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Slides are from http://www.cs.wright.edu/~tkprasad/AstronomyMedley/U4_Constellations.ppt

Ursa MajorUrsa Major•   Ursa Major, the Great Bear, is visible in Ursa Major, the Great Bear, is visible in

the Northern Hemisphere all year long.the Northern Hemisphere all year long.• Ursa Major is the best known of the Ursa Major is the best known of the

constellation and it appears in every constellation and it appears in every reference known. reference known.

• The story behind it: The story behind it: – Callisto was changed to a bear because of Callisto was changed to a bear because of

Zeus's jealousy and transferred her to the Zeus's jealousy and transferred her to the sky. This is improbable, as the constellation sky. This is improbable, as the constellation was already well established before this was already well established before this time. The drawings all show a bear with a time. The drawings all show a bear with a long tail, again not likely correct since bears long tail, again not likely correct since bears have no tails. The most likely explanation for have no tails. The most likely explanation for the bears is the fact that Native Americans the bears is the fact that Native Americans called the constellations the bear, but called the constellations the bear, but instead of the tail they depict the bear being instead of the tail they depict the bear being chased around the pole by seven braves.chased around the pole by seven braves.

Ursa MajorUrsa Major

Ursa MajorUrsa MajorCircumpolar ConstellationCircumpolar Constellation

How to find theHow to find the Big DipperBig Dipper

Ursa MinorUrsa Minor• Ursa Minor, the Little Bear, is visible in Ursa Minor, the Little Bear, is visible in

the Northern Hemisphere all year the Northern Hemisphere all year long.long.

• Ursa Minor is mostly known for Ursa Minor is mostly known for Polaris, the North Star which may be Polaris, the North Star which may be found at the end of the handle. found at the end of the handle.

• The story behind it: The story behind it: – Ursa Minor does not have any mythology Ursa Minor does not have any mythology

attached to it, it was created in the 6th attached to it, it was created in the 6th century B.C. as a navigational aid for century B.C. as a navigational aid for sailors out of a long forgotten sailors out of a long forgotten constellation called the Dragon's wing. constellation called the Dragon's wing.

Ursa MinorUrsa MinorCircumpolar ConstellationCircumpolar Constellation

CepheusCepheus• The story behind it:

– Cepheus was the King of Ethiopia. He married Cassiopeia and they had a daughter Andromeda. Cassiopeia was incredibly beautiful but immensely vain. She was also proud of her daughter's beauty. In fact she continually boasted that the two of them were more beautiful than any of the fifty sea nymphs who attended Poseidon's court.

– These nymphs (the Nereids) complained to Poseidon, who felt he had to defend his own reputation. So he sent a flood to devastate Cepheus' kingdom. The oracles told Cepheus that in order to save his people he must sacrifice his daughter to a great sea monster: Andromeda was tied to a rock along the coastline, dressed only in her jewelry. The monster would be along in due time to take his prize.

– At that moment Perseus came flying by. He had just killed the Gorgon Medusa and was carrying the severed head back to Athene. To make a long story short, he saved her then turned everyone into stone by showing them the severed head.

– Poseidon then put the stone frozen Cepheus and Cassiopeia into the heavens, but with a twist: he made the vain Cassiopeia spin around on her chair, spending half the year upside down. As for Cepheus, Poseidon gave him a number of medium sized stars that go to make his square face with a pointed crown.

CepheusCepheusCircumpolar ConstellationCircumpolar Constellation

CassiopeiaCassiopeia• This constellation is at the edge of the Milky This constellation is at the edge of the Milky

Way galaxy and has the shape of a "W". Way galaxy and has the shape of a "W". • The story behind it: The story behind it:

– Cassiopeia had been the wife of Cepheus. Cassiopeia had been the wife of Cepheus. Because she thought herself more beautiful than Because she thought herself more beautiful than the daughters of Nereus, a god of the sea, she the daughters of Nereus, a god of the sea, she angered the god Poseidon. To punish her, her angered the god Poseidon. To punish her, her daughter was chained to a rock of the coast as a daughter was chained to a rock of the coast as a sacrifice for a sea monster. Andromeda was sacrifice for a sea monster. Andromeda was saved from death by Perseus. To learn humility saved from death by Perseus. To learn humility Cassiopeia was banned to the sky hanging half of Cassiopeia was banned to the sky hanging half of the time head downward. the time head downward.

