Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand The Constellations

Each constellation will be well placed for viewing mid evening during the month shown. In the previous months the constellation is likely to be visible to the east mid-evening and be well placed later in the night. In the following months the constellation may be visible to the west soon after sunset, but is likely to set after a few hours or less. Southerly constellations are circum-polar and so visible all night.

Alphabetical List of Constellations

The constellations are listed under the month in which they have their upper transit at about 9.00 pm local mean solar time. For New Zealand, this is equivalent to about 9.30 pm NZST (winter months) or 10.30 pm NZDT (summer months). A month earlier and the constellations will be at their highest 2 hours later, while a month later they will be highest two hours earlier. In summer months this will be during daylight for temperate latitudes.

This is not the only month in which constellations are visible, see notes for individual constellations. It is the month in which they are highest and generally best placed for viewing at 9.00 pm Local Solar Time. For larger constellations, different parts may culminate an hour or more either side of this time.

Stars, and other notable features

This table shows the month during which bright stars and some other objects are at their highest at 9.00 pm local mean solar time.
The links are to the constellations containing the star or object.

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