The Big Dipper and the Constellations of the Northern Sky

Abstract

In the United States and in Europe, summer sunsets occur quite late in the evening, especially in areas that observe daylight saving time. Twilight lingers and often the sky is not fully dark until after ten o’clock. In the summertime the brightest part of the sky at dusk is always found toward the northwest horizon. With this in mind, one can determine the other compass points easily. If the sky is completely dark when first observed, another reference point must be used.

It is always necessary to remember that constellation in medieval language seldom means, as with us, a permanent pattern of stars. It usually means a temporary state of their relative positions.

C. S. Lewis

The Discarded Image