How to find the Teapot

When to look

July, August, September evenings

Face south, low

Eight stars in the shape of a teapot, low in the south, with its spout on the right (west), its lid on top and its handle on the left. Summer evenings, July to September, low in the south, just to the left of Scorpius's tail. The drawing below is made from the real positions of its 8 stars, as the sky looks when you face it, with bigger dots for brighter stars. No telescope needed.

The Teapot is eight stars that make the shape of a teapot. Find it low in the south on summer nights, next to Scorpius.

The Teapot is the brightest part of the constellation Sagittarius. From a dark place, the Milky Way rises from its spout like steam from a kettle. Look low in the south on summer evenings, just to the left of Scorpius's curling tail.

The centre of our galaxy lies just beyond the Teapot's spout, about 26,000 light-years away, hidden behind clouds of dust. Binoculars sweeping around the Teapot find a crowd of star clusters and glowing gas clouds, among them the Lagoon Nebula, just above the spout.

The stars in it

Alnasl, Kaus Media, Kaus Borealis, Phi, Nunki, Tau, Ascella, Kaus Australis. The brightest is Kaus Australis.

How to find it

Go out after dark with a grown-up, and give your eyes ten minutes away from screens.
Face south, low and look for: eight stars in the shape of a teapot, low in the south, with its spout on the right (west), its lid on top and its handle on the left.
Hold up this page's drawing or the printed card and match the shape to the sky. If the sky is clear.

More star patterns

“Star patterns turn through the night, so the shape may be tipped on its side. Turn your head, not the sky.”