In modern astronomy, a constellation is an internationally defined area of the celestial sphere. These areas are grouped around asterisms (which themselves are generally referred to in non-technical language as "constellations"), which are patterns formed by prominent stars within apparent proximity to one another on Earth's night sky. Many societies saw patterns among the stars with gods and goddesses or stories from their culture. Many peoples noticed that the planets, the moon, and comets moved through the sky in a different way than the stars. Because of the rotation of the Earth and its orbit around the Sun, we divide the constellations into two groups. Some constellations never rise nor set, and they are called circumpolar. All the rest are divided into seasonal constellations. Which constellations will be circumpolar and which seasonal depends on your latitude
Ursa Major
Ursa Major (Latin: "Larger Bear"; also known as the Great Bear and Charles' Wain) is a constellation visible throughout the year in most of the northern hemisphere. It can be seen best in the month of April. It is dominated by the widely recognized asterism known as the Big Dipper or the Plough, which is a useful pointer towards the north, and it has mythological significance in numerous world cultures. The "Big Dipper" (or "Plough") asterism within Ursa Major is made up of seven bright stars that together comprise one of the best-known patterns in the sky, while also forming the hindquarters and tail of the Great Bear.
Ursa Major (Latin: "Larger Bear"; also known as the Great Bear and Charles' Wain) is a constellation visible throughout the year in most of the northern hemisphere. It can be seen best in the month of April. It is dominated by the widely recognized asterism known as the Big Dipper or the Plough, which is a useful pointer towards the north, and it has mythological significance in numerous world cultures. The "Big Dipper" (or "Plough") asterism within Ursa Major is made up of seven bright stars that together comprise one of the best-known patterns in the sky, while also forming the hindquarters and tail of the Great Bear.
Ursa Minor
Ursa Minor (Latin: "Smaller Bear", contrasting with Ursa Major), also known as the Little Bear, is a constellation in the northern sky. Like the Great Bear, the tail of the Little Bear may also be seen as the handle of a ladle, hence the name Little Dipper. The Great Bear is represented by the larger neighbour Ursa Major. Ursa Minor was first catalogued by the Greek astronomer Ptolemy in the 2nd century. It is the location of the north celestial pole and contains the famous Little Dipper asterism, with Polaris, the North Star, located at the end of the dipper handle.
Ursa Minor (Latin: "Smaller Bear", contrasting with Ursa Major), also known as the Little Bear, is a constellation in the northern sky. Like the Great Bear, the tail of the Little Bear may also be seen as the handle of a ladle, hence the name Little Dipper. The Great Bear is represented by the larger neighbour Ursa Major. Ursa Minor was first catalogued by the Greek astronomer Ptolemy in the 2nd century. It is the location of the north celestial pole and contains the famous Little Dipper asterism, with Polaris, the North Star, located at the end of the dipper handle.
Orion, The Hunter
Orion is a prominent constellation located on the celestial equator and visible throughout the world. It is one of the most conspicuous and recognizable constellations in the night sky. It was named after Orion, a hunter in Greek mythology. Its brightest stars are Rigel (Beta Orionis) and Betelgeuse (Alpha Orionis), a blue-white and a red supergiant respectively.Orion and the constellation Cygnus and may others ( a northern constellation lying on the plane of the Milky Way. Its name is the Latinized Hellenic (Greek) word for swan. The earliest depiction that has been linked to the constellation of Orion is a prehistoric (Aurignacian) mammoth ivory carving found in a cave in the Ach valley in Germany in 1979. Archaeologists have estimated it to have been fashioned approximately 32,000 to 38,000 years ago. The distinctive pattern of Orion has been recognized in numerous cultures around the world, and many myths have been associated with it. It has also been used as a symbol in the modern world.
Orion is a prominent constellation located on the celestial equator and visible throughout the world. It is one of the most conspicuous and recognizable constellations in the night sky. It was named after Orion, a hunter in Greek mythology. Its brightest stars are Rigel (Beta Orionis) and Betelgeuse (Alpha Orionis), a blue-white and a red supergiant respectively.Orion and the constellation Cygnus and may others ( a northern constellation lying on the plane of the Milky Way. Its name is the Latinized Hellenic (Greek) word for swan. The earliest depiction that has been linked to the constellation of Orion is a prehistoric (Aurignacian) mammoth ivory carving found in a cave in the Ach valley in Germany in 1979. Archaeologists have estimated it to have been fashioned approximately 32,000 to 38,000 years ago. The distinctive pattern of Orion has been recognized in numerous cultures around the world, and many myths have been associated with it. It has also been used as a symbol in the modern world.
