Named star patterns beyond the official constellations.
30 asterisms + finder maps
An asterism is a familiar star pattern, such as a dipper, diamond, hook, crown, or seasonal guidepost. Open any entry for a finder map, observing notes, and a suggested field of view for roughly 50°N.
Plan your observing Tonight planner (PDF) Seasonal guide (PDF)
Winter: Orion, Taurus, Auriga, Gemini.
Spring: Leo, Boötes, Virgo, Coma, the Dippers.
Summer: Lyra, Cygnus, Aquila, Hercules, Scorpius, Sagittarius, Delphinus.
Autumn: Pegasus, Cassiopeia, Perseus, Aquarius, Pisces, Cetus.
Year-round: Circumpolar northern patterns stay above your horizon.
common observer pattern · high confidence
The famous ladle is the brightest northern guide-pattern: use Merak-to-Dubhe to hop to Polaris, then follow the bent handle to Arcturus. At 50°N it is circumpolar but rides highest on spring evenings.
Span: 25.7° · Frame: Approximate member-star span: 25.7°; use at least 36.0° field for context.
Brightest: V 1.77 · Sample: Alioth, Dubhe, Alkaid, Mizar
skylore / traditional name · medium confidence
A fainter dipper wrapped around the north celestial pole. Polaris and Kochab are easy; the middle stars are a useful naked-eye transparency test from Alberta suburbs.
Span: 18.9° · Frame: Approximate member-star span: 18.9°; use at least 26.4° field for context.
Brightest: V 2.02 · Sample: Polaris, Kochab, Pherkad, 22Eps UMi
common observer pattern · high confidence
Vega, Deneb, and Altair frame the Milky Way's summer river. The triangle is huge, high, and forgiving: start with Vega overhead, then sweep east to Deneb and south to Altair.
Span: 38.0° · Frame: Approximate member-star span: 38.0°; use at least 53.2° field for context.
Brightest: V 0.03 · Sample: Vega, Altair, Deneb
common observer pattern · high confidence
The long axis of Cygnus turns into a cross flying down the Milky Way. Binoculars enrich the field around Sadr, but the cross itself is cleanly naked-eye.
Span: 22.3° · Frame: Approximate member-star span: 22.3°; use at least 31.2° field for context.
Brightest: V 1.25 · Sample: Deneb, Sadr, Gienah, Delta Cygni
common observer pattern · high confidence
Four second-magnitude corner stars make autumn's large empty-looking square. The northeast corner, Alpheratz, now belongs to Andromeda even though the pattern is still the Great Square.
Span: 20.6° · Frame: Approximate member-star span: 20.6°; use at least 28.9° field for context.
Brightest: V 2.06 · Sample: Alpheratz, 53Bet Peg, 54Alp Peg, Algenib
common observer pattern · high confidence
Betelgeuse, Sirius, and Procyon make a compact winter landmark. From 50°N it clears the southeast in early evening by midwinter and is brilliant even through light haze.
Span: 27.1° · Frame: Approximate member-star span: 27.1°; use at least 37.9° field for context.
Brightest: V -1.46 · Sample: Sirius, Procyon, Betelgeuse
common observer pattern · high confidence
A tour of the brightest winter sky: Capella, Aldebaran, Rigel, Sirius, Procyon, Pollux, and Castor. It is too large for one binocular field, so use it as an evening route-map.
Span: 65.8° · Frame: Approximate member-star span: 65.8°; use at least 92.2° field for context.
Brightest: V -1.46 · Sample: Sirius, Capella, Rigel, Procyon
skylore / traditional name · medium confidence
Mintaka, Alnilam, and Alnitak form the straight belt that makes Orion unmistakable. The line points down toward Sirius and up toward Aldebaran.
Span: 2.7° · Frame: Approximate member-star span: 2.7°; use at least 3.8° field for context.
Brightest: V 1.70 · Sample: Alnilam, Alnitak, Mintaka
common observer pattern · high confidence
The short hanging sword below the belt contains the Orion Nebula around Theta Orionis. Naked-eye it is a misty patch; 7x50 binoculars show the glow, and a small scope starts resolving the Trapezium area.
Span: 1.1° · Frame: Approximate member-star span: 1.1°; use at least 3.0° field for context.
