(Courtesy to Microsoft Encarta for these photographs.)

Some of the major constellations are the Big Dipper, Orion, Cassiopeia, and Ursa Major. The position of the big dipper changes during the year. It shifts 90° every season. During autumn is when it is horizontal. The big dipper is always visible from the sky from Canada and the northern half of the United States. It can be seen throughout the whole year except for the autumn months. Cassiopeia looks like the letter W. It is seen in the same section of the sky as the Big Dipper. In autumn, when the Big Dipper is low, Cassiopeia is over the Big Dipper and is the chief signpost to the autumn stars. Orion has a belt of three bright stars in a row. It is the winter sky's landmark.