How To Spot The 2023 Summer Constellations

June 4, 2024 Malorie Thompson

With summer fast approaching, many people are looking forward to all that the season has to offer.

If you're a fan of stargazing, you might be interested in seeing the summer constellations. Thankfully, Adam Cole of the NPR series Skunk Bear has shared just how to spot the constellations such as Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Cassiopeia, Leo, Cygnus, Lyra & Aquila, Scorpius, and Sagittarius.

Photo: Pexels/Kendall Hoopes

There's also a PDF guide of the summer constellations to accompany the video that you can download or print to have on hand!

In the video, Adam explains the best way to find and view the constellations. He says: "The first tip is to get as far away from city lights as possible. …You also want to avoid moonlight...If you start your stargazing trip around sunset you can start to get your bearings."

Photo: YouTUube/NPR's Skunk Bear

In addition to sharing tips and pointers for seeing the constellations, he also offered some interesting backstory and history about them.

He went on to say, "Looking up at the stars, ancient humans all around the world saw the shapes of heroes and monsters. The constellations of the ancient Greeks were preserved and built upon — first by Muslim astronomers in the Islamic Golden Age, then by Europeans during the scientific revolution. In 1922, the International Astronomical Union organized the sky into 88 official constellations — each one with its own story."

Photo: YouTUube/NPR's Skunk Bear

The video is accompanied by a 360 animation that features the various summer constellations in the night sky.

You can check out his video below:

Malorie Thompson

Malorie works as a writer and editor in Northern California. She's passionate about food, conscious living, animal welfare, and conservation. She's worked with a variety of publications in different sectors but is happiest covering topics close to her heart. When not at her laptop, Malorie can be found enjoying picnics on the beach, hiking in the redwoods, and spending time with her rescue pup, Jax.

Country/region

Help Animals That Need Medical Care

Unique Quality Products

From exclusive pet-loving designs to hand-crafted artisan goods, our products are hand-picked for their superior quality and unique features.

Exceptional Value

We believe that shopping for good should be affordable and accessible to everyone, which is why we offer fair pricing and daily deals.

Satisfaction Guaranteed

With 20 years of extraordinary customer service and a stellar 4.8 ⭐ average rating, we stand by our process and your guaranteed satisfaction.

Every Purchase Gives Back

Every single purchase helps fund today’s most relevant and impactful causes so you can contribute to the causes you care about most, supporting people, pets, and the planet.

Join the Movement

Connect with millions of animal lovers and humanitarians that make up the GreaterGood community, and discover the power of collective impact. Together, we’ve raised over $80 million for charity and counting!