Constellations-A

Constellations

Astronomy 

The scientific study of the universe beyond the Earth

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Tells us about the origin, history and structure of our universe and solar system

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Uses telescopes and satellites

Astrology 

The study that interprets how the positions of the stars, planets and moon effect your personality, fate, relationships etc

ASTERISM A cluster of stars that is a subset of a constellation  Ex : the Big Dipper is part of the constellation Ursa Major- the Great Bear 

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An unofficial constellation

CONSTELLATION 

A group of stars in the same region of the sky to which a name has been given

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Ex: Orion, Capricorn, Pegasus

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Any of the 88 groups of stars seen from Earth named by ancient Greeks after animals, objects or mythological figures

CIRCUMPOLAR 

A group of 5 constellations that circle close to the North Star

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These constellations never fall below the horizon

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Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Cassiopeia, Cepheus and Draco

Ecliptic 

The part of the sky that is the plane of orbit of the sun, the moon and the planets

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The zodiac constellations fall in this great circle

HOROSCOPE 

A prediction made based on the position of the sun, moon and planets

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A chart or diagram showing the positions of celestial bodies and interpreted for their influence over human events

PRECESSION 

The slow cone shaped motion of the Earth’s axis of rotation

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The Earth wobbles as it rotates over a 25,800 year period

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This causes the zodiac constellations to line up differently with the sun over long periods of time

Zodiac A band of constellations found along the ecliptic  Originally contained 12 signs or “houses”  The sun resides in each constellation for approximately one month 

Constellations There are only 88 official constellations  13 Zodiac Constellations  5 Circumpolar Constellations  Several constellations are seen in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres  In the past elaborate pictures were drawn to represent the story behind the constellation 

Orion the Hunter

Orion the Hunter Ancient People in Europe and the Middle East saw a hunter brandishing a club when they looked at Orion  In Australia, it is turned upside down  To professional astronomers, Orion is an irregular part of the sky 

Orion the Hunter By the late 19th century, popular stargazing guides began to represent constellations as stick figures  In 1952 H.A. Rey (author of Curious George) revolutionized the way we look at constellations by connecting the dots in new and clever ways. 

Orion 2

Orion 3

Which do you like better?