CONSTELLATIONS

SWBAT identify key constellations in the northern hemisphere.

WHAT IS A CONSTELLATION?

Constellations are formed of bright stars which appear close to each other on the sky, but are really far apart in space.

The shapes you see all depend on your point of view.

Many societies saw patterns among the stars with gods and goddesses or stories from their culture.

WHERE DO CONSTELLATIONS GET THEIR NAMES?

Most of the constellations we are familiar with come from ancient Greece.

But other civilizations have created their own patterns in the sky based on stories (myths and legends)and people that were important to them.

NORTHERN HEMISPHERE Many different

constellations fill the evening sky in the northern hemisphere.

Depending on your location and the season, different constellations can be seen.

SOME CONSTELLATIONS WE CANSEE IN ARIZONA…

Spring Bootes, Cancer, Crater, Hydra, Leo, Virgo

Summer Aquila, Cygnus, Hercules, Lyra, Ophiuchus,

Sagittarius, Scorpius Fall

Andromeda, Aquarius, Capricornus, Pegasus, Pisces

Winter Canis Major, Cetus, Eridanus, Gemini, Orion,

Perseus, Taurus Always visible

Cassiopeia, Cepheus, Draco, Ursa Major, Ursa Minor

CYGNUS Season Visible: Summer Also called:

‘the Swan’ ‘the Northern Cross’

The stars inside the constellation: 9 main stars the brightest is Deneb at

the tail. (a blue supergiant; the 19th brightest in the night sky)

Albireo, the star in the bill is really a double star.

CYGNUS MYTHOLOGY There are several stories in Greek

mythology that involve the constellation Cygnus. And it is unclear which of the Greek gods the Swan may represent.

Some tales have said that Cygnus is Zeus in disguise. Others say it was a friend of Phaethon, Apollo’s (the sun god) son, who repeatedly dove into a river trying to save Phaethon from drowning.

SCORPIUS Season Visible:

Summer Scorpius is Latin for

scorpion Also called:

‘Scorpio’ The stars inside the

constellation:18 main stars the brightest is

Antares – the heart (red supergiant star)

SCORPIUS MYTHOLOGYThe great huntsman, Orion, boasted that he would kill every animal on earth. Some other gods and goddesses were upset by this and they sent a scorpion to kill Orion. The battle between Orion and the scorpion was very fierce, it attracted the attention of Zeus (king of the gods). The scorpion killed Orion and Zeus raised the scorpion to heaven and then also sent Orion to the heavens. Orion ‘hunts’ the night sky in winter and flees when the scorpion comes out during the summer.

ORION Season Visible: Winter Also called:

‘the Hunter’ The stars inside the

constellation: 7 main stars the brightest is Rigel. (a

blue-white supergiant; the 6th brightest star in the night sky)

The second brightest is Betelgeuse (a red supergiant; the 8th brightest star in the night sky)

ORION MYTHOLOGY As mentioned previously, in Greek mythology,

Orion was killed by a scorpion and the god Zeus raised him and the scorpion into the heavens.

In ancient Egypt, Orion (known as Osiris) was killed by his evil brother. He was revived by his wife to live as an immortal among the stars.

CASSIOPIA Season visible: all Also called:

‘the seated queen’ The stars inside the

constellation:5 main stars the brightest is Shedir.

(an orange giant star)None of Cassiopia’s

stars are supergiants.

CASSIOPIA MYTHOLOGY Cassiopia, the wife of King Cepheus of

Ethiopia, was beautiful but arrogant and vain. Because she used to boast that she was more beautiful than Nereids (the daughters of Poseidon – the sea god), Poseidon decided to destroy her kingdom. Cassiopeia was told by an oracle to sacrifice her daughter (Andromeda) to Poseidon to make him happy. However, Andromeda was rescued and Poseidon thought that Cassiopeia should be punished. So, he placed her in a chair in the heavens to punish her for eternity.

URSA MAJOR Season visible: all Also called:

the Great Bear, the Plough, the Wain, and the Wagon

The stars inside the constellation: 20 major stars the brightest is Alioth. (a

blue-white star; the 31st brightest star in the night sky)

The seven brightest stars of Ursa Major for the asterism the BIG DIPPER.

URSA MAJOR MYTHOLOGY In Greek mythology, Zeus (the king of the

gods) was having an affair with a young woman named Callisto. His wife Hera, transformed Callisto into a bear. While in bear form, Callisto’s son tried to shoot her. To avert the tragedy, Zeus transformed both of them into bears and sent them into the skies.