Chapter 2
Discovering the Universe
for Yourself
SFA Star Charts
Star Chart 1 - Northern Region
Star Chart 2 - Equatorial Region
Star Chart 3 - Equatorial Region
Star Chart 4 - Southern Region
SFA Star Chart 1
North Star
“Little Dipper”
Declination
“Pointer Stars”
“Big
Dipper”
SFA Star Chart 1
“Queen”
“King”
Chart 1 Problem
Find the coordinates of Capella.
SFA Star Chart 1
Summer Solstice
Ecliptic
Orion
Autumnal Equinox
Celestial Equator
Vernal Equinox
“Summer Triangle”
Celestial Equator
Autumnal Equinox
Vernal Equinox
Winter Solstice
Ecliptic
Star Chart Exercise
1. Where are the Zodiac Constellations?
• Circle their names on the star charts.
2. Find the coordinates of Betelgeuse and
Sirius.
3. Where is the Sun today?
– Give the RA, DEC, and constellation
Astrology Connection
Where is the Sun on your Birthday?
Note: Astrological signs no longer
correspond to the location of the Sun on
your day of birth!
Have we been reading the wrong
horoscopes all this time?
SFA Star Chart 4
The
Constellation
Orion
Constellations
Constellations are recognizable patterns of
stars in the sky.
There are 88 constellations. (e.g. Orion)
The 12 constellations along the ecliptic on
your star chart are called the Zodiac
Constellations.
Asterisms
Asterism are recognizable patterns of stars
that is not one of the 88 constellations.
For Example: The Big Dipper
The Sky Dome
Celestial Meridian
Polaris
Zenith
Celestial Equator
Measuring Angles
 altitude - the angle of a star above the horizon
 The North Star, Polaris, is not the brightest star
in the sky but remains in a fixed position in the
sky.
 The angle of Polaris above your horizon is the
same as your latitude in degrees.
Thought Exercise
1. Where are you if Polaris is directly
overhead?
2. Where are you if Polaris is on your
horizon?
Write
this
down
View from the Equator
View from the North Pole
Circumpolar
Stars are stars
that never set.
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