Winter Constellations: Explore the Star Patterns of the Season
Sky Map
Celectial bearing and elevation at 19:14
As the Earth orbits the Sun, different constellations come into view depending on the season and your location on the planet. For observers in the Northern Hemisphere, winter may bring the bright stars of Orion and Taurus, while those in the Southern Hemisphere might see different celestial patterns, like the Southern Cross, dominating their night skies. The constellations you can see also shift as the year progresses—spring, summer, and autumn each bring their own set of star patterns, visible from one hemisphere or another. Use our seasonal guides to discover what’s visible from your location, and learn about the key stars and constellations that light up the sky during each season.
Lepus
Constellation
Lepus, the hare, is a small constellation located south of Orion, representing a hare in Greek mythology.
Auriga
Constellation
Auriga, the charioteer, is a constellation in the northern sky with the bright star Capella, one of the brightest stars visible from Earth.
Orion
Constellation
Orion, the hunter, is a famous constellation with distinctive stars, including Betelgeuse and Rigel, and the Orion Nebula.
Perseus
Constellation
Perseus, named after the Greek hero, is a constellation known for the Perseid meteor shower and the star Algol, also called the Demon Star.
Camelopardalis
Constellation
Camelopardalis, the giraffe, is a large but faint constellation in the northern sky, representing a giraffe or a camel.
Taurus
Constellation
Taurus, the bull, is a zodiac constellation containing the Pleiades and Hyades star clusters and the bright star Aldebaran.
Acknowledgements
We gratefully acknowledge the International Astronomical Union (IAU) for defining and standardizing the official constellation boundaries, which provide a consistent framework for celestial mapping.
Special thanks to Sky & Telescope Magazine and contributors Roger Sinnott and Rick Fienberg for their collaboration in producing the charts and tables. The constellation patterns, drawn by Alan MacRobert, were influenced by the work of H. A. Rey and thoughtfully adjusted to align with earlier traditions.