STAR CATALOG
Star Charts Star charts are maps often used to help amateur astronomers identify constellations dominating the sky. The charts shown here are only applicable in the northern hemisphere; similar charts of the southern hemisphere, which feature beautiful constellations such as Centaurus and the Southern Cross, also exist. Polaris, frequently called the North Star, appears to us to be a stationary center around which the other constellations revolve. This is because the star is lined up with the axis of the earth, a phenomenon that has made it a valuable guide to navigators for thousands of years. The ecliptic, represented by the light blue line on the right side of the map, shows the yearly path of the sun as it appears from the earth. These charts provide useful approximations for early evening, but if the sky is observed throughout the course of a night, the starscape will slowly change due to the rotation of the earth.