CONSTELLATIONS

PREPARED BY: GROUP 4

 As defined by the International
Astronomical Union (IAU) in the
early twentieth century,
constellation is an area of the
celestial sphere composed of
stars that appear to be located
close together in the sky. They
form imaginary outlines or
patterns that typically represent
inanimate objects, animals, and
mythological creatures.
 CONSTELLATIONS
The IAU divides the sky into 88 constellations with exact boundaries, so that
every place in the sky belongs within a constellation. Of these, 48 were already
recognized in ancient times and had been listed by the astronomer PTOLEMY.
These 48 constellations were named based on Greek and Roman Mythology

E W
 The star patterns that have been discovered but have not been officially
identified as constellation are called ASTERISM. The most famous example of
asterism is the BIG DIPPER, a constellation that is quite common as it was even
featured on the Alaskan state flag. The reason why it is not considered a true
constellation is because it is a part of a larger constellation, called URSA
MAJOR (THE GREAT BEAR).

E W
 DIFFERENT CONSTELLATIONS
IN THE SKY

12:0o AM

6:oo PM 6:0o AM

E W
The 88 constellations are divided into
two groups relative to their position
from Earth. There are 44
constellations visible in the sky north
of the equator and the remaining 44
constellations can be viewed in the
southern sky. People living in the
Northern Hemisphere see only the
constellations in the northern sky. The
people living in the Southern
Hemisphere see only the
constellations in the Southern Sky.
 The Big Dipper is part of the
constellation Ursa Major. Notice how the
front two stars of the Big Dipper point
directly at the star Polaris. POLARIS, also
known as the North Star, is located at
the end of the Little Dipper; part of the
Ursa Minor. Polaris is almost directly
over the Earth's north pole. As the earth
rotates, you can watch Ursa Major, Ursa
Minor, and other constellations in the
northern sky circle around Polaris.
Because this constellations circle
Polaris, they are called CIRCUMPOLAR
CONSTELLATIONS.
 • CIRCUMPOLAR CONSTELLATIONS -
are constellations that move in a
counterclockwise direction. At any given
night, these constellations are visible
during the portion of the circle, while the
rest is traced out when the
constellations are hidden in the daylight.
 SOME FAMOUS CONSTELLATIONS

B C
A D
1:0o AM

EAST WEST
 ORION Sagittarius

Capricorn Scorpio
It is the one of the most
prominent stars patterns in the
Aquarius Libra
sky. It is known as "THE
HUNTER" located on the
celestial equator and visible Pisces

throughout the world. Its family Virgo

includes five constellations;

ORION (The Hunter), CANIS Aries
Leo

MAJOR and CANIS MINOR

Cancer
(Orion' two Gods), MONOCERES Taurus

(The Unicorn), and LEPUS (THE

Gemini
HARE).
 URSA MAJOR Sagittarius

it is also known as "BIG BEAR" and is Capricorn Scorpio

one of the most famous

constellations. It can be seen all Aquarius Libra

year to those who are at the

Northern latitude of the earth. Its Pisces
family includes 10 constellations Virgo

circling the northern celestial pole;

URSA MAJOR (containing Big Leo
Aries
Dipper), URSA MINOR (containing
Polaris, the northern star), CANES Cancer
Taurus
VENATICI, BOOTES, COMA
BERENICE, CORONA BOREALIS, Gemini

CAMELOPARDALIS LYNX
 Sagittarius

DRACO Capricorn Scorpio

One myth claims that DRACO is Aquarius Libra

always visible in the Northern

Hemisphere but not in the
Pisces
Southern Hemisphere. The name Virgo

Draco "THE DRAGON" is derived

from the Latin term DRACONEM Leo
Aries
meaning huge serpent.
Cancer
Taurus

Gemini
 HERCULES
Sagittarius

Capricorn Scorpio

It is a constellation named after

the Greek hero Herakles, who Aquarius Libra

was the greatest of the Greek

heroes and was famous for his 12
Pisces
labors. This constellation belongs Virgo

to one of the 48 originals plotted

by Ptolemy and has survived Leo
Aries
time to become one of the 88
modern constellations adopted Taurus
Cancer

by the International Astronimical

Union (IAU). Gemini
 HERCULES
Sagittarius

Capricorn Scorpio

It is a constellation named after

the Greek hero Herakles, who Aquarius Libra

was the greatest of the Greek

heroes and was famous for his 12
Pisces
labors. This constellation belongs Virgo

to one of the 48 originals plotted

by Ptolemy and has survived Leo
Aries
time to become one of the 88
modern constellations adopted Taurus
Cancer

by the International Astronimical

Union (IAU). Gemini
 CHANGING POSITION OF
CONSTELLATIONS

1:0o AM

EAST D 6:0o AM WEST

You do not see all the Sagittarius

constellations in one night. Capricorn Scorpio

Some of the constellations

can be seen only during Aquarius Libra

certain seasons. The part of

the sky visible at night at a
Pisces
particular place gradually Virgo
changes as the season
changes, also, you should
Leo
Aries
know that in any one
evening, the observers at Taurus
Cancer

different latitudes see

different constellations. Gemini
 Sagittarius
Astronomers divided the constellations
into three regions:
Capricorn Scorpio

1. NORTH CIRCUMPOLAR
CONSTELLATIONS - they are seen by the Aquarius Libra

observer at the Northern Mid-Latitude.

Pisces
2. SOUTH CIRCUMPOLAR
Virgo
CONSTELLATIONS - they are seen by the
observer at the Southern Mid-Latitude.
Leo
Aries
3. EQUATORIAL CONSTELLATIONS- they
Cancer
lie on either of the celestial equator Taurus
which is the projection of the earth's
equator to the sky. Gemini
 ZODIAC
CONSTELLATION
 Sagittarius
Every three months, the earth
travels about one-fourth of its orbit. Capricorn Scorpio

This, for each season, the earth is

exposed to different constellations. Aquarius Libra
A different zodiac constellation also
appears every month. The word
ZODIAC means "CIRCLE OF Pisces

Virgo
ANIMALS" in Greek. There are 13
equatorial patterns in astronomy.
Leo
They have been used as Aries

astrological signs which have 12 Cancer

signs that actually match the Taurus

celestial constellations.
Gemini
The constellations that astronomers used Sagittarius

to identify parts of the sky are not the

same as the zodiac signs used by Capricorn Scorpio

astrologers. For example, OPHIUCHUS is

recognized in astronomy but not as Aquarius Libra
astrological sign. The zodiac signs were
based on the constellations 2,000 years
ago when their modern (LATIN) names Pisces

were first used. Virgo

The signs are an astrological

Leo
Aries
convenience, ignoring the differences
between two different types of solar Cancer
Taurus
calendar. • The difference in the two solar
calendars is caused by an astronomical
Gemini
phenomenon called PRECESSION.
 REFERENCE:
https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/grade-9-stars-and-
constellationspptx/265463442

THANK YOU!