Winter Constellations: Explore the Star Patterns of the Season
Sky Map
Celectial bearing and elevation at 22:21
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.
Sextans
Constellation
Sextans, the sextant, is a faint constellation in the equatorial region, representing a navigation instrument used by astronomers.
Leo Minor
Constellation
Leo Minor, the smaller lion, is a northern constellation representing a little lion. It contains several faint stars, including Praecipua, and is located between Ursa Major and Leo.
Crater
Constellation
Crater, the cup, is a small constellation in the southern sky, representing a cup in Greek mythology, often associated with the god Apollo.
Cancer
Constellation
Cancer, the crab, is a small constellation in the zodiac, known for its dim stars and the open cluster Praesepe, or the Beehive Cluster.
Lynx
Constellation
Lynx, the lynx, is a faint northern constellation. Its name refers to the animal known for its sharp sight, symbolizing the challenge of finding its dim stars.
Leo
Constellation
Leo, the lion, is a zodiac constellation best known for its bright star Regulus and its distinctive backward question mark or sickle shape.
Ursa Major
Constellation
Ursa Major, the great bear, is a prominent constellation best known for containing the Big Dipper asterism, which is used to locate Polaris, the North Star.
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.