To use this map, cut it out and attach it to a stiff backing. Hold it over your head and line up the compass points on the map's horizon to the actual direction you're facing. East and West on this map are not backward. This is not a misprint. I guarantee that when you hold this map over your head, east and west will be in their proper positions. Also use a small flashlight and attach a red piece of cloth or red construction paper over the lens of the flashlight. You won't lose your night vision when you look at this map in red light.

This is your absolute last chance to see what’s left of the brilliant winter constellations in the Butler western sky.

They’ve just about crashed in the low western sky, not to be seen again in the evening until late autumn when they re-emerge above the eastern horizon.

Since Christmas the bright constellation Orion and his surrounding posse of shining stars have been lighting up the evening skies, but they’re getting the hook.

As the Earth continues its annual journey around the sun, we’re turning away from the direction of space occupied by Orion and company and are now pointing in the direction of the noticeably less brilliant constellations of springtime.

While there’s a little time left to see it after these later spring sunsets, Orion is already partially set in the west. You can still barely see the three bright stars in a row that outline the great hunter’s belt hovering above the horizon. Above the belt is the bright star Betelgeuse, in the armpit of Orion.

The bright constellation Leo the Lion is right on the heels of Orion and his gang. The right side of Leo is a distinctive backward question mark of stars with Leo’s brightest star, Regulus, marking the period of the question mark.

The backward question mark outlines the chest and head of the celestial lion and Regulus denotes the heart of the supersized feline.

The constellation Bootes the Hunting Farmer dominates the eastern half of the sky and is leading in the summer constellations. Bootes actually looks more like a big kite with the bright star Arcturus at the tail of the kite.

In the lower southeastern sky, not far from Arcturus and Bootes, is the large but faint constellation Virgo the Virgin. Spica is Virgo’s brightest star and honestly, it’s the only star in Virgo that jumps out at you.

If you face north and look nearly overhead this month the Big Dipper will appear to be dumping out on top of you. The Big Dipper is always upside down in the evening this time of year, and according to old American folklore that’s why we have so much rain in the spring, mostly on the weekends, of course.

Technically the Big Dipper is only the rear end and tail of the constellation Ursa Major, the Big Bear, but it is the brightest part of the great beast.

Unfortunately, if you’re a lover of planet watching you’re out of luck as far as evening viewing, but if you manage to stay awake you’ll see a very bright star rising in the southeast sky.

That’s not a star, it’s the giant planet Jupiter, the big guy of the solar system. Jupiter and the planet Saturn will dominate our skies most of the coming summer.

Mike Lynch is an amateur astronomer and professional broadcast meteorologist for WCCO Radio in Minneapolis/St. Paul. He is also the author of “Stars: a Month by Month Tour of the Constellations,” published by Adventure Publications and available at bookstores and at adventurepublications.net. Contact Mike Lynch at mikewlynch@comcast.net.