The document discusses constellations, which are patterns of stars recognized by various ancient cultures and formally defined by the IAU. Constellations were used for navigation, tracking seasons, and preserving myths. The IAU recognizes 88 constellations that fall within designated boundaries and include a variety of figures from mythology and science. Smaller unofficial patterns within constellations are called asterisms. Six constellations in the northern sky are always visible from a latitude of 28 degrees north.

1. CONSTELLATIONS

2. Constellation Education

3. What did the ancient people
use stars (patterns of stars)
for?
• Navigation – sailing, travel
• Seasons – when to plant and harvest
• Preserve myths, traditions, etc
• Group the brighter stars into
patterns, - constellations

4. Patterns of stars
http://www.astro.virginia.edu/class/oconnell/astr130/im/
Boundaries

5. Constellation
• One of the 88 named Regions of sky
defined by the International
Astronomical Union (IAU)
• Identified with the officially
recognized Patterns of Stars that lie
within the boundaries of the region

6. What are the 88 Constellations?
o 14 men and women
o 9 birds
o 19 land animals
o 2 insects
o 10 water creatures
o 2 centaurs
o 1 head of hair
o 1 serpent
o 1 dragon
o 1 flying horse
o 1 river
o 29 inanimate objects, include scientific instruments (Microscopium,
Telescopium)

7. ORION

9. 9/24/2015 9
Asterism
• A generally recognized smaller/cuter
pattern of stars that is not one of
the officially recognized
constellations
• Whether or not a region of sky is
named after it – yes: constellation;
no: asterism

11. What are Circumpolar
Constellations?

12. Circumpolar Constellations
• A Constellation that NEVER rises or sets as seen
at a certain latitude
• Six circumpolar constellations seen in Pasco (28º
N, 82º W)
– Ursa Major – Larger Bear
– Ursa Minor – Smaller bear
– Cassiopeia – Queen
– Cepheus – King
– Draco – Dragon
– Camelopardalis – The Giraffe

13. Circumpolar Constellations in Pasco
• www.acmecompany.com
Ursa Major Ursa Minor Cassiopeia
Cepheus Draco Camelopardalis

15. Constellation Resources
• Workshop CD
• Websites:
– http://earth.google.com./sky
– http://www.astro.wisc.edu/~dolan/constellations/
– http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constellation
– http://amazing-space.stsci.edu
• Especially http://amazing-
space.stsci.edu/tonights_sky/index.php
– http://www.synapticsystems.com/sky/learnsky.html
• Books
– Constellations Dot-To-Dot
– Astronomy & More (StarLab Manual)