Stars · Tromsø Sextant Nights
Sextant 69°N

Stars

What's up tonight

Learn nine stars. The chart is for mid-February. The whole sky turns about 2 hours earlier each month, so in November these stars are up in the early morning instead. The calculator lists what is up at any date and time.

NESWAlpheratzSchedarHamalPolarisMirfakAldebaranRigelCapellaBetelgeuseProcyonPolluxRegulusDubheDenebolaAliothAlkaidArcturusKochabVegaDenebJupiterMars15°60°
Tromsø, 15 Feb 2027, 21:00 local. You're lying on your back, head to the north. Centre = straight up, edge = horizon. The shaded ring is 15°–60°, where the tray works. The gold arrow runs from the Big Dipper's pointer stars to Polaris.

Nine stars to learn first

Polarismag 2.0

Find north

At the end of the Big Dipper's pointer line. Too high for the tray (70°). Sea horizon only.

Capellamag 0.1

Landmark

Bright and yellow, almost overhead in the evening. Too high for the tray most of the night.

Due N at 26°: 13:24 on 15 Nov, 09:24 on 15 Jan, 07:22 on 15 Feb, 05:32 on 15 Mar.

Dubhemag 1.8

Pointer

The Big Dipper's pointer star, high in the NE. Follow Merak → Dubhe to Polaris.

Due N at 41°: 19:10 on 15 Nov, 15:10 on 15 Jan, 13:08 on 15 Feb, 11:18 on 15 Mar.

Alkaidmag 1.9

Fix

End of the Big Dipper's handle. A good north-east star for a fix.

Due N at 29°: 21:52 on 15 Nov, 17:53 on 15 Jan, 15:51 on 15 Feb, 14:01 on 15 Mar.

Polluxmag 1.1

Latitude S

The brighter of the Gemini twins. Best south star: 48° high when due south.

Due S at 48°: 03:54 on 15 Nov, 23:50 on 15 Jan, 21:48 on 15 Feb, 19:58 on 15 Mar.

Aldebaranmag 0.9

Latitude S

Orange eye of Taurus, right of Orion. 37° when due south.

Due S at 37°: 00:41 on 15 Nov, 20:41 on 15 Jan, 18:39 on 15 Feb, 16:49 on 15 Mar.

Betelgeusemag 0.5

Latitude S

Orion's red shoulder. 28° when due south.

Due S at 28°: 02:04 on 15 Nov, 22:00 on 15 Jan, 19:58 on 15 Feb, 18:08 on 15 Mar.

Denebmag 1.3

Latitude N

Low in the north all evening. Best north star: 25° when due north below the pole.

Due N at 25°: 04:49 on 15 Nov, 00:45 on 15 Jan, 22:43 on 15 Feb, 20:53 on 15 Mar.

Vegamag 0.0

Latitude N

Very bright, low in the north. 18° at its lowest, which gives a bright reflection.

Due N at 18°: 02:45 on 15 Nov, 22:41 on 15 Jan, 20:39 on 15 Feb, 18:49 on 15 Mar.

Jupiter & Marsvery bright

First target

The brightest points in the SE to S in Feb–Mar 2027, in Leo. The easiest to find in the oil. They move, so take their positions from the Nautical Almanac or celnav.py almanac.

Times are local (UTC+1) at Tromsø. Stars cross 4 minutes earlier each day, and 4 minutes later for every degree you are west of 19°E. Full list: table T5.