Name constellations and big stars

FEBRUARY

Orion - the Hunter

Taurus - the Bull (note the "vee" of his head and horns)

Aldebaran - the eye of the bull - brightest star in Taurus and a red giant

Sirius - the brightest star in Canis major - the great dog

Procyon - the brightest star in Canis Minor

Gemini - the Twins.

The Pleiades - a star cluster

Betelgeuse - brightest star in Orion and a red supergiant

MAY

Leo - the Lion (Note the sickle shape of his head and shoulders)

Cancer - the Crab (This is a very dim constellation - the upside-down "y" is a good reminder)

Regulus - the brightest star in Leo

Spica - the brightest star in Virgo

Castor and Pollux - the two brightest stars in Gemini - the Twins

Corvus - the Crow (Note its kite-like shape)

JULY

Sagittarius - the Archer (look for its teapot shape)

Scorpius - the Scorpion

Antares - brightest star in Scorpius and a red giant

Hercules - Hercules

Altair - the brightest star in Aquilla - the Eagle

Corona Borealis - the Northern Crown.

Lyra -the Harp

Vega - brightest star in Lyra

AUGUST

Cygnus - the Swan (look for its cross shape ....it's also called the "Northern Cross")

Bootes - the Herdsman

Arcturus - brightest star in Bootes and a red giant

Hercules - Hercules

Corona Borealis - the Northern Crown.

Lyra -the Harp

Vega - brightest star in Lyra

OCTOBER

Capricorn - the Water Goat - (a not very obvious constellation)

Sagittarius - the Archer (now setting in the western sky)

Delphinus - the Dolphin

Altair - the brightest star in Aquilla - the Eagle

Pegasus - the Winged Horse (only the four stars that make up the great square are particularly obvious)

REFERENCE: http://www.astro.umass.edu/~arny/constel/night_sky_learn.html