Joe Wrote: Personally, I'm more interested in seeing (and photographing) amazing objects in space than I am in memorizing constellations. If we lived in another part of the galaxy I'd still be interested in examining the same classes of objects but the constellations would be far different. Do beings on every inhabited planet have to bother memorizing the designs just because their ancestors did? Hi Joe, I think learning the constellations is important for beginners... or anyone for that matter, because it helps to orient oneself in the night time sky. It helps to narrow down sections of the sky, and make it easier to find what one may be looking for, or at. I can glance up into the night time sky and in seconds orient myself and determine what I'm looking at, and where to go from there. Many people, not knowing the constellations are well... just lost. They only see bright, twinkling lights in the air. Besides.... its fun. Looking up into the summer sky and seeing the constellations is like seeing old friends once again. I think my favorite is actually an astrerism: The Summer Triangle, a combination of Cygnus the Swan, Aquila the Eagle and Vega... the Vegetarian. Okay... that last one was a joke. Party on Wayne! Jon