1) The Plough
Hopefully you will be able to find the distinctive seven-star asterism known as the Plough. It is low in the sky to the north. It lies in the constellation of Ursa Major, the Great Bear.
2) Horse and Rider
Look closely at the middle star in the three-star handle of the Plough. If you have good eyesight, you should see two stars. Bright Mizar and dim Alcor are reported to have been used by the Romans and the Arabs as a vision test. This pair is commonly known as the Horse and Rider.
3) North Star and true north
Draw an imaginary line between the two end stars in the Plough –the ones that are farthest from the handle. These are known as the “Pointers,“ because they point the way to the North Star. Extend that line about five times its length. The first fairly bright star you come to is Polaris, the Pole Star. It’s slightly dimmer than the end pointer star. The Pole Star isn’t one of the brightest stars in the sky. Its importance to us is its location, not its brightness. Now that you’ve found Polaris, face it square and you will be facing geographic north, also known as true north.
4) The Little Bear
Now that you are facing north you can see the Little Bear. It is a similar shape to the Plough but not as big. The Pole star is the end of it’s tail.
5) Cassiopeia
Go back to the Horse and Rider in the Plough and draw a line through the Pole Star. Continue until you to reach the distinctive W-shaped asterism of Cassiopeia the Queen of Ethiopia. She has been condemned to to circle the Pole Star forever, chained to her throne. This is her punishment for attempting to sacrifice her daughter, Andromeda, to a sea monster.
6) Arcturus and The Kite
Return to the Plough. Follow the it’s curving handle eastwards to the next bright star. This is orange Arcturus. It name means “guardian of the bear”, as it appears to follow Ursa Major around the sky. Look east of Arcturus to spot the rest of the Kite asterism flying high in the sky. This is part of the constellation of Bootes. In one story the herdsman Bootes is said to drive the oxen in the constellations of Ursa Major through the sky.
7) The Northern Crown
Next look for a semi circular group of stars about 15 degrees to the left of the Kite (the distance between your outstretched index and little finger at arm’s length). This is Corona Borealis or the Northern Crown. It represents the crown that Dionysus gave to Ariadne after Theseus had abandoned her.
8) Hercules and The Keystone
Continue another 25 degrees to the north east to find the Keystone. This is the centre piece of the constellation of Hercules. Hercules was famous for his twelve labours which are also remembered in the constellations of Leo and Cancer.
9) Deneb and the Swan
Return to the Plough. Draw a line through the two stars of the Plough’s body which are opposite the Pointers. Continue in a south easterly direction until you come to the bright star Deneb in the constellation of Cygnus the Swan. Deneb is the tail of the Swan which is flying towards the south western horizon.
Cygnus is really Zeus, who has transformed himself into a swan so that he can seduce Queen Leda. Leda subsequently gives birth to Pollux and Helen who are immortal. Leda’s mortal children by King Tyndareus were Castor and Clytemnestra. Castor and Pollux are remembered in the constellation of Gemini.
10) Vega and the Harp
About 25 degrees (the distance between your outstretched thumb and little finger at arm’s length) west of Deneb is the bright star Vega in the constellation of Lyra – the Harp. This harp was the property of the celebrated musician, Orpheus, whose journey into the underworld is one of the most famous Greek stories. Vega was the northern pole star around 12,000 BC and will be so again around the year 14,000.
11) Altair and Summer Triangle
Draw a line between Vega and Deneb. Now look for another bright star to the south for the third point of an equilateral triangle. This is the star Altair in the constellation Aquila the Eagle. These three stars form the Summer Triangle. Aquila was the pet eagle of Zeus.
12) The Milky Way
Return to Cygnus and admire the star clouds. See how the Milky Way stretches down through the Summer Triangle. From Cygnus trace the Milky Way to the north east through Cassiopeia and down to the horizon.
13) Great Square of Pegasus
Look for the Great Square of Pegasus about two full outstretched hands widths to the east of Cygnus. Pegasus was the legendary flying horse of Greek mythology.
14) Andromeda Galaxy
Andromeda is the constellation to the north east of the Great Square of Pegasus. Andromeda was the daughter of Cassiopiea and Cepheus who offered her as a sacrifice to a sea monster. She was rescued by Perseus.
Starting at the north eastern corner of the Square move three stars to the north east counting the corner of the Square as the first star. The star you have landed on is the first in a line of three pointing to the north west. Go to the third star in line. Just to the west of it is the faint glow of the core of the Andromeda galaxy, two and a half million light years away. It is also known as Messier 31.