Does Any One Know A place To Check Night Visibility For A Place To Observe Constellations?

Question

It is for a GCSE and i must observe three constellations anyone know some easy ones?

Answer 1

here are two very use full programs to download which not only allow you to view the constellations from earth but from other planets, celestia also allows you to explore the milky way galaxy in high detail.

with these programs you can observe them without ever having to go outside.

www.stellarium.org

www.shatters.net/celestia

Answer 2

First, easy constellations.  You're in the Northern Hemisphere? I've never heard of the GCSE - is that a Britten high school exam?  Look North to the Big Dipper (the plow) - this isn't a constellation, but part of Ursa Major. It's hard to miss, so just study the extra stars, the bear's feet, i think.  Look to the right.  The W (on it's side) is Cassiopeia.  Keep going.  There's a totally off the wall huge square.  That's Pegasus.  Study the extra bits of Pegasus.

I can see these on any clear night from my Downtown Detroit grocery store parking lot.  It doesn't get worse than this.

But the Clear Sky Clock has a light pollution map for where you live.  Here's a link to an observatory near me.  Just below the graph, in the middle, is a link to the Light Pollution map for that area.  Find an observatory near you, and click on the map link.  I hope the Clear Sky Clock has info on you're locale.