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Astronomy/locating Orion and the dippers

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Expert: Steven LJ Russo - 5/16/2007


Question
hi,
I live in Albany NY and I am not sure if the constellation that appears almost directly over my house is Orion or the dippers. How do I tell the difference? Also, If it is the dippers how do I determine where the north star is in relation. Please help. One last thing, are there any classes or books that you could recommend for the beginner??
Thank you
Nakiya

Answer
Nakiya:

I live 20 miles north of Albany as I am the Planetarium Director at the Schenectady Museum.

The Big Dipper is directly overhead at around 9:30 at night.  Orion is not visible until late November.

Draw a line through the two stars in the cup, and the first star that you come to will be the North Star.

If you go to my web site at www.look-to-the-skies.com
you can click on the link to May Star Chart.  Print out the map, and take it outside with you.

Don't know of any classes, but if you go to your local Borders, they have quite a few astronomy books.  Actually, the gift shop at my museum has a few Astronomy books.

Steve

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Steven LJ Russo

Expertise

As a space science educator in a planetarium, my work centers around teaching people about the night sky and the solar system. I have a strong background in those areas, plus the history of NASA and spaceflight, and meteorology.

Experience

Experience in the area. I have been an amateur astronomer for 47 years, and have been teachng space science in planetariums for 34 years. For 15 years I was a radio and television meteorologist, and for the past 20 years I have been a space science writer for two newspapers in New York State. I am a member of the Middle Atlantic Planetarium Society and the International Planetarium Society. I have had a number of articles published in several astronomy journals, including "The Constellation" and the "Planetarian". Education/Credentials. I hold a B. S. from Wagner College and an M. S. from State University of New York at Oswego. Awards and Honors. I have been awarded the "Fellows" award from the International Planetarium Society for more than 20 years of continuous service in the planetarium field.

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