CassiopeiaCassiopeiaCircumpolar ConstellationCircumpolar Constellation

DracoDraco• Draco, the Dragon, used Draco, the Dragon, used

to hold special to hold special significance as the significance as the location of the pole star, location of the pole star, but due to the Earth's but due to the Earth's precession, the pole has precession, the pole has shifted to Polaris in Ursa shifted to Polaris in Ursa Minor.Minor.

• The story behind it: The story behind it: – The dragon is Ladon, the The dragon is Ladon, the

guardian of the 'golden guardian of the 'golden apples' of immortality apples' of immortality which grew in the garden which grew in the garden of Hesperides, beyond of Hesperides, beyond the River of Time, in the the River of Time, in the land of death. It is Ladon land of death. It is Ladon which Hercules kills in which Hercules kills in his 11th labor to get the his 11th labor to get the golden apples.golden apples.

DracoDraco

Circumpolar Constellations

Circumpolar Constellations

Circumpolar Constellations

Circumpolar Constellations

Circumpolar Constellations

Circumpolar Constellations

OrionOrion• Orion is the master of the winter skies. He lords over the Orion is the master of the winter skies. He lords over the

heavens from late fall to early spring, with his hunting dog heavens from late fall to early spring, with his hunting dog Sirius trailing at his feet. Sirius trailing at his feet.

• The story behind it: (Orion holding a bow)The story behind it: (Orion holding a bow)– Orion was a handsome and famous hunter. The Battle-Goddess Orion was a handsome and famous hunter. The Battle-Goddess

Anat fell in love with him, but when he refused to lend her his Anat fell in love with him, but when he refused to lend her his bow, she sent another man to steal it. This chap bungled the job, bow, she sent another man to steal it. This chap bungled the job, and wound up killing Orion and dropping the bow into the sea. and wound up killing Orion and dropping the bow into the sea. This is said to explain the astronomical fact that Orion and the This is said to explain the astronomical fact that Orion and the Bow (an older version of the constellation) drops below the Bow (an older version of the constellation) drops below the horizon for two months every spring. horizon for two months every spring.

• Another story behind it: (Orion holding an animal)Another story behind it: (Orion holding an animal)– Orion was known as the "dweller of the mountain", and was Orion was known as the "dweller of the mountain", and was

famous for his prowess both as a hunter and as a lover. But famous for his prowess both as a hunter and as a lover. But when he boasted that he would eventually rid the earth of all the when he boasted that he would eventually rid the earth of all the wild animals, his doom may have been sealed. The Earth wild animals, his doom may have been sealed. The Earth Goddess sent the deadly scorpion to Orion to kill him. Orion Goddess sent the deadly scorpion to Orion to kill him. Orion engaged the scorpion in battle but quickly realized its amour was engaged the scorpion in battle but quickly realized its amour was impervious to any mortal's attack. Orion then jumped into the sea impervious to any mortal's attack. Orion then jumped into the sea and died. In his eternal hunting, Orion is careful to keep well and died. In his eternal hunting, Orion is careful to keep well ahead of the scorpion. Orion has disappears over the horizon by ahead of the scorpion. Orion has disappears over the horizon by the time Scorpio rises in the east, as it becomes his turn to rule the time Scorpio rises in the east, as it becomes his turn to rule the evening sky. the evening sky.

Orion Not a circumpolar constellation, but a seasonal constellation

BetelgeuseBetelgeuse,, the right arm of Orion (or "armpit" as the name suggests), glows with a dull red. Rigel,Rigel, in the opposite corner of the constellation, is much brighter.

