from south to north, packed with many brilliant Stars. You must orientate yourself to face to the South, on doing so you should be able to identify two very bright stars in the Milky Way quite near the horizon, one roughly above the other. These are – from above down – beta Centauri (Hadar) and alpha Centauri (Rigil Kentauri). These bright stars are often referred to as “The Pointers” as they point toward the Southern Cross. Drawing a visual line from alpha through beta, continue up a very short distance and you will encounter the Cross lying on its left side. From here you can locate the remaining constellations using the Cross as your reference point.
You do not need specialist equipment to view the night sky and stargaze. However, the benefits of a planisphere cannot be underestimated and a small pair of binoculars will be a great help assuming you have no light pollution interference to worry about. For more advanced astronomers or hobbyists a Telescope is the next step up or purchase and can be really useful once you have learnt to identify quite a few constellations and have become more familiar with navigating around between them.
Another excellent source of star charts can be the wide variety of computer software options available. There are a number of excellent planetarium-style programs available. You could also do a web search to find a planetarium program online. A visit to your local planetarium would give you a background before going out into the field yourself.
Have fun star-gazing!
About the Author
To find out about a great range of star planetariums and night sky navigators including images and reviews then visit
Star Planetarium
Give the gift of education and the thrill of discovery with an awesome discovery science toy available from
Discovery Science Toys
Radio Astronomy in Australia (1958) – Part 1 of 2
|
|
Aurora over Antarctica, satellite image Photo Mugs Aurora over Antarctica, ultraviolet satellite image. Australia is at upper left. This is the aurora australis (green ring), the southern lights display. It is caused by interactions between charged particles from the Sun (the solar wind) and gas atoms and molecules about 100 kilometres above the Earth. On reaching Earth, the charged particles are drawn by Earths magnetic field to the poles, where … |
|
|
Evening view of Parkes radio telescope, Australia Photo Mugs Parkes radio telescope. Evening view of Parkes radio telescope in New South Wales, Australia. The dish is 64 metres (210 feet) in diameter and divided into three sections. It has a solid steel plate from its centre to a diameter of 17 metres, a perforated aluminium plate to a diameter of 42 metres, and the rest is a mesh of galvanised steel. The weight of the dish is 300 tonnes. This radio dish is… |
|
|
Halleys Comet, 1910 Photo Mugs Halleys Comet. Halleys Comet orbits the Sun every 76 years. This periodicity was discovered by Edmund Halley (1654-1742), after whom the comet is named. Comets are balls of ice and dust form the solar system. Heat from the Sun evaporates the ice, forming a tail. This tail, which because of solar wind always points away from the Sun, can be many millions of kilometres long and very bright. Photogra… |
|
|
Petzl E49P TacTikka Plus 4-LED Headlamp, Black $40.95 The TacTikka Plus is a tactical version of the popular TikkaPlus headlamp. It uses 4 LEDs and push button technology, has tiltable housing, 3 brightness settings, and current regulation for when battery power runs down. It also features a red flipdown lens for night vision, and includes 3 AAA batteries for up to 150 hours of burn time…. |
|
|
Watt’s Up RC Watt Meter & Power Analyzer WU100 Version 2 — SALE! $54.00 # Specifications: # Voltage 0-60 V, resolution 0.01 V. That’s a 14 cell series li-poly pack! # Current 0-100 A peak, 50 A continuous, resolution 0.01 A # Charge 0-65 Ah, resolution 0.001 Ah. That’s ~32 Amps for two hours! # Power 0-6500 W, resolution 0.1 W. That’s ~8.7 Horsepower! # Energy 0-6500 Wh, resolution 0.1 Wh. # Operates from 4.0-60 V, 0 V with optional receiver battery pack # 16 x 2 STN… |
|
|
Solar System Wall Mural $49.80 Add Outer Space to Your Space — Decorate your room with the sun, planets, their moons and orbiting paths. The perfect wall covering for your aspiring astronaut, this wall mural comes in eight easy to install panels, each featuring one of our nine planets and other surrounding features like nebula. Easy to hang, the mural can be trimmed to fit any wall and even fit around windows and doors. Wall m… |
|
|
The Universe: The Complete Season One $18.98 All 13 first-season episodes–including “Secrets of the Sun,” “The End of the Earth,” “Jupiter: The Giant Planet,” “Alien Galaxies,” and “Search for E.T.”–are featured in a four-disc set. 11 3/4 hrs. total. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital stereo; bonus documentary “Beyond the Big Bang” (2007). **13 episodes on 4 discs. 11 3/4 hrs.**… |
|
|
Laser Star $74.49 Now kids can wish upon lots of stars when they transform an ordinary bedroom into their own private star-filled universe. Two built-in precision glass lenses, plus a green laser and holographic technology create thousands of stars and an amazing light show. The coolest most amazing light show you will see anywhere! Laser Star creates thousand of stars with or without cloud formations. AC adapter i… |
|
|
Crayola 52-0029 Crayola 150-Count Telescoping Crayon Tower, Storage Case, Sharpener $14.31 It’s the largest set of Crayola Crayon colors ever! Little artists will love the variety of colored crayons that are easily accessible and easy to store with this three-tier tower of Crayola crayons. Includes 150 multi-colored crayons in all…. |
|
|
Astrostar Astro Star Laser Projector Cosmos Light Lamp $11.75 Through the ball of light projected onto the surface of the earth walls of the room. 7 could be the night sky and other stars more than stars more than 1000 galaxies appear in your living room, bedroom, study will be entirely at the night sky bright your home in show. Amazing Projector Lights is not only to the astronomical popularity of your child and enhance the capacity of science, But also to … |