CONSTELLATIONS

DID YOU KNOW THAT ASTRONOMY IS THE

STUDY OF everything in the universe
beyond Earth's atmosphere?
WHAT IS ASTRONOMY?

Astronomy is the study of everything in

the universe beyond Earth's atmosphere.
That includes objects we can see with our
naked eyes, like the Sun, the Moon, the
planets, and the stars.
Astrology, on the other hand, is the
belief that the positioning of the stars
and planets affect the way events occur
on earth.
WHAT IS A CONSTELLATION?
WHAT IS A CONSTELLATION?

Constellations are group of stars

that appear to form a pattern in the
sky.
The International Astronomical Union
(IAU) defined constellations as
boundaries in the sky to aid
determining locations of newly
discovered astronomical objects.
WHAT IS A CONSTELLATION?

The word
constellation comes
from the Latin word
“con” means group and
“stella” means stars.
HOW MANY CONSTELLATIONS
ARE THERE?
HOW MANY CONSTELLATIONS ARE THERE?

As of today, we have 88
constellations recognized by the
International Astronomy Union
and most of these stars are based
on Greek groups.
48 of which are accredited
constellations recorded in Ptolemy's
almagest.
Did you know that big dipper and little
dipper are not constellations?
Did you know that big dipper and little
dipper are not constellations?

While you might think that the

Big Dipper and Little Dipper are
constellations, this is actually
not the correct name for them;
instead, they should be called
an "asterism," which is a
prominent pattern of stars in
the sky.
WHAT IS an ASTERISM?
WHAT IS an ASTERISM?

Asterism is the more recognizable

patterns of stars that is not a
constellation.
Example:
The asterism known as the Big
Dipper comprises the seven
brightest stars in the constellation
Ursa Major.
WHAT IS an ASTERISM?
WHAT ARE circumpolar stars?
circumpolar stars

Circumpolar stars are

stars around a celestial
pole forming recognizable
patterns known as
circumpolar constellations.
circumpolar stars

The circumpolar stars remain in

the night sky and stay visible all
year from the northern
hemisphere. All stars observed
from the equator are not
circumpolar for it appears to rise
in the east and set in the west.
circumpolar stars

The northern circumpolar

constellations are:
1. Ursa Major
2. Ursa Minor
3. Cassiopeia
4. Draco
circumpolar stars

The southern circumpolar

constellations are:
1. Carina
2. Centaurus
3. Crux
COMMON CONSTELLATIONS
ORION
 ORION
O rio n i s a pr o m in en t co n s tella t i o n
lo ca ted o n t h e celes t ia l eq ua to r a n d
v is i b le th r o ug h o ut t h e wo rld . I t is o n e
o f th e m o s t co n s picuo us a n d
reco gn i z a b le co n s t ella ti o n s in th e
n ig h t s ky .
It is named after Orion, a hunter in Greek
mythology. Its brightest stars are the blue-
white Rigel and the red Betelgeuse.
ORION
URSA MINOR
URSA MINOR
Ursa Minor, also called Little Bear
is the constellation that contains
the Little Dipper. Ursa Minor is a
circumpolar constellation. This
means it never sets in the northern
sky.
Po la r is, th e b rig h t es t s t a r in th e
co n s t ella t io n .
URSA MINOR
URSA MAJOR
URSA MAJOR
Ursa Major is one of the most famous constellations.
Also known as the Great Bear, it is the companion of
Ursa Minor.
Everyone living in the Northern Hemisphere has
probably spotted the easily recognized portion of
this huge constellation. The body and tail of the
bear makeup what is known as the Big Dipper.

The two famous stars of the constellation Dubhe and

Merak are known as the Pointer Stars since they are
often used to find the north star, Polaris.
URSA MAJOR
DRACO: the dragon
DRACO: the dragon

D ra co , L a ti n f o r "T h e D ra g o n", i s o n ly
pres en t in t h e No r t h ern H em is ph ere, s o
th o s e liv i n g i n t h e S o ut h ern H em i s ph ere
will n ev er s ee t h is lo n g co n s t ella ti o n .
T h e b r igh t es t s t a rs in D ra co a re o ra n ge
gia n t G a m m a D r a co n i s , o r E lta n in,
T h ub a n, th e A lph a Dr a co n is , a n d th e
y ello w gia n t Bet a Dra co n is is Ra s ta b a n.
DRACO: the dragon

