Do you know some of the constellations in the night sky?

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As my hike with my friend was winding down the other evening, the sun had already set, and we could see some of the stars to the South. First, of course, was Venus, a planet, not a star. It was to the Southwest. But soon I could see Orion to the Southeast. I made a comment about Orion, and my friend asked how I knew it was Orion. This led to a conversation about where we first learn things. As for the stars, it was my father who first showed me the Big Dipper in the Northern sky, and the "pointer stars" that point Polaris, the North Star. But then I realized (and verbalized) that it was my horse who taught me a lot of what I know now. Her pasture was away from the lights of the town, and I used to visit her every other evening or so, as I was working full time. As I was brushing her, or riding her down the road (to the South) I would study the sky. I learned the difference between Winter constellations, like Orion, and Summer constellations, like Scorpius, and I watched the "starwheel" move a bit further to the West (when looking South) each night. Do you know some of the constellations? If you're South of the Equator, have you seen the Southern Cross? Is it as pretty and striking as some say? Or just another collection of stars?