What better way to celebrate the International Year of Astronomy 2009 than to find stars with your Star Finder?

A Star Finder (also known as a Planisphere) helps you find out which stars and constellations are over your head on any given night.

To use your new Star Finder, follow these instructions: Turn the round star map so the date matches the time you are observing. The time shown is Standard (winter) Time. For daylight savings time (summer), subtract one more hour (9 PM becomes 8 PM on the star map). The Star Finder is designed for latitude 45°. If you live much further north, the patterns in the sky are similar, but fewer southern stars are visible.

The oval area shows the entire visible sky. Overhead stars are in the centre of the oval. Stars near the horizon are close to the edge. To identify stars, hold the Star Finder in front of your so the label for the horizon you are facing is at the bottom. If you are not sure of the direction, find the Big Dipper which is usually North.

Many Thanks

This Star Finder is based on an initial design courtesy of National Research Council; Project Leader: Ron Macnaughton (RASC Toronto Centre); Front Holder Modifications: Chris Weadick (RASC New Brunswick Centre) and Dave Lane (RASC Halifax Centre); Star Map Modifications: Chris Weadick and Dave Lane; Design of Back of Star Map/Design of Back of Holder/Website Design: Marc Keelan-Bishop (RASC Belleville, marcsobservatory.com); Wording: Ron Macnaughton, Ed Treijs (RASC Toronto Centre), Kim Hay (RASC Kingston Centre); Object List: Paul Gray (RASC New Brunswick Centre); Photographs: Cover Sunset Image: Ron Macnaughton, processed by Gord Rife; Milky Way: Les Dempsey (RASC Belleville Centre); Lunar Eclipse: Ron Macnaughton; Comparison Light Pollution Photos: Ron Macnaughton.