The easiest way to spot Draco is by finding his

head. It consists of four stars in a trapezoid,
burning brightly just north of Hercules. The tail
slithers through the sky, eventually ending
between the Big and Little Dippers. It can be
difficult to trace Draco in the night sky. From
the head, follow the body north towards
Cepheus. It suddenly shifts south and west,
ending up between the two dippers. The end of
the constellation is held by Thuban, which was
the pole star over 4,000 years ago.
DRACO: the dragon
CASSIOPEIA
CASSIOPEIA
The constellation Cassiopeia is a circumpolar
constellation that is visible year round in the
northern hemisphere.
Cassiopeia is easily recognizable for the prominent
W asterism formed by its five bright stars, which
is said to represent the Queen sitting on her
throne.
Gamma Cassiopeiae is the central star in the W
shape and currently the brightest star in the
constellation.
CASSIOPEIA
HYDRA: THE WATER SNAKE
HYDRA: THE WATER SNAKE

Hydra, Latin for "The Water Snake", is located

in the southern celestial hemisphere with its
head located south of the constellation Cancer
and its tail between Centaurus and Libra.
Hydra is the largest of the 88 modern
constellations, measuring 1303 square degrees,
and also the longest at over 100 degrees.
The brightest star in Hydra constellation is
Alphard or Alpha Hydrae.
HYDRA: THE WATER SNAKE
COMMON CONSTELLATIONS

The Zodiac signs are also

examples of constellations.
The Zodiac is a band of
constellations along the
ecliptic.
Aquarius: The Water Bearer
Aquarius: The Water Bearer

A q ua r ius is a n eq ua to r ia l co n s t ella ti o n
o f t h e z o d i a c, b et w een C a pri co r n us a n d
Pis ces . Its n a m e i s L a ti n f o r "w a ter -
ca r ri er/b ea r er" o r "cup-
ca r ri er /b ea rer", a n d it s o ld
a s tro n o m i ca l s y m b o l i s a repr es en ta ti o n
o f w a t er. A q ua r ius i s o n e o f t h e o ld es t
o f t h e r eco g n iz ed co n s t ella t io n s a lo n g
t h e z o d ia c.
Aquarius: The Water Bearer
Aries: the Ram
Aries: the Ram
Aries, Latin for "The Ram", is an
ancient constellation which was of
considerable importance since the sun
passed through it at the vernal
equinox.
It is located in the Northern celestial
hemisphere between Pisces to the
west and Taurus to the east.
Aries: the Ram
Cancer: The Crab
Cancer: The Crab

Cancer, Latin for "The Crab" is

located in the Northern
celestial hemisphere. It is lying
in the northern sky between Leo
and Gemini. Cancer is the
faintest of the 12 zodiac
constellations.
Cancer: The Crab
Capricornus: THE HORNED goat
Capricornus: THE HORNED goat

Capricornus, Latin for "The horned

goat", is located in the Southern
hemisphere between Aquarius and
Sagittarius.
It is commonly represented in the
form of a sea goat: a mythical
creature that is half goat, half
fish.
Capricornus: THE HORNED goat
Gemini: The Twins
Gemini: The Twins

Gemini, Latin for "The Twins", is

a constellation in the northern
celestial hemisphere lying
between Cancer and Taurus. Its
two brightest stars represents
the twins Castor and Pollux from
Greek mythology.
Gemini: The Twins
Leo: The Lion
Leo: The Lion

Leo, Latin for "The Lion" is located

between Cancer the crab to the
west and Virgo the maiden to the
east. It is located in the Northern
celestial hemisphere. It is one of
the largest and oldest
constellations in the sky.
Leo: The Lion
Libra: The Scales
Libra: The Scales
Libra, Latin for "The Scales" or
"The Balance" in Latin, is in the
southern hemisphere lying
between Scorpius and Virgo. It is
the age-old symbol of justice,
harmony and balance. It is fairly
faint, with no first magnitude
stars.
Libra: The Scales
Pisces: The FishES
Pisces: The FishES

Pisces, Latin for "The Fishes", is

located in the Northern celestial
hemisphere between Aquarius and
Aries and just south of Pegasus.
While it is one of the largest and
most ancient constellations, Pisces
is also one of the most difficult to
see.
Pisces: The FishES
Sagittarius: The Archer
Sagittarius: The Archer

