CONSTELLATIONS BY:SIMON GOINES

WWK

• HISTORY OF CONSTELLATIONS

• Constellations are patterns of stars in the sky which astronomers use to help them pinpoint individual stars.

• Most of the constellations were identified long ago by the stargazers of Ancient Babylon and Egypt.

• Constellations are simply patterns — there is no real link between the stars whatsoever.

• Astronomers today recognize 88 constellations.

• Heroes and creatures of Greek myth, such as Orion the Hunter and Perseus, provided the names for many constellations, although each name is usually written in its Latin form, not Greek.

• The stars in each constellation are named after a letter of the Greek alphabet.

• The brightest star in each constellation is called the Alpha star, the next brightest Beta, and so on.

• Different constellations become visible at different times of year, as the Earth travels around the Sun.

• Southern hemisphere constellations are different from those in the north.

• The constellation of the Great Bear — also known by its Latin name Ursa Major — contains an easily recognizable group of seven stars called the Plough or the Big Dipper.

Constellation names !

• •Andromeda (Chained Maiden.)• •Antlia (Air Pump.)• •Apus (Bird of Paradise.)• •Aquarius (Water Bearer.)• •Aquila (Eagle.)• •Ara (Altar.)• •Aries (Ram.)• •Auriga (Charioteer.)

Constellation names• •Bootes (Herdsmen.)• •Caelum (Engraving Tool.)• •Camelopardalis (Giraffe.)• •Cancer (Crab.)• •Canes Venatici (Hunting Dog.)• •Canis Major (Great Dog.)• •Canis Minor (Lesser Dog.)• •Capricornus (Sea Goat.)• •Carina (Keel.)• •Cassiopeia (Seated Queen.)• •Centaurus (Centaur.)• •Cepheus (King.)

Constellation names

• •Cetus (Sea Monster.)• •Chamaeleon (Chameleon.)• •Circinus (Compass.)• •Columba (Dove.)• •Coma Berenices (Bernice's Hair.)• •Corona Australis (Southern Crown.)• •Corona Borealis (Northern Crown.)• •Corvus (Crow.)• •Crater (Cup.)• •Crux (Southern Cross.)• •Cygnus (Swan.)

Constellation names

• •Delphinus (Dolphin.)• •Dorado (Dolphinfish.)• •Draco (Dragon.)• •Equuleus (Little Horse.)• •Eridanus (River.)• •Fornax (Furnace.)• •Gemini (Twins.)• •Grus (Crane.)• •Hercules (Hercules.)• •Horologium (Clock.)• •Hydra (Female Water Snake.)• •Hydrus (Male Water Snake.)

Constellation names• •Indus (Indian.)• •Lacerta (Lizard.)• •Leo (Lion.)• •Leo Minor (Lesser Lion.)• •Lepus (Hare.)• •Libra (Scales.)• •Lupus (Wolf.)• •Lynx (Lynx.)• •Lyra (Lyre.)• •Mensa (Table Mountain.)• •Microscopium (Microscope.)• •Monoceros (Unicorn.)

Constellation names • •Musca (Fly.)• •Norma (Carpenter's Square.)• •Octans (Octant.)• •Ophiuchus (Serpent Bearer.)• •Orion (Hunter.)• •Pavo (Peacock.)• •Pegasus (Winged Horse.)• •Perseus (Hero.)• •Phoenix (Phoenix.)• •Pictor (Painter's Easel.)• •Pisces (Fish.)• •Piscis Austrinus (Southern Fish

Constellation names

• •Puppis (Stern.)• •Pyxis (Compass.)• •Reticulum (Reticle.)• •Sagitta (Arrow.)• •Sagittarius (Archer.)• •Scorpius (Scorpion.)• •Sculptor (Sculptor.)• •Scutum (Shield.)• •Serpens (Serpent.)• •Sextans (Sextent.)• •Taurus (Bull.)

Constellation names

• •Telescopium (Telescope.)• •Triangulum (Triangle.)• •Triangulum Australe (Southern Triangle.)• •Tucana (Toucan.)• •Ursa Major (Great Bear.)• •Ursa Minor (Lesser Bear.)• •Vela (Sails.)• •Virgo (Maiden.)• •Volans (Flying Fish.)• •Vulpecula (Fox.)

Major constellations !

• The Big Dipper • Cassiopeia • Perseus • Cepheus • Cygnus, The Swan

• Lyra, The Lyre

• Pegasus, The Winged Horse

• Aquila, The Eagle

• Orion, The Hunter

• Andromeda

• Taurus, The Bull

• Canis Major, The Great Dog

• Gemini, The Twins

• Leo, The Lion

• Virgo, The Virgin

• Bootes, The Herdsman

• Sagittarius, The Archer

• Scorpio, The Scorpion