A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Facts about Constellations

The stars allowed farmers to plan ahead and form agriculture, and constellations made it easier to recognize and interpret the patterns in the sky. The constellations also helped with navigation. It is fairly easy to spot Polaris (The North Star) once you've found Ursa Minor (Little Dipper constellation).Jun 27, 2015

A constellation is a group of stars that make an imaginary shape in the night sky. They are usually named after mythological characters, people, animals and objects. In different parts of the world, people have made up different shapes out of the same groups of bright stars.

Contrary to popular belief, there are actually 13 zodiacal constellations, if you pay attention to the way astronomers define them. In addition to Capricornus, Aquarius, Pisces, Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpius, and Sagittarius, the Sun also passes through Ophiuchus.

The constellations below are the most famous and most visible to the naked eye in the Northern Hemisphere.Aquarius. This drawing, as well as those below, is from Sidney Hall's set of drawings called Urania's Mirror. ... Aquila. ... Aries. ... Canis Major. ... Cygnus (also known as the Northern Cross) ... Leo. ... Orion. ... Scorpius.

Step 1: Orient the Star Chart. To use a star chart to identify stars and constellations, you must first find the one appropriate for the time of year you are observing. ... Step 2: Compare. Compare the stars on the star chart and the stars you see in the night sky. ... 5 Comments. Leadslinger 10 months ago.

88 Officially Recognized ConstellationsLatin NameEnglish Name or DescriptionAndromedaPrincess of EthiopiaAntliaAir pumpApusBird of ParadiseAquariusWater bearer84 more rows

How many constellations are there? Astronomers officially recognize 88 constellations covering the entire sky in the northern and southern hemispheres.

Most of the constellation names we know came from the ancient Middle Eastern, Greek, and Roman cultures. They identified clusters of stars as gods, goddesses, animals, and objects of their stories. ... These scientists “connected” the dimmer stars between the ancient constellations. There are 38 modern constellations.

Constellations Changing Positions. Due to the earth's rotation, stars appear to move. As the Earth rotates from west to east, the stars appear to rise in the East, moving across south to set in the west. The Sun will appear to move through the stars, making one complete circuit of the sky in 365 days.

Related Types