It is generally accepted that the stars are not visible during the day. However, from the top of Mount Ararat (height 5000 m), bright stars are clearly visible even at noon. The sky is dark blue there. With a telescope with a 70 mm objective lens, bright stars can be seen even from flat terrain. Still, the stars are best observed at night, when the blinding light of the Sun does not interfere.

The starry sky is one of the most beautiful sights that exist in nature. About 6,000 stars can be seen in the entire sky with the naked eye.(at the same time over the horizon about 3,000).

Since ancient times, people mentally combined the most noticeable stars into shapes and called them constellations. The constellations have been associated with myths and legends. Today, a constellation is called a section of the starry sky with conditional boundaries., which includes not only stars, but also other objects - nebulae, galaxies, clusters. O objects included in this or that constellation are not connected with each other, since they are, firstly, from the Earth at different distances, and secondly, the boundaries of the constellations are conditional, i.e. can be changed at any time.

Today, 88 constellations have been identified in the starry sky.

The Latin names of the constellations are also adopted. All atlases of the starry sky published abroad contain the Latin names of the constellations.

Constellations can be divided into three large groups: human (Aquarius, Cassiopeia, Orion ...), animals (Hare, Swan, Whale ...) and subject (Libra, Microscope, Shield ...). For better memorization of constellations, conspicuous stars in them are usually connected by lines in polygons or bizarre shapes. Below are: Ursa Major, Bootes, Virgo and Leo.

Since the constellations are parcels, it means that they have an area. The constellation areas are different. The largest in area is Hydra. In second place is Virgo. The third is the Big Dipper. The smallest constellation in area is the Southern Cross (not visible in our latitudes).

Constellations differ in the number of bright stars. Orion has the most bright stars.

The bright stars of the constellations have their own names (usually coined by Arab and Greek astronomers). For example, the brightest star in the constellation Lyra - Vega, in the constellation Cygnus - Deneb, in the constellation Eagle - Altair... Remember the names of the stars of the Big Dipper bucket:

The stars in the constellations are also designated. The letters of the Greek alphabet are used for designation:

α - alpha

β - beta

γ - gamma

δ - delta

ε - epsilon

ζ - zeta

η - this

etc. It is worth remembering the designation and pronunciation of at least the first seven Greek letters. This is how the stars of the Big Dipper bucket are indicated:

Usually the brightest star in the constellation is designated by the letter α (alpha). But not always. There are other systems for naming stars.

Star maps have been compiled since ancient times. Usually they depicted not only stars, but also drawings of animals, people and objects with which the constellations were associated. Since there was no order in the name and number of constellations, the star maps were different. It got to the point that various astronomers tried to enter their constellations (by drawing the contours of the constellations in a new way). For example, in 1798 astronomer Lalande proposed the constellation Balloon. In 1679 Halley introduced the constellation Charles Oak. There were also many other exotic names (Poniatowski's Vol, Cat, Friedrich's Regalia, etc.). Only in 1922 were the conditional boundaries of the constellations finally drawn, and their number and names were fixed.

For practical purposes, today they use a moving map of the starry sky, consisting of a map of the starry sky and an overhead circle with a carved oval. Here is the map:

Stars are denoted by circles of various sizes. The larger the circle, the brighter the star it depicts. Binary, variable stars, galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters are also marked on star maps.

The starry sky rotates slowly. The reason is the rotation of the Earth around its axis. The earth rotates from west to east, and the starry sky, on the contrary, from east to west. Therefore, stars, planets and luminaries rise in the eastern side of the horizon, and set in the western one. This movement is called daily rotation... It should be noted that the constellations retain their relative position during diurnal rotation. The starry sky rotates as a whole, like a huge celestial sphere. The Earth makes one revolution around its axis in relation to the stars in 23 hours 56 minutes 04 seconds. This period is called starry days... Every 23 hours 56 minutes 04 seconds, the view of the starry sky is repeated.

But this does not mean that if the Earth does not rotate on its axis, the sky will remain stationary. The appearance of the starry sky is influenced by the movement of the Earth around the Sun. If the Earth did not rotate, the appearance of the starry sky would still slowly change throughout the year. This phenomenon is called annual change in the appearance of the starry sky... We can observe that some constellations are best seen in autumn, others in winter, etc.

