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Constellations

The document provides an overview of constellations, explaining that they are groups of stars forming patterns in the sky, with 88 recognized constellations influenced by location and time. It highlights seven major constellations, including their brightest stars, best viewing seasons, and associated myths. Additionally, it discusses the apparent movement of stars due to Earth's rotation and the visibility of different constellations in each hemisphere.

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Carmie Bote Diaz
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Constellations

The document provides an overview of constellations, explaining that they are groups of stars forming patterns in the sky, with 88 recognized constellations influenced by location and time. It highlights seven major constellations, including their brightest stars, best viewing seasons, and associated myths. Additionally, it discusses the apparent movement of stars due to Earth's rotation and the visibility of different constellations in each hemisphere.

Uploaded by

Carmie Bote Diaz
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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O type star B type

Star
G TYPE OF STAR K TYPE OF STAR
M TYPE OF STAR
CONSTELLATIONS
WHAT ARE
CONSTELLATIONS?
A group
of stars
that
form a
pattern
in the
sky.
COOL FACTS ABOUT
CONSTELLATIONS
• There are 88 constellations

• The constellations you see depend


on your location, date, and time.

• Most have legends, myths, or


stories behind them.
HOW DO YOU FIND THEM?
Planisphere or Star Wheel
WHY DO THE STARS APPEAR TO
MOVE IN THE NIGHT SKY?
EARTH’S ROTATION!

Stars in the northern hemisphere appear to


rotate around Polaris (the north star)
• Polaris aligns with the axis of rotation
for the Earth: The North Pole
THE STARS SEEM TO SPIN
AROUND THE NORTH STAR
(POLARIS)
North Star
POLARIS: THE NORTH STAR
• As the Earth
rotates on its axis
its “celestial”
north pole remains
directly in line with
Polaris.
• This forms the
circles seen in the
previous
photograph
YOU SEE DIFFERENT
CONSTELLATIONS FROM EACH
HEMISPHERE.

Southern Hemisphere
Northern Hemisphere
NOW, FOR A TOUR OF THE
SEVEN MAJOR
CONSTELLATIONS…
Cassiopeia Orion
Cygnus Ursa major
Scorpius Ursa minor
Draco
CASSIOPEIA – “ THE
QUEEN”
CASSIOPEIA – “THE
QUEEN”
• Brightest Star – Schedar
• Best season to view – all year
• The Myth:
Cassiopeia was the queen of Ethiopia.
She was so proud of her beauty and bragged
about it. She offended the sea god Poseidon.
He sent a sea monster to attack her kingdom
and teach her some humility.
According to the legend, the sea god
Poseidon placed the figure of Cassiopeia
among the stars to remind people of her
vanity.
CYGNUS – “THE
SWAN”
CYGNUS – “THE SWAN”
• Brightest Star – Deneb
• Best season to view – all year

The Myth:

One day three hunters were hiking through the


forest when they came upon a clear lake. The lake
was home to many birds including a beautiful snow
goose. One hunter shot his bow and the snow
goose fell into the lake. As the sky darkened, the
spirit of the snow goose formed a constellation
in the sky.
SCORPIUS – “THE
SCORPION”
SCORPIUS – “THE
SCORPION”
• Brightest Star – Antares
• Best season to view – summer

The Myth:
To the ancient Greeks, the constellation
Scorpius was the image of a scorpion. The
constellation was related to the death of the giant
hunter Orion. There are several different stories
about Orion's death. According to one story, Orion
wanted to kill all the earth's wild animals, but the
Earth goddess Gaia got angry because she made
the animals.
The goddess sent a scorpion to attack Orion.
The scorpion stung Orion to death with its tail. As
a reward, Gaia changed the insect into a
constellation.
ORION – “THE HUNTER”
ORION – “THE HUNTER”
• Brightest Star – Rigel and Betelgeuse
• Best season to view – the winter

The Myth:
Orion was a very good hunter, but also
boastful. Gaia, the goddess of Earth, became
fed up with Orion’s boast so she sent a deadly
scorpion to kill the hunter. The scorpion ended
Orion’s bragging. Both Orion and Scorpius were
placed in the sky but to avoid any further
battles, they are never in the sky at the same
time. Orion is seen in the winter and Scorpius is
seen in the summer.
URSA MAJOR – “BIG
BEAR”
URSA MAJOR – “BIG
BEAR”
• Brightest Star – Dubhe and Merak
• Best season to view – all year

The Myth:
Zeus, king of the gods, fell in love with
Callisto. Together they had a son, Arcas. Zeus
changed Callisto into a bear to protect her
from his jealous wife, Hera. When Arcas grew
up, he almost shot his mother by mistake.
Zeus protected Callisto by changing Arcas into
another bear (Ursa Minor-Little Dipper) and
placing both bears in the sky.
URSA MINOR – “LITTLE
BEAR”
• Ursa Minor, aka, Little Bear, contains the Little
Dipper and the North Star, Polaris
URSA MINOR – “LITTLE
BEAR”
• Brightest Star – Polaris
• Best season to view – all year

• Remember Zeus loved Callisto and changed her


into a bear to protect her from his jealous wife.
Arcas liked to hunt and almost killed his mother,
Callisto, Big Bear. Zeus decided to also change
Arcas into a bear to protect both his son and his
lover. He placed both bears in the sky together.
DRACO – “THE DRAGON”
DRACO – “THE DRAGON”
• Draco the dragon fought Minerva during
the wars between the giants and the gods.
Minerva threw Draco's twisted body into
the heavens before it had time to unwind
itself.

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