Stars I know

*Toliman, *Proxima, Menkent
Sirius
Procyon
Altair, Tarazed, Alshain
Fomalhaut
Vega, Sheliak, Sulaphat, Eltanin, Rastaban, Grumium, Edasich, Al Dhibain Posterior, Al Dhibain Prior, Pherkad, Kochab, Polaris, Dubhe, Merak, Phad, Megrez, Alioth, Mizar & Alcor, Alcaid, Cor Caroli
Pollux
Arcturus, Muphrid, Izar, Alphecca-Gemma, Nusakan, Kornephoros, Sarin, Zeta Herculi; Rasalgethi, Rasalhague, Cebalrai, Unukalhai, Yed Prior, Yed Posterior, Zeta Ophiuchi, Sabik
Capella, Menkalinan
Castor
Aldebaran, El Nath, Pleiades, Hyades
Regulus, Algieba, Zosma, Denebola
*Gacrux
*Achernar
Bellatrix
Spica, Porrima, Zaniah-Vindemiatrix
*Canopus, *Miaplacidus
*Acrux
*Hadar-Agena
*Becrux-Mimosa
Adara
Antares, Al Niyat, Al Niyat, Dschubba, Zubeneshamali, Zubenelgenubi
Betelgeuse, Alnitak, Alnilam
Shaula, Lesath, Girtab, Kaus Borealis, Kaus Media, Kaus Australis
Rigel, Saiph
Deneb, Gienah, Sadr, Rukh, Albireo

The stars in bold are the twenty-six brightest stars, arranged in order of distance. The first on the list is better known by a Bayer designation. The cool kids will figure it out.

The other names are stars I can find in strings across the sky. Constellations are of such little use within the suburban sodium vapor stupor. The principle is "arc to Arcturus, speed on to Spica", without the benefit of alliteration. Muphrid and Izar are just next to Arcturus, within Boötes; Alphecca, Kornephoros and so on form ramifying lines across several constellations.

* Denotes a star I know from memorizing these bright young things but have never seen. Here in Flah (America's Wang), Toliman, the Southern Cross, and other austral stars are tantalizingly hidden behind trees and houses and such along the horizon, or just below it.

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