Brightest: V 2.77 · Sample: 44Iot Ori, 42 Ori, 43The2Ori, 41The1Ori
catalogue / cluster listing · high confidence
The nearest prominent open-cluster pattern forms a broad V around Aldebaran, which is a foreground star projected onto the group. It overflows binoculars but rewards slow sweeping.
Span: 4.1° · Frame: Approximate member-star span: 4.1°; use at least 5.8° field for context.
Brightest: V 0.85 · Sample: Aldebaran, Theta2 Tauri, Ain, Hyadum I
catalogue / cluster listing · high confidence
The tiny blue dipper of the Pleiades is the classic binocular showpiece. Most observers see six or seven stars naked-eye; 7x50s turn it into a bright granular swarm.
Span: 1.0° · Frame: Approximate member-star span: 59′; use at least 3.0° field for context.
Brightest: V 2.87 · Sample: Alcyone, Atlas, Electra, Maia
skylore / traditional name · medium confidence
The three small stars near Capella are the goat-kids carried by the Charioteer. They sit high in Alberta winter skies and make a compact naked-eye side quest beside Capella.
Span: 2.7° · Frame: Approximate member-star span: 2.7°; use at least 3.8° field for context.
Brightest: V 2.99 · Sample: Almaaz, Haedus II, Saclateni
common observer pattern · high confidence
A backward question mark above Regulus sketches the lion's head and mane. It is one of the easiest ways to find Leo before the spring galaxy fields rise.
Span: 14.5° · Frame: Approximate member-star span: 14.5°; use at least 20.3° field for context.
Brightest: V 1.35 · Sample: Regulus, Algieba, 17Eps Leo, 36Zet Leo
catalogue / cluster listing · high confidence
Melotte 111 is a loose naked-eye haze under dark skies and a perfect binocular cluster. Its sparse arc of fourth- and fifth-magnitude stars fits the spring transition from Leo toward Boötes.
Span: 11.2° · Frame: Approximate member-star span: 11.2°; use at least 15.7° field for context.
Brightest: V 4.26 · Sample: 43Bet Com, 15Gam Com, 41 Com, 12 Com
common observer pattern · high confidence
The lopsided four-star keystone anchors Hercules and points the way to M13 on the western edge. From 50°N it is a high summer pattern, best when the Milky Way is climbing.
Span: 8.8° · Frame: Approximate member-star span: 8.8°; use at least 12.3° field for context.
Brightest: V 2.81 · Sample: 40Zet Her, 67Pi Her, 44Eta Her, 58Eps Her
skylore / traditional name · medium confidence
Delphinus's compact diamond and tail has long been nicknamed Job's Coffin. It is small, neat, and easy to hold in a single binocular field east of Altair.
Span: 5.8° · Frame: Approximate member-star span: 5.8°; use at least 8.2° field for context.
Brightest: V 3.63 · Sample: Rotanev, Sualocin, Epsilon Delphini, Gamma2 Delphini
skylore / traditional name · medium confidence
A delicate semicircle between Boötes and Hercules, centred on bright Alphecca. It is a simple naked-eye crown on late-spring evenings and a good bridge toward the summer sky.
Span: 7.4° · Frame: Approximate member-star span: 7.4°; use at least 10.3° field for context.
Brightest: V 2.23 · Sample: Alphecca, 3Bet CrB, 8Gam CrB, 4The CrB
common observer pattern · high confidence
Sagittarius becomes a squat teapot pouring steam into the Milky Way. From Alberta it stays low, so choose a clear southern horizon and transparent summer night.
Span: 14.1° · Frame: Approximate member-star span: 14.1°; use at least 19.7° field for context.
Brightest: V 1.85 · Sample: Kaus Australis, Nunki, Ascella, Kaus Media
common observer pattern · high confidence
The northern claws and red Antares curve into the scorpion's long low hook. At 50°N only the upper hook is comfortable; the tail needs a flat southern horizon.
Span: 28.6° · Frame: Approximate member-star span: 28.6°; use at least 40.1° field for context.
Brightest: V 0.96 · Sample: Antares, 35Lam Sco, The Sco, 26Eps Sco
common observer pattern · high confidence
A small Y-shaped jar near the celestial equator marks the water-bearer's stream. It is subtle but satisfying once the bright summer stars have moved west.
Span: 9.4° · Frame: Approximate member-star span: 9.4°; use at least 13.2° field for context.
