Constellations

What did the ancient people use stars (patterns

of stars) for?• Navigation – sailing, travel• Seasons – when to plant and

harvest• Preserve myths, traditions, etc• Group the brighter stars into

patterns, - constellations

Patterns of stars

http://www.astro.virginia.edu/class/oconnell/astr130/im/

Boundaries

Constellation

• One of the 88 named Regions of sky defined by the International Astronomical Union (IAU)

• Identified with the officially recognized Patterns of Stars that lie within the boundaries of the region

What are the 88 Constellations?o 14 men and women o 9 birds o 19 land animals o 2 insects o 10 water creatures o 2 centaurs o 1 head of hair o 1 serpent o 1 dragon o 1 flying horse o 1 river o 29 inanimate objects, include scientific instruments (Microscopium,

Telescopium)

ORION

CANIS MAJOR

CYGNUS

LEO MAJOR

TAURUS

AQUILA

BOOTES

SCORPIO

CASSIOPEIA

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Asterism

• A generally recognized smaller/cuter pattern of stars that is not one of the officially recognized constellations

• Whether or not a region of sky is named after it – yes: constellation; no: asterism

What are Circumpolar Constellations?

Circumpolar Constellations

• A Constellation that NEVER rises or sets as seen at a certain latitude

• Six circumpolar constellations seen in Pasco (28º N, 82º W)– Ursa Major – Larger Bear– Ursa Minor – Smaller bear– Cassiopeia – Queen– Cepheus – King– Draco – Dragon– Camelopardalis – The Giraffe

Circumpolar Constellations in Pasco

• www.acmecompany.com

Ursa Major Ursa Minor Cassiopeia

Cepheus Draco Camelopardalis

Constellation Resources• Workshop CD• Websites:

– http://earth.google.com./sky– http://www.astro.wisc.edu/~dolan/constellations/– http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constellation– http://amazing-space.stsci.edu

• Especially http://amazing-space.stsci.edu/tonights_sky/index.php

– http://www.synapticsystems.com/sky/learnsky.html

• Books– Constellations Dot-To-Dot– Astronomy & More (StarLab Manual)