Constellations

• Constellation is a pattern or group of stars in the sky
• In ancient times, people used constellations as guides when traveling by sea or land.
• Astronomers use constellations to navigate at night.
• There are total of 88 constellation
• Celestial sphere is an area of the sky which contains all the stars
• 48 constellations was based on roman mythology
• Asterism-discovered but has not been officially identified
• Ancient people use stars for

  -Navigation

  -Preserve myths, traditions, etc.

  -Seasons
• Greek astronomers named the stars as they saw them from their perspective
• Circumpolar constellations- A constellation that never rises or sets as seen at a certain latitude.
• Ursa major - Larger bear

  Ursa Minor - smaller bear

  Cassiopeia - Queen

  Cepheus - King

  Draco - Dragon

  Camelopardalis - The giraffe
• Northern hemisphere constellations

  -Ursa major

  -Ursa minor

  -Cassiopeia

  -Cygnus
• Southern Hemisphere Constellation

  -Crux

  -Carina

  -Centaurus
• Equatorial Constellations

  -Orion

  -Canis major

  -Canis Minor

  -Pegasus
• Ursa Major

  -Common name is big dipper

  -Best known constellation
• Summer constellation

  Vega- Lyra the HArp

  Altair- Aquilla the eagle

  Deneb- Cygnus the swan
• Betelgeuse- Bright red super giant star in the orion
• Rigel- A blue super giant