Reference Card

[davaaris]

As a total beginner would it help if I had a laminated card to help me identify where things are or do they all move too much for this?

[AndyWB]

Well, things move across the sky quite quickly - but they don't move very much relative to each other!

Check out http://www.skymaps.com/ - they have free downloadable maps of what should be in the sky each month, and what should be visible naked eye/with binoculars/with a small scope.

The other think you might consider is a planisphere - it lets you select the date, the time of night, and shows you what things should be visible.

To be honest, I think the skymaps are probably enough.

[ronin]

Do you mean where things are or what things are.

To determine Where they are you need to know a couple of the main ones - generally Plough and Casseiopia. From these you can get 6 others fairly easily.

If What things are then you need a star map to match the shapes, once you have worked out where.

Some constellations are a bit questionable.

A often over looked option is a youngsters guide to the constellations, they assume little knowledge so explain in basic terms.

[ronl]

You can try this link http://freestarcharts.com/ it gives you free sky maps

of Messier objects and others, print them off and laminate them yourself,

that's what I have done.