Chapter 24 Stars and Galaxies

Stars : Constellations The constellations are totally imaginary things that poets, farmers, sailors, and astronomers have made up over the past 6,000 years The real purpose for the constellations is to help us tell which stars are which. On a really dark night, you can see about 1000 to 1500 stars. The constellations help by breaking up the sky into more manageable bits.  

Constellations They are used as mnemonics, or memory aids. For example, if you spot three bright stars in a row in the winter evening, you might realize, "Oh! That's part of Orion!" Now, the rest of the constellation falls into place and you can say: "There's Betelgeuse in Orion's left shoulder and Rigel is his foot."

Constellations : Orion ,The Hunter

Orion, The Hunter

Orion, The Hunter

Orion Orion is the master of the winter skies with his hunting dog Sirius trailing at his feet. The mythic tales of Orion go as far back as the Hittites, from 2000 B.C. to around 1200 B.C.

Orion There are many different stories from the Greeks. Basically, Orion was known as the "dweller of the mountain", and was famous for his skill as a hunter.

88 Constellations The constellations have changed over time. In the modern world, many of the constellations have been redefined so now every visible star in the sky is in exactly one constellation. In 1929, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) adopted official constellation boundaries that defined the 88 official constellations that exist today.  Constellations Web Site (The source for much of this information.) More Web Constellations

Constellations from Various Cultures Lakota People ( Native American ) African Indian

Lakota People The Constellation of the Hand It represents the arm of a great Lakota chief. It symbolizes harmony between the gods and the people with the help of young people. The index finger is Rigel (star) and the thumb is the Orion Nebula.

Egypt : North Africa Nut was the Egyptian sky goddess. She was depicted as a giant, naked woman who was supporting the sky with her back. Her body was blue and covered by stars. Each evening, the Sun entered the mouth of Nut and passing through her body was born each morning.

India The Seven Rishis According to the epic Mahabharata, composed in about 500 B.C., the stars of the Big Dipper were the seven sages called Rishis. These seven sages are said to be those who made the Sun rise and shine.

IAU Constellations to know Orion Leo Hercules Ursa Major Bootes (Bo O Teez) Draco Cassiopeia Canis Major

Leo

Hercules

Ursa Major

Ursa Major

Bootes

Bootes : The Herdsman

A Roman Villa

Bootes

Draco

Draco : The Dragon The origin of the constellation, Draco, and of most dragon lore as well, was probably the dragon Tiamat, the sea serpent who existed even before the sea and sky had been divided from each other, the dragon of chaos.  (Chaldeans)

Cassiopeia

Cassiopeia The Queen. Cepheus was King of Æthiopia (not present day Ethiopia), and the beautiful Cassiopeia was his Queen.  Soon after their marriage, Cassiopeia had a daughter, Andromeda. 

Canis Major

Canis Major The brightest star is Sirius, also known as the Dog Star. ( Found in the “neck” (alfa)) One of Orion’s Hunting Dogs.

November Star Map

November 18 Sky Map 7:30 PM

Greek Letters Web Alpha = A Beta = B Gamma = G Delta = D Epsilon = E Zeta = Z

Greek Letters in Science 1. Star Charts 2. Hurricanes 3. Physics equations …Delta means “Change” 4. Lamda means “Wavelength” 5. Mu means “micro”

Constellations in Art Alexander Calder – Mobiles, The Constellations…A Philadelphian