Constellations &

Astronavigation
 Constellation:
a group of stars that forms
a particular shape in the
sky and has been given a
name
 Orion
This constellation is best seen in the winter
sky. It is best seen in the month of January at
9:00pm.
Orion, lies on the celestial equator. It is one of
the brightest and best known constellations in
the sky.
It is also one of the few constellations known
since ancient times
• Perhaps second only to the Big Dipper in Ursa Major, the constellation of
Orion is one of the most recognizable patterns of stars in the northern sky.
• Orion, the hunter, is accompanied by his faithful dogs, Canis Major and
Canis Minor. Together they hunt various animals, including Lepus, the
rabbit, and Taurus, the bull.
• According to Greek mythology, Orion was in love with Merope, one of the
Seven Sisters who form the Pleiades, but Merope would have nothing to
do with him. Orion's tragic life ended when he stepped on Scorpius, the
scorpion.
• The gods felt sorry for him, so they put him and his dogs in the sky as
constellations.
• They also put all of the animals he hunted up there near him. Scorpius,
however, was placed on the opposite side of the sky so Orion would never
be hurt by it again.

Mythology
Picture by National Geographic Society (Copyright)
 Ursa Major
This constellation can be seen best in the spring
sky. It can be seen best in the month of April at
9:00pm.
Ursa Major is a prominent constellation in the
northern hemisphere. It is the third largest
constellation in the sky.
Its name is Latin for the Great Bear.
Also often referred to as the Big Dipper 
• According to some Native American legends, the bowl of the Big Dipper is a
giant bear and the stars of the handle are three warriors chasing it.
• The constellation is low in the sky in autumn evening sky, so it was said that
the hunters had injured the bear and its blood caused the trees to change color
to red.
• The Big Dipper is one of the most recognizable patterns in the northern sky.
• In other cultures it was identified as a wagon or cart, a plow, a bull's thigh,
and (to the Chinese) the government.
• The Big Dipper was also a very important part of the Underground Railroad
which helped slaves escape from the South before the Civil War. There were
songs spread among the slave population which included references to the
"Drinking Gourd." The songs said to follow it to get to a better life. This
veiled message for the slaves to flee northward was passed along in the form
of songs since a large fraction of the slave population was illiterate.

Mythology
Picture by National Geographic Society (Copyright)
 Ursa Minor
 This constellation can be seen best in the summer sky. It
can be seen best in the month of June at 9:00pm.
 Ursa Minor, or the Little Dipper, is a small constellation
in the northern hemisphere.
 In Latin, its name means "little bear."
 The constellation was originally listed by the Greek
astronomer Ptolemy in the 2nd century. 
 Ursa Minor is usually depicted as a small bear with a long
tail. It is said that the tail is so long because the bear is
held by its end and spun around the pole. 
• The constellation Ursa Minor contains the group of stars commonly called
the Little Dipper.
• The handle of the Dipper is the Little Bear's tail and the Dipper's cup is the
Bear's flank.
• Arcas was the son of Callisto, who was transformed by Juno into a bear.
When Arcas was fifteen, he was out hunting in the forest when he came
across a bear. The bear behaved quite strangely, looking him in the eyes.
He of course could not recognize his mother in her strange shape, and was
preparing to shoot her when Jupiter prevented him. Arcas was transformed
into a bear like his mother, and the two were taken up into the sky.
• The mother bear is Ursa Major.

Mythology
Picture by National Geographic Society (Copyright)
 Early
Astronavigational
Tools
Compass
 An instrument used for navigation; it
generally has a magnetic needle that
points toward the earth's magnetic
North Pole.
 Before the compass,
geographical position, destination,
and direction at sea were primarily
determined by the sighting of
landmarks and the observation of the
position of celestial bodies
(sun/stars).
 Has been in existence for over 3,000
years. 
Astrolabe
 Created over 2,000 years ago
 An ancient astronomical
computer for solving problems
relating to time and the position
of the Sun and stars in the sky. 
 Typical uses of the astrolabe
include:
 Finding the time during the day or
night
 Finding the time of a celestial event
such as sunrise or sunset
 Find one’s position
 Astrolabes were also one of the
basic astronomy education tools
in the late Middle Ages. 
Sextant
 Used as a navigational tool
out at sea
 Helps determine a ship's
longitude and latitude by
measuring angles between
the horizon and celestial
bodies (sun/stars).
 A more advanced version
of the astrolabe.
 First one was created by
Englishman John Bird in
1757.
Telescope
 Invented in the Netherlands in
1608 (Not by Galileo as most
people believe…his came in
1609).
 Quickly became the astronomer's
most essential tool.
 Now astronomers could see
countless stars and other faint
objects never before visible…no
longer limited to what the naked
eye could see.