How Do You Find Aldebaran With The Big Dipper?
Astronomers often utilize the Big Dipper, a large and recognizable portion of the Ursa Major constellation, as a sort of road map to locate other stars and constellations. By drawing imaginary lines through some of its stars and into space you can find several prominent stars such as Spica, Regulus, Polaris and others. One star the Big Dipper does not directly point to is Aldebaran, a very bright one in the constellation of Taurus the Bull. However, by using the Dipper you can find your way into Aldebaran’s neighborhood, so to speak, and do the rest on your own. Go outside in late fall or early winter. In the United States, this is the best time of year to do this, with 9 p.m. a perfect time in most locations. Choose a clear and moonless night for your best chance to find Aldebaran using this method. Look to the north and find the Big Dipper. Being a circumpolar constellation, it seems to circle that spot in the sky right over the Earth’s North Pole. The Dipper will always be north. Yo
