The Winter Constellations

The view to the north

The view to the south

Orion (the hunter) say or-EYE-un and Taurus (the bull) Notice the three bright stars: Aldebaran (say al-DEB-ar-an) Rigel (say RYE-jul) Betelgeuse (say BET-ul-jooz)

Here are some hunters

and here is a bull.

Auriga (the charioteer) Notice the bright star Capella. Notice the Pleiades (say PLEE-uh-deez). Say oh-RYE-guh

a chariot

a charioteer (he drives a chariot)

Here are the Pleiades!

The ancient Greeks thought the Pleiades, or the Seven Sisters, were goddesses.

Notice where the Andromeda Galaxy is. Andromeda and Pegasus Notice where the Andromeda Galaxy is.

Here is Andromeda. A monster, Cetus (SEE-tus), is after her. Do you see Perseus on Pegasus, coming to rescue Andromeda?

Here is the Andromeda Galaxy. It is the closest galaxy to the Milky Way.

Here is Pegasus, the winged horse!

Cetus (the sea monster, or whale) Say SEE-tus

Here is Cetus, coming after poor Andromeda!

Perseus (the hero) Notice the bright star, Algol. Say “PERS-yoos” and “AL-gawl”

Here is Perseus.

Perseus rode Pegasus

and saved Andromeda from Cetus. Andromeda was happy.

Cancer (the crab), Gemini (the twins), and Canis Minor (the little dog) Notice the three bright stars: Castor (say CAST-er) Pollux (say PAUL-ux) Procyon (say PRO-see-on)

a crab

Identical twins are brothers, or sisters, born at the same time and who look exactly the same.

Castor and Pollux

A little dog!

Aries (the ram) and Triangulum (the triangle)

A ram is a male sheep. See his curly horns?

triangles

Canis Major (the big dog) and Lepus (the hare) Notice the bright star Sirius—it is the brightest star in the sky! Say SEER-ee-us Say LEEP-us

a big dog

a hare

The End