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 AHA-OBSERVATIONS
A C
B
CONSTELLATIONS
 WHAT IS
CONSTELLATION?

It 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
CONSTELLATION IN THE NORTHERN
HEMISPHERE
Constellations that can be seen all year round
are called circumpolar.

In the Northern Hemisphere, circumpolar

constellations are seen near the NORTH STAR.
These constellations are Ursa Major, Ursa
Minor, Cassiopea, and Cygnus.
URSA MAJOR
It is a Latin phrase that
means "greater bear" or
"big bear".
It is most commonly
recognized by the seven
brightest stars that
form a pattern known as
the Wagon, The plough or
the big dipper.
BIG DIPPER
 STARS IN BIG DIPPER
It is best viewed in the spring when it's above the northern horizon

Alpha Ursae Majoris: Also known as Dubhe, the second-brightest star in

Ursa Major
Beta Ursae Majoris: Also known as Merak, means “the loins of the bear”
Gamma Ursae Majoris: Also known as Phekda,means “thigh”

Delta Ursae Majoris: Also known as Megrez, referring to its location as the
intersection of the body and tail of the bear
Alkaid: Also known as Benetnasch, which means "chief of the mourners"

Mizar: Means "girdle" or "apron"

Alioth: A name that refers to a "black horse"
URSA MINOR
It is a constellation in the
northern sky that means
"Lesser Bear" in Latin
It's also known as the
Little Dipper because it's
shaped like a ladle or
dipper.
The brightest star in Ursa
Minor is Polaris, also known
as the North Star.
 STARS IN URSA MINOR
Polaris (Alpha Ursae Minoris) – Brightest star; North Star, used for
navigation. (323 light-years away)
Kochab (Beta Ursae Minoris) – Second-brightest; orange giant; helped
sailors navigate. (130 light-years)
Pherkad (Gamma Ursae Minoris) – White giant; forms "Guardians of the
Pole" with Kochab. (487 light-years)
Yildun (Delta Ursae Minoris) – White main-sequence star, visible in dark
skies. (172 light-years)
Epsilon Ursae Minoris – Double star system. (347 light-years)
Zeta Ursae Minoris – Binary star system with two orbiting stars.
Eta Ursae Minoris – Faintest star in Ursa Minor.
CASSIOPEIA

It is a constellation and asterism

in the northern sky named after
the vain queen Cassiopeia,
mother of Andromeda, in Greek
mythology, who boasted about
her unrivaled beauty.
 STARS IN CASSIOPEIA
Schedar (Alpha Cassiopeiae) – Brightest star; an orange giant. (228 light-
years)
Caph (Beta Cassiopeiae) – A yellow-white giant that rotates rapidly. (54
light-years)
Gamma Cassiopeiae – A blue-white variable star with unpredictable
brightness. (550 light-years)
Ruchbah (Delta Cassiopeiae) – A binary star system, appearing as a single
star to the naked eye. (99 light-years)
Segin (Epsilon Cassiopeiae) – A hot blue-white star marking the "W" shape of
Cassiopeia. (440 light-years)
CYGNUS
It is a constellation in the
northern sky that looks like
a swan in flight.

It's one of the most

recognizable constellations
in the summer and autumn.
 STARS IN CYGNUS
Deneb (Alpha Cygni) – Brightest star; a blue-white supergiant and one of
the largest known stars. (2,600 light-years)
Albireo (Beta Cygni) – A beautiful binary star system with contrasting gold
and blue colors. (430 light-years)
Sadr (Gamma Cygni) – Located at the heart of the Northern Cross,
surrounded by a bright nebula. (1,800 light-years)
Fawaris (Delta Cygni) – A triple star system with a blue-white primary
star. (165 light-years)
Aljanah (Epsilon Cygni) – An orange giant that shines steadily. (73 light-years)
Gienah (Zeta Cygni) – A yellow giant star, often confused with another
Gienah in Corvus. (150 light-years)
Tau Cygni – A sun-like star with potential exoplanets. (68 light-years)
CONSTELLATION IN THE SOUTHERN
HEMISPHERE

In the Southern Hemisphere there is no polar star

as a reference point. Southern circumpolar
constellations include the CRUX or the Southern
Cross, CARINA, and CENTAURUS.
CRUX
It is also known as the
Southern Cross, is a small,
prominent constellation in the
southern sky.

It's an autumn
constellation in the
Southern Hemisphere
 STARS IN CRUX
Acrux (Alpha Crucis) – Brightest star in Crux; a blue multiple star system.
(320 light-years)
Mimosa (Beta Crucis) – A blue giant star, second-brightest in Crux. (280
light-years)
Gacrux (Gamma Crucis) – A red giant, the closest bright star in Crux. (88
light-years)
Delta Crucis – A blue-white subgiant, part of the cross shape. (345 light-
years)
Epsilon Crucis – A cool orange giant, the faintest of the main stars. (230
light-years)
CARINA
It is a constellation in the
southern sky that's named after
the keel of a ship.

It is best viewed in the southern

hemisphere during the months of
January to March
 STARS IN CARINA
Canopus (Alpha Carinae) – Brightest star in Carina and 2nd brightest in the
night sky; a white giant. (310 light-years)
Miaplacidus (Beta Carinae) – A blue-white subgiant, one of the brightest
southern stars. (113 light-years)
Avior (Epsilon Carinae) – A binary star system with an orange giant and a
hot blue companion. (630 light-years)
Aspidiske (Iota Carinae) – A white supergiant, part of the "False Cross"
asterism. (690 light-years)
Eta Carinae – A massive, unstable star system, famous for its violent
outbursts. (7,500 light-years)
CENTAURUS
It is a large, bright constellation
in the southern sky.

It's the ninth largest

constellation and contains some
of the closest stars to Earth.

It's best seen in the springtime.

 STARS IN CENTAURUS
Alpha Centauri (Rigil Kentaurus) – Closest star system to Earth; consists
of three stars:
Alpha Centauri A (yellow sun-like star)
Alpha Centauri B (orange dwarf)
Proxima Centauri (red dwarf, the closest star to the Sun at 4.24 light-
years)
Beta Centauri (Hadar) – A blue giant and one of the brightest stars in the
sky. (390 light-years)
Menkent (Theta Centauri) – An orange giant visible from the Southern
Hemisphere. (60 light-years)
Epsilon Centauri – A blue-white giant, part of the Centaurus OB association.
(375 light-years)
 QUICK QUIZ
DIRECTIONS: Determine the constellations shown and give the brightest star
included in the constellation.

1. 3.
4.
2.
HOW DID ANCIENT
CULTURE USE
CONSTELLATIONS?
NAVIGATION
Used for finding directions at night.

SEASONS & AGRICULTURE

Used for finding directions at night.

MYTHS & LEGENDS

Stories about gods, heroes, and animals.
 THANK YOU
FOR LISTENING!