Download CONSTELLATIONS

SWBAT identify key constellations in
the northern hemisphere.
 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.
 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.
 Many
different
constellations fill the
evening sky in the
northern hemisphere.
 Depending
on your
location and the
season, different
constellations can be
seen.

Spring


Summer


Andromeda, Aquarius, Capricornus, Pegasus, Pisces
Winter


Aquila, Cygnus, Hercules, Lyra, Ophiuchus,
Sagittarius, Scorpius
Fall


Bootes, Cancer, Crater, Hydra, Leo, Virgo
Canis Major, Cetus, Eridanus, Gemini, Orion, Perseus,
Taurus
Always visible

Cassiopeia, Cepheus, Draco, Ursa Major, Ursa Minor
 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.
 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.
 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)
The 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.
 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)
 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.
 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,
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.
 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.
 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.