Draco, The Dragon
Draco is a constellation in the far northern sky. Its name is Latin for dragon. Thuban (α Draconis) was the northern pole star from 3942 BC, when it moved farther north than Theta Boötis, until 1793 BC. The Egyptian Pyramids were designed to have one side facing north, with an entrance passage designed so that Thuban would be visible at night. Due to the effects of precession, it will once again be the pole star around the year 21000 AD. It is a blue-white giant star of magnitude 3.7, 309 light-years from Earth. The traditional name of Alpha Draconic, Thuban, means "head of the serpent". Dragons in Greek mythology that may have inspired the constellation's name include Ladon, the dragon who guarded the golden apples of the Hesperides.[6] Hercules killed Ladon during his 12 labours; he was tasked with stealing the golden apples. The constellation of Hercules is depicted near Draco. Despite its size and designation as the eighth-largest constellation, Draco, the "dragon" constellation, is not especially prominent.
Draco is a constellation in the far northern sky. Its name is Latin for dragon. Thuban (α Draconis) was the northern pole star from 3942 BC, when it moved farther north than Theta Boötis, until 1793 BC. The Egyptian Pyramids were designed to have one side facing north, with an entrance passage designed so that Thuban would be visible at night. Due to the effects of precession, it will once again be the pole star around the year 21000 AD. It is a blue-white giant star of magnitude 3.7, 309 light-years from Earth. The traditional name of Alpha Draconic, Thuban, means "head of the serpent". Dragons in Greek mythology that may have inspired the constellation's name include Ladon, the dragon who guarded the golden apples of the Hesperides.[6] Hercules killed Ladon during his 12 labours; he was tasked with stealing the golden apples. The constellation of Hercules is depicted near Draco. Despite its size and designation as the eighth-largest constellation, Draco, the "dragon" constellation, is not especially prominent.
Cassiopeia
Cassiopeia is a constellation in the northern sky, named after the vain queen Cassiopeia in Greek mythology, who boasted about her unrivalled beauty. It is easily recognizable due to its distinctive 'W' shape, formed by five bright stars. It is bordered by Andromeda to the south, Perseus to the southeast, and Cepheus to the north. It is opposite the Big Dipper, and from northern latitudes can be seen at its clearest in early November. Cassiopeia contains several notable deep sky objects, among them the open clusters Messier 52 and Messier 103, the supernova remnant Cassiopeia A, the star-forming cloud popularly known as the Pacman Nebula, and the White Rose Cluster. The stars, from left to right, are Epsilon, Delta, Gamma, Alpha and Beta Cassiopeia.
Cassiopeia is a constellation in the northern sky, named after the vain queen Cassiopeia in Greek mythology, who boasted about her unrivalled beauty. It is easily recognizable due to its distinctive 'W' shape, formed by five bright stars. It is bordered by Andromeda to the south, Perseus to the southeast, and Cepheus to the north. It is opposite the Big Dipper, and from northern latitudes can be seen at its clearest in early November. Cassiopeia contains several notable deep sky objects, among them the open clusters Messier 52 and Messier 103, the supernova remnant Cassiopeia A, the star-forming cloud popularly known as the Pacman Nebula, and the White Rose Cluster. The stars, from left to right, are Epsilon, Delta, Gamma, Alpha and Beta Cassiopeia.
Bootes, The Herdsmen
High in the western sky during late spring and early summer Bootes, the herdsman, drives his animals before him, towards greener pastures in the north. But this is no ordinary herdsman, and he does not tend the usual flock of sheep, or goats, or cattle. This herdsman is in charge of a truly celestial herd, consisting of two bears, (Ursa Major
and Ursa Minor), a dragon (Draco), and even a giraffe ( Camelopardalis), and with the help of his two dogs, Canes Ventatici, he keeps them all moving through the night in a big circle around the North Star, Polaris. Bootes is one of the oldest constellations in the sky. It is mentioned in Homer's 3000 year old Odyssey, and was recognized as a herdsman long before that, a testament to one of man's earliest occupations.
High in the western sky during late spring and early summer Bootes, the herdsman, drives his animals before him, towards greener pastures in the north. But this is no ordinary herdsman, and he does not tend the usual flock of sheep, or goats, or cattle. This herdsman is in charge of a truly celestial herd, consisting of two bears, (Ursa Major
and Ursa Minor), a dragon (Draco), and even a giraffe ( Camelopardalis), and with the help of his two dogs, Canes Ventatici, he keeps them all moving through the night in a big circle around the North Star, Polaris. Bootes is one of the oldest constellations in the sky. It is mentioned in Homer's 3000 year old Odyssey, and was recognized as a herdsman long before that, a testament to one of man's earliest occupations.
Zodiac signs
In both astrology and historical astronomy, the zodiac (Greek: ζῳδιακός, zōidiakos) is a circle of twelve 30° divisions of celestial longitude that are centered upon the ecliptic: the apparent path of the Sun across the celestial sphere over the course of the year.Historically, these twelve divisions are called signs. Essentially, the zodiac is a celestial coordinate system, or more specifically an ecliptic coordinate system, which takes the ecliptic as the origin of latitude, and the position of the sun at vernal equinox as the origin of longitude.