The constellations can be roughly divided according to the seasons of the year into autumn, winter, spring and summer. But this does not mean that only autumn constellations can be seen in autumn. On an early autumn evening, the summer constellations dominate the sky. Over time, they lean to the west, the autumn constellations rise. In the morning, the winter constellations are perfectly visible.

The view of the starry sky also depends on the latitude of the observation site. At the poles of the Earth, the starry sky rotates so that not a single star rises or sets. Moving towards the equator, the number of rising and setting stars increases. In mid-latitudes, there are both rising-setting stars, and not setting and never rising. For example,in the middle latitudes of the northern hemisphere of the Earthconstellations Ursa Major and Ursa Minor, Cassiopeia never descend under the horizon. But on the other hand, the constellations of the Southern Cross, the Crane, the Altar never ascend. At the earth's equator, all stars rise and set. If daylight had not interfered, all 88 constellations could be seen in one day.

Constellations help with orientation in the terrain. It is especially useful to learn how to find the sides of the horizon by the Pole Star, since it almost does not change its position in the firmament. The easiest way to find the North Star is to use the bucket from the constellation Ursa Major (to be precise, the line runs slightly to the left of the North Star):

The North Star always hangs over the north point. If you stand with your back to it, then the south will be in front, the east will be on the left, and the west will be on the right.

Some people think that the North Star is the brightest star in the starry sky. But this is not the case. The brightest is Sirius from the constellation Canis Major. Polaris is the main navigation star.

An angular measure is used to measure the apparent distances between stars and also the diameters of the disks of the planets, the Sun and the Moon, the apparent sizes of nebulae and galaxies. 1 degree of arc contains 60 arc minutes and 1 arc minute contains 60 arc seconds. The diameters of the disks of the Sun and the Moon are approximately equal to 0.5º.

06/14/2019 at 11:49 AM · VeraSchegoleva · 49 810

10 most famous constellations in the sky

Currently, constellations are called the areas into which the celestial sphere is subdivided. With the help of them, you can navigate in the starry sky.

In the ancient world, people were also interested in astronomy. Of course, these teachings could not be called science in full.

People invented names for the bizarre shapes formed by the stars and called them constellations. The system was imperfect, some stars were part of several constellations, some did not interest anyone at all.

In 1922, the International Astronomical Union decided to divide the sky into regions. 88 constellations have been officially approved. You can see only 54. We have collected the top 10 most famous constellations in the sky.

10. Dragon

The Dragon- one of the most, its area is 1083 square degrees. It is rather difficult to distinguish it. Location - Northern Hemisphere, the area between Ursa Minor and Ursa Major.

The stars of the Dragon are dim, faint, the number of stars exceeding 6m (the magnitude of the measurement of brightness) is 80.

If you look at the sky in the Ursa Major region, you can see a long, curved line that ends in a quadrangle. This is the head of the dragon.

It is best to observe this constellation in summer and autumn, from May to December.

The history of the origin of the constellation is shrouded in myths and secrets. According to one version, the huge beast decided to fight the Olympic gods. Athena was very angry with him and threw the snake into the sky. And so the constellation of the Dragon appeared.

9. Cepheus

Location Cephei- North hemisphere. Its area is 588 square degrees, 148 stars can be seen with the naked eye.

Its closest neighbor is Ursa Minor, which will certainly be found by every person, even those who do not understand anything in astronomy.

Cephei's shape is an irregular pentagon. It is not here, nevertheless, on the territory of Russia, it can be observed all year round.

Cepheus is famous for the fact that in the future, the world's North Pole will move here. True, this will happen in 1000 years.

In Greek mythology, there is a version of the origin of the constellation. His prototype is the Ethiopian king Cepheus. Scientists disagree with this, as there is confirmation that the constellation appeared much later.

8. Centaurus

Centaurus- a rather impressive constellation in area (1060 square degrees). The inhabitants of the Northern Hemisphere will not be able to enjoy its beauty.

Its location is in the Southern Hemisphere, the line from the Big Dipper to the constellation Virgo.

In Russia, the following principle applies: the further south the city is, the better the constellation is visible. But in our country there is no way to see it in its entirety. The constellation resembles a centaur in shape, it is a lot of bright stars.

If you believe the Greek, then the wise centaur Chiron is the son of the supreme deity Kronos and the beautiful nymph Filyra.

There is another prototype - this is the centaur Foul, Hercules sent him to heaven. He shot the centaur with a poisoned arrow.

