Stunning and Bright Summer Constellations You Don’t Want to Miss

Summer, with its warm and fragrant nights, is perfect for looking at the stars and appreciating our night sky’s beauty. Recognizing the most obvious star patterns will only enhance this experience, but how do you even begin with star navigation? Below, we will explain the difference between constellations and asterisms, explain why constellations are seasonal phenomena, and list the brightest summer constellations you don’t want to miss — and won’t have to if you read our guide.

Why are constellations seasonal?

Some star formations, namely circumpolar ones, are visible in the sky all year around, but some others only become apparent in specific seasons, especially in summer and winter. Clearly, stars do not move anywhere; it’s our planet that does. When the Earth shifts its axial tilt, we get to see different ‘angles’ of our Milky Way galaxy. This angle shift is especially prominent in summer and winter, which is why we get to enjoy different sky landscapes during these seasons.

In contrast to that, circumpolar constellations are located close to our planet’s poles (hence the name), so our position relative to them does not change as drastically, and we get to see them all year round.

Constellation vs Asterism: Why It’s Important

Constellation and asterism are terms which are often used interchangeably, but confusing these two is a major mistake. The IAU recognises 88 constellations, with a total 36 located in the Northern Hemisphere. Constellations are large, distinct patterns consisting of multiple stars, each with distinct boundaries used to divide our sky into manageable sections. Many winter and summer constellation names have come to us since ancient times, so this is not a new ‘subdivision.’

An asterism is a miniature star pattern, consisting of several stars (not necessarily from a single constellation), usually with a simple and easy-to-spot shape. Asterisms have been used for navigation since ancient times, too — mostly because they are easier to find in the sky, which also means they can be of help for beginning astronomers. Probably the most recognizable asterisms are Big and Small Dippers, scientifically called Ursa Major and Minor.

Another notable asterism is the Summer Triangle formed by three stars from three different constellations. So, what are the three constellations in the Summer Triangle? These are Lyra, Cygnus, and Aquila. According to a space resource Orbital Today, all three are easy to find once you’ve spotted the Summer Triangle itself. Let’s learn how to do that and mention a couple more notable designs on the summer constellations map!

5 Bes Summer Constellations You Don’t Want to Miss

You can see more than five summer constellations, but here, we list only the brightest seasonal formations, or best summer constellations for beginners —  starting with Summer Triangle, of course.

Lyra

If you’ve been wondering, which constellation contains the brightest summer star? The first one would be Lyra, and the latter — Vega It’s a blue-white star located about 25 light-years from Earth — a mere trifle on a cosmic scale. It is also the fifth brightest star in the night sky and a great navigational sign for locating other formations. Lyra itself is shaped as a parallelogram, with Vega located on top of it.

Cygnus

Cygnus, aka Swan, is one of the most beautiful summer star formations shaped as a cross with a skewed vertical beam. This constellation can be seen in summer and autumn, with Deneb, its brightest star, forming a part of the Summer Triangle.

Aquila

Aquila, Latin for Eagle, is the third constellation (or rather its part) creating the famous Summer Triangle. It is shaped like a string of stars, while its brightest star, Altair, is the twelfth-brightest luminary in our sky and has an incredibly high rotation speed. Like Vega and Deneb, Altair has a distinct blueish shade.

Scorpio

Even though Scorpio is not a summer Zodiac sign, its constellation is best seen in June. Its brightest and most notable star, Antares, has a distinct reddish hue, which is why it is often confused with Mars. This star pattern looks like an S, and with a tiny bit of imagination, it can pass for a scorpion.

Sagittarius

Another winter Zodiac clearly visible in summer, starting from July up to September. It has a clear, easy-to-recognize teapot shape, with stunning nebulae acting as its ‘steam.’ Search for the Teapot asterism first to see the larger, truly stunning view of the entire constellation.

Other Zodiac constellations dominating the sky in summer are, expectedly, Cancer, Leo, and Virgo. But, they are harder to find for beginners and are not as bright as their celestial neighbours. So, our last tip is to arm yourself with a stargazing app (plenty of free and paid versions are available on AppStore and GooglePlay) because it can literally point you in the right direction.

As you go stargazing, don’t forget a warm blanket, a nice drink, and maybe even a good camera to get a few mementoes. And do tell us — which is the most beautiful constellation? In your opinion, of course — after all, they’re all amazing!