Skip to content
A little knowledge. A more familiar sky.

Learn the night sky.

Recognise it. Remember it. Find it again.

Five questions · any topic
Your next small discovery2 min read

Read a position in the sky

Turn two numbers on the Sky Map into a direction you can actually look.

90° Zenith0° Horizon
Azimuth goes around · altitude goes up

Azimuth = around

Compass direction, measured clockwise from true north: N 0°, E 90°, S 180°, W 270°.

Altitude = up

0° is the horizon. 90° is the zenith, directly overhead. Negative means below the horizon.

Make it stick

Around, then up.

Azimuth 180°, altitude 30°: face south and look 30° above the horizon.

Got the idea?Hide the lesson and see what comes back.
Sources & further reading