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HomeThe Sky Tonight— images from historic star atlases, keyed to the modern constellations
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August

  • Aql - Aquila the Eagle

    IAU Constellation
    Aql - Aquila the Eagle

    Size

    22 of 88
    Astronomical Regions
    Northern
    Equatorial

    Intro and Visual description

    Between Cygnus and Sagittarius, with Altair (its brightest star) making the south end of the Summer Triangle (along with Deneb of Cygnus and Vega of Lyra). As the night sky changes, Aquila the Eagle and Cygnus the Swan swing slowly westward across the sky towards the horizon. The Eagle sets tail first, followed closely by the Swan, who dives beak first below the western horizon.

  • Aqr - Aquarius the Water Carrier

    IAU Constellation
    Aqr - Aquarius the Water Carrier

    Size

    10 of 88
    Astronomical Regions
    Zodiac
    Southern
    Equatorial

    Intro and Visual description

    Water jar pattern near Pegasus.

  • Cap - Capricornus the Sea Goat

    IAU Constellation
    Cap - Capricornus the Sea Goat

    Size

    40 of 88
    Astronomical Regions
    Zodiac
    Southern

    Intro and Visual description

    Between Sagittarius and Aquarius. Dim stars; look for a laughing mouth.

  • CrA - Corona Australis the Southern Crown

    IAU Constellation
    CrA - Corona Australis the Southern Crown

    Size

    80 of 88
    Astronomical Regions
    Southern
  • Cyg - Cygnus the Swan

    IAU Constellation
    Cyg - Cygnus the Swan

    Size

    16 of 88
    Astronomical Regions
    Northern

    Intro and Visual description

    Find the bowl of the big dipper and locate the two stars nearest the handle. A line running through these stars, tracing away from it above the open bowl. This line runs to Deneb, the tail of the constellation Cygnus the Swan. With wings abreast, and long neck outstretched, Cygnus flies along the milky river.

  • Del - Delphinus the Dolphin

    IAU Constellation
    Del - Delphinus the Dolphin

    Size

    69 of 88
    Astronomical Regions
    Northern

    Intro and Visual description

    Located between Pegasus and Aquila, look for four stars in a diamond.

  • Equ - Equuleus the Foal

    IAU Constellation
    Equ - Equuleus the Foal

    Size

    87 of 88
    Astronomical Regions
    Northern

    Intro and Visual description

    Adjacent to Pegasus toward Aquila, one of the smallest of the 88 constellations.

  • Gru - Grus the Crane

    IAU Constellation
    Gru - Grus the Crane

    Size

    45 of 88
    Astronomical Regions
    Southern

    Intro and Visual description

    Partially visible low in the south in August and September from 35 degrees north latitude.

  • Her - Hercules the Hero

    IAU Constellation
    Her - Hercules the Hero

    Size

    5 of 88
    Astronomical Regions
    Northern

    Intro and Visual description

    Located between Ophiuchus and Draco. Look for the Keystone, a trapezoid of four stars.

  • Ind - Indus the American Indian

    IAU Constellation
    Ind - Indus the American Indian

    Size

    49 of 88
    Astronomical Regions
    Southern
    Circumpolar (southern)

    Intro and Visual description

    Very dim.

Pagination

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Tau - Taurus the Bull

IAU Constellation
Tau - Taurus the Bull

Size

17 of 88
Astronomical Regions
Zodiac
Northern
Equatorial

Intro and Visual description

Taurus the Bull is easily spotted. Its head is the Hyades, a V-shaped cluster of stars. His horns point outward from the V. Aldebaran is the red eye of the Bull as he charges down upon us.

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| And | Ant | Aps | Aql | Aqr | Ara | Ari | Aur | Boo | Cae | Cam | Cap | Car | Cas | Cen | Cep | Cet | Cha | Cir | CMa | CMi | Cnc | Col | Com | CrA | CrB | Crt | Cru | Crv | CVn | Cyg | Del | Dor | Dra | Equ | Eri | For | Gem | Gru | Her | Hor | Hya | Hyi | Ind | Lac | Leo | Lep | Lib | LMi | Lup | Lyn | Lyr | Men | Mic | Mon | Mus | Nor | Oct | Oph | Ori | Pav | Peg | Per | Phe | Pic | PsA | Psc | Pup | Pyx | Ret | Scl | Sco | Sct | Ser | Sex | Sge | Sgr | Tau | Tel | TrA | Tri | Tuc | UMa | UMi | Vel | Vir | Vol | Vul |

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Kerry Magruder, Brent Purkaple, and Aja Tolman, editors, "The Sky Tonight: Cultural Archaeology of the Stars" (December 21, 2019 - ongoing), skytonight.org.


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