Constellations

• What is a constellation?

  A group of stars forming a recognizable pattern
• What is an asterism?

  A group of stars forming a pattern
• How do astronomers use the term constellation?

  To refer to an area of the sky
• How many official constellations does the IAU recognize?

  88 official constellations
• What did the Greeks name the constellation Orion?

  Orion the hunter
• How did the ancient Chinese view the constellation Orion?

  As a supreme warrior named Shen
• What did the Chemehuevi Native Americans see Orion as?

  A line of three sure-footed mountain sheep
• What are circumpolar constellations?

  Constellations visible all year round
• How does Earth's rotation affect our view of constellations?

  It changes their position in the sky
• What is parallax in astronomy?

  Calculating nearby stars' movement
• What is annual motion in astronomy?

  The Sun's circular path called the ecliptic
• What is the zodiac?

  A group of constellations along the ecliptic
• How many astronomical zodiac constellations are there?

  13 astronomical zodiac constellations
• How did ancient cultures use the annual cycle of the zodiac?

  To determine the time of year
• What are the oldest records of astronomical observations?

  30,000-year-old cave paintings
• What did the ancient Egyptians refer to the two bright stars circling the North Pole?

  The Indestructibles
• What are the names of the two bright stars known as "The Indestructibles"?

  Kochab and Mizar
• Who knew the Earth was round due to eclipses?

  Aristotle of Stagira
• What did Eratosthenes calculate about the Earth?

  It is a ball about 25,000 miles around
• How long did Hipparchus and Ptolemy take to predict future positions of planets?

  280 years
• Who created "star-finders" or astrolabes?

  Arab astronomers
• What are the key deities in Philippine mythology related to stars?

  • Tala: goddess of the stars
  • Bathalà/Maykapál: supreme god
  • Hanan: goddess of the morning
  • Anagolay: goddess of lost things
  • Dumakulem: god of hunting and mountains
  • Apolaki: god of the sun and war
• What does "Moroporo" signify in Philippine constellations?

  Connected to sea navigation
• What is the western equivalent of "Moroporo"?

  The star cluster Pleiades
• How did Tagalogs use the star cluster Pleiades?

  To know the shifting of time and season
• What does "Buwaya" signify in Tagalog?

  Signifies the start of the rainy season
• What is "Balatik" in Philippine constellations?

  Aligned stars acting as Orion's belt
• How is "Balatik" viewed in Palawan and Ibaloi?

  As both the sword and belt of Orion
• What does "Lepu" signify for the Matigsalug Manobo?

  Time to clean or clear the fields
• What ritual involves "Sipat" and "Tudong" in the Cordillera?

  A ritual to bless rice seedlings
• What is "Binabbais" in Cordillera mythology?

  A star mentioned in chicken sacrifice prayers
• What is the significance of the "Kentan" ritual?

  To bless rice seedlings
• What is the role of "Apolaki" in Philippine mythology?

  God of the sun and war
• Who is Anagolay in Philippine mythology?

  Goddess of lost things
• Who is Dumakulem in Philippine mythology?

  God of hunting and guardian of mountains
• What does "Hanan" represent in Philippine mythology?

  Goddess of the morning
• What does "Bathalà/Maykapál" signify in Philippine mythology?

  Supreme god, originator of the universe
• What is the significance of the constellation "Taurus" in Philippine mythology?

  Home to the star cluster Pleiades
• How did ancient Egyptians view the stars circling the North Pole?

  As guiding stars for navigation
• What did Aristotle observe to conclude the Earth was round?

  Eclipses when Earth passed between the Moon and Sun