Constellations

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

• 88 recognized by
International
Astronomical Union
The pattern constellations form may
take the shape of
–Animal
–Mythological creature
–Man
–Woman
–Inanimate object (microscope, compass,
crown)
Zodiac
• Band of 12 constellations along
the ecliptic.
The Zodiac
Aquarius, the water bearer
Aries, the ram
Cancer, the crab
Capricorn, the goat
Gemini, the twins
Leo, the lion
Libra, the scales
Pisces, the fish
Sagittarius, the archer
Scorpius, the scorpion
Taurus, the bull
Virgo, the virgin
Northern Hemisphere Constellations
• The Constellations of the Northern
Hemisphere (some are seasonally
visible in the Southern
Hemisphere):

Andromeda, the princess

Antlia, the pump
Aquila, the eagle
Auriga, the chariot driver
Northern Hemisphere Constellations
Bootes, the herdsman Caelum, the chisel
Camelopardalis, the giraffe Canes Venatici, the hunting dogs
Canis Major, the big dog Canis Minor, the little dog
Cassiopeia, the queen Cepheus, the king
Cetus, the whale Columba, the dove
Coma Berenices, Berenice's hair
Corona Borealis, the northern crown
Corvus, the crow Crater, the cup
Cygnus, the swan Delphinus, the dolphin
Draco, the dragon Equuleus, the little horse
Fornax, the furnace Hercules, the hero
Horologium, the clock Hydra, the water snake
Lacerta, the lizard Leo Minor, the little lion
Northern Hemisphere Constellations
Lupus, the wolf Lynx, the lynx
Lyra, the harp Microscopium, the microscope
onoceros, the unicorn Ophiuchus, the sepent holder
Orion, the hunter Pegasus, the flying horse
Perseus, the Medusa killer Pisces Austrinus, the southern
fish
Puppis, the ship's stern Pyxis, the ship's compass
Sagitta, the arrow Sculptor, the sculptor
Scutum, the shield Serpens, the snake
Sextans, the sextant  Telescopium, the telescope
Triangulum, the triangle Ursa Major, the big bear
Ursa Minor, the little bear Vulpecula, the little fox
Southern Hemisphere Constellations
• The Constellations of the Southern Hemisphere
(some are seasonally visible in the Northern
Hemisphere):

Apus, the bird of paradise

Ara, the altar
Carina, the ship's keel
Centauras, the centaur
Chamaeleon, the chameleon
Circinus, the compass
Crux, the southern cross
Dorado, the swordfish
Southern Hemisphere Constellations
Eridanus, the river Grus, the crane
Hydrus, the water snake Indus, the Indian
Lepus, the rabbit Mensa, the table
Musca, the fly
Norma, the surveyor's level
Octans, the octant Pavo, the peacock
Phoenix, the phoenix Pictor, the easel
Reticulum, the net
Triangulum Australe, the southern triangle
Tucana, the toucan Vela, the ship's sails
Volans, the flying fish
• Different patterns can be
seen in different
months/season due to
Earth’s revolution.
Circumpolar Constellations
• Can be seen all year long

• Never fully set below the horizon

• Appear to move counter clockwise

around Polaris
Circumpolar Constellations
 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

Winter Constellations
• Here are seven constellations you can observe in the
Northern Hemisphere during this season:
• Canis Major
• Cetus
• Eridanus
• Gemini
• Orion
• Perseus
• Taurus
Spring Constellations
• Six constellations visible from the Northern
Hemisphere during spring include the following:
• Bootes
• Cancer
• Crater
• Hydra
• Leo
• Virgo
Fall/Autumn Constellations
• Fall is the Northern Hemisphere's
season with the fewest constellations.
• Andromeda
• Aquarius
• Capricornus
• Pegasus
• Pisces
Summer Constellations
• Here are seven constellations that make up the
Northern Hemisphere's lineup in this season:
• Aquila
• Cygnus
• Hercules
• Lyra
• Ophiuchus
• Sagittarius
• Scorpius 
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
Cassiopeia – “ The Queen”
 Cassiopeia – “The Queen”
• Brightest Star – Schedar

• The Myth:
Cassiopeia was the queen of Ethiopia. She was
so proud of her beauty and bragged about it.
She offended the sea god Poseidon. He sent a
sea monster to attack her kingdom and teach
her some humility.
According to the legend, the sea god Poseidon
placed the figure of Cassiopeia among the
stars to remind people of her vanity.
Cygnus – “The Swan”
Cygnus – “The Swan”
• Brightest Star – Deneb

The Myth:

One day three hunters were hiking through the

forest when they came upon a clear lake. The lake
was home to many birds including a beautiful snow
goose. One hunter shot his bow and the snow goose
fell into the lake. As the sky darkened, the spirit
of the snow goose formed a constellation
in the sky.
Orion – “The Hunter”
 Orion – “The Hunter”
• Brightest Star – Rigel and Betelgeuse

The Myth:
Orion was a very good hunter, but also
boastful. Gaia, the goddess of Earth, became fed up
with Orion’s boast so she sent a deadly scorpion to
kill the hunter. The scorpion ended Orion’s bragging.
Both Orion and Scorpius were placed in the sky but to
avoid any further battles, they are never in the sky
at the same time. Orion is seen in the winter and
Scorpius is seen in the summer.
Ursa Major – “Big Bear”
Ursa Major – “Big Bear”
• Brightest Star – Dubhe and Merak

The Myth:
Zeus, king of the gods, fell in love with
Callisto. Together they had a son, Arcas. Zeus
changed Callisto into a bear to protect her from his
jealous wife, Hera. When Arcas grew up, he almost
shot his mother by mistake. Zeus protected
Callisto by changing Arcas into another bear (Ursa
Minor-Little Dipper) and placing both bears in the
sky.
 Ursa Minor – “Little Bear”
• Ursa Minor, aka, Little Bear, contains the
Little Dipper and the North Star, Polaris
 Ursa Minor – “Little Bear”
• Brightest Star – Polaris

• Remember Zeus loved Callisto and changed her into a

bear to protect her from his jealous wife. Arcas liked
to hunt and almost killed his mother, Callisto, Big
Bear. Zeus decided to also change Arcas into a bear
to protect both his son and his lover. He placed both
bears in the sky together.
Directions: Write the name of each
constellation in the correct diagram.
 Uses of Constellations:
• Constellations help people to recognize stars in the sky. By
looking for patterns, the stars and locations can be much
easier to spot.
• The constellations had uses in ancient times. They were
used to help keep track of the calendar. This was very
important so that people knew when to plant and harvest
crops.
• Another important use for constellations was navigation.
By finding Ursa Minor it is fairly easy to spot the North
Star (Polaris). Using the height of the North Star in the sky,
navigators could figure out their latitude helping ships to
travel across the oceans.