Constellations

I. Constellations
• Group of stars that
appear to form a
pattern in the sky.

• 88 recognized by
International
Astronomy Union
• Constellations group of stars that form a pattern
in the sky
• The shapes you see all depend on your point of
view.
• Stars in a constellation are NOT close to each
other, but when viewed from Earth they seem to
be grouped together.
• There are 88 accepted constellations listed by the
International Astronomical Union (IAU)
• During ancient times, constellations were used for
navigation and to tell stories.
A. Zodiac
• Band of 12 constellations along
the ecliptic.
B. Ecliptic
• – the plane of the Earth’s orbit
around the sun

• The apparent path that the sun

(and planets) appear to move
along against the star background.
Ecliptic
C. Circumpolar Constellations
• Can be seen all year long

• Never fully set below the horizon

• Appear to move counter clockwise

around Polaris

• Caused by Earth’s Rotation

Circumpolar Constellations
Star Trails
 Examples of Circumpolar
Constellations

1. Ursa Major – The Big Bear

2. Ursa Minor – The Little Bear
3. Cassiopeia – Queen on Her Throne
4. Draco- The Dragon
5. Cepheus- The King
• # of stars seen as circumpolar depends
on the observers latitude

• Further North the observer lives, the

more stars will appear circumpolar

• Earth turns west to east

• Sky appears to turn east to west

D. Ursa Major

• Best known constellation

• Common name is Big Dipper
• Pointer stars- front 2 stars of the Big
Dipper which point to Polaris (North
Star)
 II. Seasonal Changes in
Constellations
• Big Dipper
– In Fall: Low over northern horizon
– Spring: High overhead
• Cassiopeia
– In Fall: Straight overhead
– Spring: Low over northern horizon
III. Summer Constellations
• 1st 3 bright stars that rise form the
Summer Triangle

1. Vega- in Lyra the Harp

2. Altair- in Aquilla the Eagle
3. Deneb – in Cygnus the Swan
(Northern Cross)
Summer Triangle
IV. Most Famous Winter Contellation
• Orion Contains:
1. Betelgeuse (Bet el jooz)
a bright red super giant
star found forming
Orion’s right shoulder
2. Rigel – a blue super
giant: 7th brightest star
in the nighttime sky
 3 Stars of Orion’s Belt
• Can be used to find 2 other
constellations & a star
cluster
1. Canis Major- (Big Dog)
follow the line made by
the 3 stars of Orion’s belt
down to the left
–Sirius- the brightest star in the
nighttime sky is found in Canis Major
2. Taurus (the Bull)
• Follow the line made by Orion’s belt up
& to the right
• Aldebaran- Red star that is the eye of
the bull is the 13th brightest in the
nighttime sky
3. Pleiades Star Cluster (7 sisters)
• Follow the line made by Orion’s belt
up to the right, go through Taurus to
a clump of stars to the right.
• Called Subaru in Japan – means
“Unite”
 Polaris
The North Star is
North Star called Polaris and
located directly
above the North
Pole. This star
appears in the same
place every night all
year long.

In the Northern
Hemisphere, if you
find Polaris you will
be able to tell which
direction is north.
Southern Cross The Southern
Hemisphere does not
have a star to help
you find its pole. In
stead it has what is
known as a Southern
Cross.

The Southern Cross

consists of 4 bright
stars and some
dimmer ones. All of
these together point
to the south pole.
 How did they
get their name?

History of
Constellations
What do you see?
• Perseus and Caput Medusa

What the
ancients saw
 Myths

• A myth is story handed down through history

concerning the early history of a people or
explaining some natural or social phenomenon,.
• Myths typically involve supernatural beings or
events.
• Many of the names of the constellations came
from myths.
What do you see?
• Ursa
Major

What the
ancients saw
 Ursa Major
The Great Bear
• Ursa Major is one of the most famous
constellations. It also known as the Great
Bear, it has a companion called Ursa Minor,
or Little Bear.
• The body and tail of the Great Bear make
up what is known as the Big Dipper.
• Most of the constellation is circumpolar,
which means it can be viewed all year long.
• However, parts of the legs will disappear
from the sky in the fall and reappear in
the winter.
They Myth of Ursa Major & Ursa Minor
Zeus, King of the Gods, fell in love
with the beautiful Callisto, a young
woman who was a hunter.
When Hera, Zeus' wife, heard of
what has happening she was furious
and set out after Callisto.
On finding her, Hera said, "Your
beauty, of which my husband speaks,
is no more!" whereupon Hera changes
Callisto into a bear.
Hera left Callisto with her human
feelings rather than those of a bear.
Callisto roamed the forest day and
night in constant fear of the hunters
and in fear of other wild beasts,
although she was now one.
 Casseopia
• Nickname “The Queen”
• Because of her bragging
and vanity, Cassiopeia
was chained to her
throne and placed in the
sky to circle the North
Star.
• At times she is hanging
upside down in a most
undignified position as a
warning to all.
• Cassiopeia is a northern
circumpolar
constellation, so it can
be viewed all year long.
 Cygnus
• Cygnus, the Swan, is also
known as the Northern
Cross because of it's shape.
• In one myth, Cygnus is a
friend of Phaethon, the son
of Apollo, the sun god.
Phaethon fell into a river
trying to drive the a
chariot.
• Cygnus dove repeatedly
into the water to search for
Phaethon. Out of pity, Zeus
turned the boy into a swan.
 Orion the Hunter
• Very bright and distinct.
• Orion looks very much like a person.
• One of Orion's legs is represented
by the bright star Rigelone of the
brightest stars in the night sky.
• His two shoulders are made of the
stars Bellatrix and Betelguese.
• The famous Orion Nebula is located
in Orion's sword, which hangs from
the belt.
• Sirius, (Canis Major), his hunting
dog, trails at his feet.
Orion the Hunter
• Orion was a famed hunter,
and in one story boasted that
no creature could kill him.
• Hera sent a scorpion to sting
the hunter.
• Orion smashed the animal
with his club, but not before
he was poisoned.
• Both are now on opposite
sides of the sky. They cannot
be seen at the same time.
• Orion boasted that so great was
his might and skill as a hunter
that he could kill all the animals
on the face of the Earth.
• Hera was alarmed at such a
boastful and inappropriate
statement. Hera decided that
Orion must be killed just in case
he might one day decide to
carry out his boast.
• Hera sent the Scorpius to sting
Orion.
• Scorpius stung Orion on the heel
(at the star Rigel) and Orion
smashed Scorpius.
• Orion and the scorpion are at
opposite ends of the sky.
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