Constellation

Constellation Constellation Group of stars that of form a certain pattern.Astronomers listed a total 88 constellations.

Constellation English NameConstellationEnglish NameAndromeda AndromedaDraco DragonAquariusWater Bearer GeminiTwinsAraAltarHydraWater SnakeAriesRamLeoLionCancerCrab OrionOrionCanis MajorGreat DogPiscesFishesCapricornusSea GoatSagittariusArcherCassiopeiaCassiopeiaUrsa MajorGreat BearCruxSouthern CrossUrsa MinorLittle BearLocating Stars and ConstellationsUrsa Major, Ursa Minor and Cassiopeia are constellations visible in the North Sky.Ursa Major can easily located because it contains the seven stars called plough.The edge of the bowl is pointing to the Polaris, the North Star.Polaris is located at the end of the Little Dipper in the constellation Ursa Minor.

Stars ConstellationBrightnessMonths observedDenebCygnus65, 500July, August, SeptemberRigelOrion59, 700Januray, February, MarchPolluxGemini34, 000February, March, AprilBetelgueseOrion19, 700January, February, MarchSpicaVirgo15, 000April, May, JuneAntaresScorpius6, 550May, June, JulyAldebaranTaurus180December, January, FebruaryCapellaAuriga150December, January, FebruaryArcturusBootes105April, May, JuneRegulusLeo92March, April, MayUses of ConstellationConstellations Tell General DirectionConstellations are useful to navigators.Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Cassiopeia and Polaris tell the north direction.The Orion constellation tells the Earth`s east and west.The Southern Cross or Crux constellation is located at the southern hemisphere and tells the south sky.

Constellations Measure and Tell SeasonBabylonians divide the stars along the sun`s path into 12 constellations. These are 12 zodiac sign.Sagittarius, Capricorn and Aquarius are visible during winter.Pisces, Taurus, and Aries are visible during spring season.Gemini, Cancer, and Leo are visible during summer.Virgo, Libra, and Scorpio are visible during autumn.

Constellations are used to locate Stars and GalaxiesConstellations are used by astronomers to locate stars, nebulae and galaxies.The Andromeda Galaxy is a spiral galaxy that can be seen in the northern hemisphere in the Andromeda constellation

Astronomical Instruments and Their UsesThe Optical TelescopeIt collects visible light from the outer space.These telescopes come in two varieties: Refracting telescope- collects and focuses light into a glass lens and then focus the light directly into the eyepiece.

2. Reflecting telescope- reflects light on a glass mirror and send it to the eyepiece.

Reflecting telescope

Refracting telescope

The Hale TelescopeIt has 5-meter mirror that can gather tremendous amounts of light. When coupled by electric camera, which is supersensitive to light, it can see galaxies billions of light years away.

The Radio TelescopeA large curved material dish or an antenna that resembles a parabolic satellite TV dish.It collects radio waves and reflects them to a focus point above the center of the dish.The sensitive receiver of the telescope converts them into an electrical signal, which is interpreted by a computer.

Satellites Satellites have a great impact on human life by tracking weather and providing fast telephone, TV and radio communication.Other satellites function as astronomical observations that look at distant stars.