Brightest: V 3.84 · Sample: 48Gam Aqr, Eta Aquarii, 43The Aqr, Zeta2 Aquarii
common observer pattern · high confidence
This modest oval of fourth- and fifth-magnitude stars is the western fish of Pisces. It is a dark-sky naked-eye pattern and a useful autumn test of sky contrast.
Span: 11.1° · Frame: Approximate member-star span: 11.1°; use at least 15.5° field for context.
Brightest: V 3.69 · Sample: 6Gam Psc, 28Ome Psc, 17Iot Psc, 10The Psc
modern informal / binocular asterism · high confidence
Brocchi's Cluster is the binocular asterism that really looks like its name: a straight bar with a dangling hook. It is easy to sweep up between Altair and Albireo.
Span: 11.4° · Frame: Approximate member-star span: 11.4°; use at least 15.9° field for context.
Brightest: V 4.58 · Sample: 13 Vul, 15 Vul, 12 Vul, 9 Vul
common observer pattern · high confidence
Arcturus, Cor Caroli, Denebola, and Spica make a huge spring diamond spanning several constellations. It frames the Coma-Virgo galaxy region for binocular and telescope planning.
Span: 49.9° · Frame: Approximate member-star span: 49.9°; use at least 69.9° field for context.
Brightest: V -0.04 · Sample: Arcturus, Spica, Denebola, Cor Caroli
common observer pattern · high confidence
A southern four-star cross often mistaken for Crux from lower latitudes. It is essentially not observable from Alberta, but it belongs in an atlas because it is a classic navigation trap.
Span: 9.2° · Frame: Approximate member-star span: 9.2°; use at least 12.9° field for context.
Brightest: V 1.86 · Sample: Eps Car, Del Vel, Iot Car, Kap Vel
common observer pattern · high confidence
Draco's head is a small tilted lozenge north of Hercules, with the Nu Draconis pair on one corner. It is circumpolar from 50°N and best placed on summer evenings.
Span: 5.7° · Frame: Approximate member-star span: 5.7°; use at least 7.9° field for context.
Brightest: V 2.23 · Sample: Eltanin, Rastaban, 32Xi Dra, 25Nu 2Dra
common observer pattern · high confidence
Vega dominates Lyra, but the little parallelogram below it holds the Ring Nebula between Beta and Gamma. Naked-eye it is compact; a small scope gives the famous payoff.
Span: 7.6° · Frame: Approximate member-star span: 7.6°; use at least 10.6° field for context.
Brightest: V 0.03 · Sample: Vega, 14Gam Lyr, 10Bet Lyr, 12Del2Lyr
skylore / traditional name · medium confidence
Sagitta is one of the few constellations whose main figure is also an obvious asterism: a tiny arrow in the Milky Way. It sits neatly between Altair and Albireo.
Span: 4.7° · Frame: Approximate member-star span: 4.7°; use at least 6.5° field for context.
Brightest: V 3.47 · Sample: 12Gam Sge, 7Del Sge, 5Alp Sge, 6Bet Sge
common observer pattern · high confidence
The zig-zag W is circumpolar from Alberta and flips to an M when it passes over the pole. It is the northern autumn counterweight to the Big Dipper.
Span: 13.3° · Frame: Approximate member-star span: 13.3°; use at least 18.6° field for context.
Brightest: V 2.23 · Sample: Schedar, Caph, γ Cas, Ruchbah
catalogue / cluster listing · high confidence
The bright association around Mirfak fills a broad binocular field. Sweep it after Cassiopeia rises: the stars look like a loose river through Perseus.
Span: 18.8° · Frame: Approximate member-star span: 18.8°; use at least 26.3° field for context.
Brightest: V 1.79 · Sample: Mirfak, 44Zet Per, 45Eps Per, 39Del Per
skylore / traditional name · medium confidence
Menkar and nearby third- and fourth-magnitude stars form the whale's head below Pisces and Aries. It is best on quiet autumn nights when the eastern sky is relatively dim.
Span: 13.1° · Frame: Approximate member-star span: 13.1°; use at least 18.4° field for context.
Brightest: V 2.53 · Sample: Menkar, 86Gam Cet, 87Mu Cet, 73Xi 2Cet
Set your latitude, longitude, date, and sky darkness to rank patterns for the evening. The planner shows a useful observing window, altitude, sky visibility, and Moon conditions.