Feb.

10th WARM UP
1. How do you find Polaris?
2. Explain how it is not really the stars that
are moving in the night sky.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
-chpt 20 Reading Due 2/13
-SIN Article & Quiz 2/13
 Star Map & Online Guide
• http://neave.com/planetarium/
 Learning Goal
• 4 – I can identify the 5 main constellations
and point out where they are without a
map.
• 3 – I can identify the 5 main constellations
and find them with a map
• 2 – I know of the 5 constellations and can
find them on a map
• 1 – I need to reveiw
EQ: What are the 5 key
constellations and how can I
identify them?

Also – keep star chart out

 Notes Setup
1. Name of Ursa Major
Constellation 1. Name/nickname if applicable
“Great Bear”
(Ursa Major)
2. Key information
3. Where is it located now
4. Circumpolar or seasonal
5. Drawing
6. Highlight on star chart
• As early as 5000 years ago, people
began naming patterns of stars, called
constellations, in the honor of
mythological characters or great heroes.
• Today, 88 constellations are recognized.
• They divide the sky into disjoint units.
• Every star in the sky is in one of these
constellations.
 Ursa Major
Ursa Major,
1. Great Bear, is
visible in the
Northern
Hemisphere all
year long.
 1. Ursa Major
Circumpolar Constellation
2. Points to Polaris
(Draco’s tail
separates it from
the little dipper)
3. Currently in the
NE part of the sky
4. Circumpolar
How to find Pole Star
 2. Ursa Minor
Circumpolar
• Ursa Minor,
1.Little Bear, is the
the Northern part
of the sky
2.Ursa Minor is
mostly known for
Polaris, the North
Star, which may
be found at the
end of the handle.
3.NE part of the sky
 Ursa Minor
Circumpolar Constellation
 3. Orion
1. Known as Orion
2. Most people are able to
identify Orion’s belt first
(has 3 stars***) (The
constellation Hercules
has 2 on his belt)
3. Southern part of the sky
4. Winter constellation
Orion Not a circumpolar constellation, but a winter constellation
Betelgeuse, the right arm of Orion (or "armpit" as the name suggests), glows with a
dull red. Rigel, in the opposite corner of the constellation, is blue and much
brighter.
 4. Scorpius
1. Scorpius or the
scorpion
2. Not viewable at the
same time as Orion
3. In summer skies, it’s
in the SOUTH
4. Summer
Constellation
4. Scorpius
 Views of Orion from
Tasmania (Australia) and Iran (Asia)
 5. Cassiopeia & Cepheus
1. Cassiopeia
2. Always close to
Cepheus
3. NW side of the sky
(by the Milky Way)
4. Circumpolar
 Cepheus
Circumpolar Constellation
 Cassiopeia
Circumpolar Constellation
 6. Cygnus
• Cygnus means “the
swan” in latin. Also known
as the northern cross.
• It is related to the story of
Zeus and Leda.
• Leda was a Spartan
Queen and Zeus
disguised himself as a
swan and seduced her.
She then gave birth to
immortal twins.
 6. Cygnus
1. Swan
2. Best known as the
Northern Cross
3. NE side of the sky
4. Circumpolar
6. Cygnus
Saharan Starry Night
Circumpolar Constellations
Circumpolar Constellations
Circumpolar Constellations
Circumpolar Constellations
 Circumpolar
Constellations
 Draco
• Draco, the Dragon,
used to hold
special significance
as the location of
the pole star, but
due to the Earth's
precession, the
pole has shifted to
Polaris in Ursa
Minor.
 • Orion

•On the left: The Hunter - Orion

•In the middle: Name: The Bull - Taurus
•On the right: Name: The Greater Dog - Canis Maj
• On the left: The Lion - Leo
• In the middle: The Herdsman - Böötes
• On the right: The Virgin - Virgo
• On the left: The Crab - Cancer
• In the middle: The Scorpion - Scorpio
• On the right: The Archer - Sagittarius
• On the left and in the middle: Andromeda
– The Andromeda constellation is famous for containing the
Andromeda Nebula, the closest galaxy to our Milky Way.
• On the right: The Fishes, Pisces
Andromeda Antlia Apus Aquarius
Aquila Ara Aries Auriga
Boötes Caelum Camelopardalis Cancer
Canes Venatici Canis Major Canis Minor Capricornus
Carina Cassiopeia Centaurus Cepheus
Cetus Chamaeleon Circinus Columba
Coma Berenices Corona Australis Corona Borealis Corvus
Crater Crux Cygnus Delphinus
Dorado Draco Equuleus Eridanus
Fornax Gemini Grus Hercules
Horologium Hydra Hydrus Indus
Lacerta Leo Leo Minor Lepus
Libra Lupus Lynx Lyra
Mensa Microscopium Monoceros Musca
Norma Octans Ophiuchus Orion
Pavo Pegasus Perseus Phoenix
Pictor Pisces Piscis Austrinus Puppis
Pyxis Reticulum Sagitta Sagittarius
Scorpius Sculptor Scutum Serpens
Sextans Taurus Telescopium Triangulum
Triangulum Australe Tucana Ursa Major Ursa Minor
Vela Virgo Volans Vulpecula
Review
Review
Review
Review
Review
Review
 Pull out Star Charts
Highlight in different colors: FUN
• Ursa Major (Feb/June) • Draco (both)
• Ursa Minor (Feb/June) • Cepheus (both)
• Orion (Feb) • Canis Major (Feb)
• Scorpius (June) • Pegasus (both)
• Cassiopeia (Feb/June)
• Cygnus (Feb/June)
 Learning Goal
• 4 – I can identify the 5 main constellations
and point out where they are without a
map.
• 3 – I can identify the 5 main constellations
and find them with a map
• 2 – I know of the 5 constellations and can
find them on a map
• 1 – I need to reveiw
 Blank Star Chart
Try to find 5 of the following constellations:
ursa major
ursa minor
orion
scorpius
cassiopeia
cygnus
 Star Chart – no lines!
Try to find 5 of the following constellations:
ursa major
ursa minor
orion
scorpius
cassiopeia
cygnus