Sagittarius, Latin for "The Archer",

is located in the Southern celestial
hemisphere lying between
Capricornus and Scorpius.
The constellation has many bright
stars and is very visible with the
naked eye.
Sagittarius: The Archer
Scorpius: The Scorpion
Scorpius: The Scorpion

Scorpius, Latin for "The Scorpion", is located in the

Southern celestial hemisphere, where it sits near
the center of the Milky Way, between Libra to the
west and Sagittarius to the east.
Its representation as a scorpion is related to the
Greek legend of the scorpion that stung Orion to
death (said to be why Orion sets as Scorpius rises
in the sky).
Scorpius is famous for the bright red-orange
supergiant star known as Antares, the brightest
star in the constellation.
Scorpius: The Scorpion
Taurus: The Bull
Taurus: The Bull
Taurus, Latin for "The Bull", is
located in the northern celestial
hemisphere between the
constellations Aries and Gemini.
Taurus is most famous for its red
giant star, Aldebaran, the brightest
star in the constellation.
Taurus: The Bull
Virgo: The Virgin
Virgo: The Virgin
V irgo, L a t i n f o r "T h e V i r g i n" o r "T h e
Ma id en", is lo ca t ed i n th e s o uth ern
celes t ia l h em i s ph er e ly in g b et ween
L eo to th e wes t a n d L i b r a t o t h e ea s t,
it is t h e s eco n d - la r g es t co n s t ella tio n
in th e s ky a f ter H y d r a .
V irgo is pro b a b ly b es t- kn o wn f o r its
b r i g h t es t s ta r , S pi ca .
Virgo: The Virgin
OPHIUCHUS: THE SERPENT BEARER
OPHIUCHUS: THE SERPENT BEARER

Ophiuchus, Latin for "The Serpent Bearer" is

sometimes called the 13th or forgotten
constellation of the zodiac. It represents a
man with a snake.
It can be found northwest of the center of
the Milky Way. It is situated near the
constellations Aquila, Serpens and Hercules
and opposite Orion. The southern part lies
between Scorpius to the west and Sagittarius
to the east.
OPHIUCHUS: THE SERPENT BEARER
Why do we see different constellations
at different times of the year?
Why do we see different constellations
at different times of the year?

As what we have mentioned in the

earlier discussion, the rotation of the
Earth on its axis causes the observed
movement of the stars in the night sky.

While the revolution allows the

observer to see a certain part of
the sky at different months of
the year.
Why do we see different constellations
at different times of the year?

Example: During summer in the

Philippines, the constellations of
Orion and Taurus are not visible at
night. They will be visible again as
the cold season begins.
During this time, Scorpius will not
be seen in the night sky.
Why do we see different constellations
at different times of the year?

As the Earth revolves

around its orbit, the stars
that were concealed by the
bright light of the Sun in
the previous months will
appear in the night sky.
 constellations that are visible from late
March to late June (Northern Spring/Southern
Autumn) are listed as follows:

ANTLIA CENTAURUS LEO SEXTANS

bootes Corvus Lynx ursa major

cancer Crux Musca ursa minor

Canes Venatici Hydra Pyxis Virgo

 Late June to late September
(Northern Summer/Southern Winter):

APUS CIRCINUS PAVO SCUTUM

aquila draco sagitta serpens

ara equuleus sagittarius telescopium

capricornus hercules scorpius delphinus

 Late September to late December
(Northern Autumn/Southern Spring):

ANDROMEDA CEPHEUS OCTANS SCULPTOR

aquarius cetus pegasus triangulum

aries grus perseus tucana

cassiopeia lacerta phoenix

 Late December to late March
(Northern Winter/Southern Summer):

AURIGA ERIDANUS HYDRUS RETICULUM

caelum fornax lepus taurus

camelopardalis gemini orion vela

canis major horologium pictor volans

Did you know that nearly all cultures
have different names for the
constellations?
 Did you know that nearly all
cultures have different names for
the constellations?

Many of these constellations have names that can

be traced back to early Babylonians and Greek
civilizations, but nearly all cultures have
different names for the constellations.
For example, the Greeks called the large
constellation Orion, which means hunter and is
prominent in the night sky all over the world
during winter. Early Filipinos visualized the same
group of stars as Balatik, a trap used in hunting
wild pigs. Christian Filipinos named the three
stars(Orion’s belt) Tatlong Maria or Tres Marias.
THANK YOU,
MGA STARLA!