• Orion

•On the left: On the left: The Hunter - OrionThe Hunter - Orion•In the middle: Name: In the middle: Name: The Bull - Taurus The Bull - Taurus •On the right: Name: On the right: Name: The Greater Dog - Canis MajorThe Greater Dog - Canis Major

• On the left: On the left: The Lion - Leo The Lion - Leo – There is a record of the Lion in an astronomical poem from Greece There is a record of the Lion in an astronomical poem from Greece

in the 3rd or 4th century B.C. in the 3rd or 4th century B.C. • In the middle: In the middle: The Herdsman - BThe Herdsman - Böööötes tes • On the right: On the right: The Virgin - Virgo The Virgin - Virgo

– At first, this constellation was recognized as the figure of a stalk of At first, this constellation was recognized as the figure of a stalk of wheat, and then was introduced to the Greeks and become the wheat, and then was introduced to the Greeks and become the figure of a virgin who holds a stalk of wheat, linking it with Greek figure of a virgin who holds a stalk of wheat, linking it with Greek mythology and legend. mythology and legend.

• On the left: The Crab - Cancer On the left: The Crab - Cancer – Its name is Cancer in Latin, which is the same name as the disease, cancer. This Its name is Cancer in Latin, which is the same name as the disease, cancer. This

disease was named after the shell of the crab, which is similar to the shape of breast disease was named after the shell of the crab, which is similar to the shape of breast cancer. cancer.

• In the middle: The Scorpion - Scorpio In the middle: The Scorpion - Scorpio – The Scorpion has existed since the oldest of times. After sunset, around the 7th of July, The Scorpion has existed since the oldest of times. After sunset, around the 7th of July,

you can see it in the shape of a large S above the southern horizon where the milky way you can see it in the shape of a large S above the southern horizon where the milky way is streaming down. The figure of this constellation was originally the figure of a scorpion is streaming down. The figure of this constellation was originally the figure of a scorpion with scissors. Later the scissors were separated to become the Balance. with scissors. Later the scissors were separated to become the Balance.

• On the right: The Archer - Sagittarius On the right: The Archer - Sagittarius – The Archer has been recognized since the Babylonian era. At that time it was the figure The Archer has been recognized since the Babylonian era. At that time it was the figure

of a man with a bow in his hand, not the present figure of the half man half horse which is of a man with a bow in his hand, not the present figure of the half man half horse which is recognized in Greek mythology. recognized in Greek mythology.

• On the left and in the middle: AndromedaOn the left and in the middle: Andromeda – The Andromeda constellation is famous for containing the The Andromeda constellation is famous for containing the

Andromeda Nebula, the closest galaxy to our Milky Way. Andromeda Nebula, the closest galaxy to our Milky Way. Andromeda was chained up for a sea monster to devour her. Andromeda was chained up for a sea monster to devour her.

– Andromeda is also the daughter of Cassiopeia & CepheusAndromeda is also the daughter of Cassiopeia & Cepheus• On the right: The Fishes, PiscesOn the right: The Fishes, Pisces

– In ancient Babylon, this constellation was viewed as the figure of In ancient Babylon, this constellation was viewed as the figure of a mermaid tied together with a swallow with a fish tail. The a mermaid tied together with a swallow with a fish tail. The present figure appeared in a 3rd or 4th century B.C. Greek present figure appeared in a 3rd or 4th century B.C. Greek poem. poem.

SignsSigns

Of The Of The

ZodiacZodiacFrom our perspective on earth, the sun takes a path through the sky (known as the ecliptic). It passes through these constellations.

Ecliptic Constellations & Ecliptic Constellations & Zodiac SignsZodiac Signs

• A band of 12 constellations around the sky entered on the ecliptic (apparent path of the sun on the earth as the earth revolves around it).

• Aries, Leo, Sagittarius, Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn, Gemini, Libra, Aquarius, Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces.

Ecliptic ConstellationsEcliptic Constellations

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