7. Virgo

Constellation Virgo - the second largest, with an area of ​​1294 square degrees. Location - the equator, between the constellations Leo and Libra.

Virgo is also known for the fact that the point of the autumnal equinox is located here.

In the bed atlases, the constellation is depicted as a girl holding a spikelet of wheat. Of course, it is unlikely that an ordinary person will be able to see such a picture in the sky.

There is a landmark by which it is easy to find this constellation - this is the star of the first magnitude Spica. In total, 171 stars can be seen with the naked eye.

Ancient Greek myths explain the emergence of the constellation with an unusual history. The goddess of justice Dick was so unhappy with people that she chose to leave the Earth and flew into the sky. There she settled next to the symbol of justice, the constellation Libra.

6. Hydra

Hydra- the longest constellation, its area is 1300 sq. degrees. Location - Southern Hemisphere.

In Russia, it is best observed in late winter or spring. Residents of southern cities will be able to fully see the constellation.

229 stars can be observed without help and, but they are not particularly bright.

There are many interesting stars in the constellation: Alpha Hydra, Gamma, Xi Hydra, as well as open clusters.

The prototype is the Water Serpent. Apollo's raven went to fetch water and was absent for too long. As an excuse for the delay, the bird brought a serpent to the god. The angry Apollo threw a raven, a snake and a bowl of water into the sky. This is how the constellations Raven and Hydra appeared.

According to another version, Hydra is the enemy of Hercules, a seven-headed monster.

5. Cassiopeia

Cassiopeia is located in the Northern Hemisphere, so in the middle latitudes you can observe it all year round, the best time is autumn.

The constellation looks like the letter W, its area is 598 square degrees, the number of visible stars is 90. Its silhouette is formed by 5 brightest stars.

The constellation is named after the wife of King Kefei. Also, Cassiopeia was the mother of Andromeda. This boastful woman was punished. She was tied to a throne, and she revolved around the pole, once a day Cassiopeia found herself in an inverted position, upside down.

4. Pegasus

Pegasus is a large constellation. Location - Northern Hemisphere. The area is 1120.8 square degrees. Without the use of any instruments, 166 stars can be viewed. The best time is late summer, early autumn.

Pegasus is a large square with a scattering of stars that look more like tentacles. Therefore, only people with a good imagination will be able to observe the winged horse.

In ancient Greek myths, Pegasus is a winged horse. After the beheading of Medusa the Gorgon by Perseus, the droplets of her blood turned into a horse.

3. Hercules

Location Hercules- North hemisphere. The constellation area is 1225 square degrees. It is considered one of the most recognizable.

The trapezoid is the titanium torso, the most visible part. The inhabitants of Russia can observe it in its entirety, only some part of the constellation is hidden behind the horizon at the moment of the lower culmination, the most favorable time is June.

The original name is Kneeling. The ancient poet Arat described the constellation as a suffering husband, the reasons for the suffering were unknown.

In the V BC. century, the constellation was renamed, it began to be called Hercules. Later it was named Hercules.

2. Big Dipper

Big Dipper- perhaps the most famous constellation, located in the northern hemisphere. Everyone found a bucket with a handle in the sky, at least once. The area of ​​the Big Dipper is 1280 square degrees, the third largest. You can see 125 with the naked eye.

Asterism (easily distinguishable group of stars) Big Dipper, has many other names. Moreover, this is not the only asterism in the constellation Ursa Major.

The history of the origin of the constellation is described in ancient Greek myths. Zeus saved the beautiful nymph Callisto from the wrath of the goddess Hera. To do this, he had to turn her into a bear.

1. Ursa Minor

Constellation Ursa Minor is circumpolar and located in the Northern Hemisphere. It is easy to find it near the constellation Ursa Major. We can say that these constellations are neighbors.

Available for observation all year round. At the moment, the North Pole of the world is located here. Asterisms: Small Bucket, Guardians of the Pole.

If we return to myths, the Ursa Minor is the dog of the beautiful nymph Callisto. Zeus turned her into a bear along with her mistress. Then he threw them into heaven, where they could gain eternal life.

Humanity has always looked to the sky. The stars have long been sailors' guides, and they remain so today. A constellation is considered a group of celestial bodies, which are united by one name. However, they can be at different distances from each other. Moreover, in ancient times the name of the constellations often depended on the outlines taken by celestial bodies. More details about this will be discussed in this article.

General information

There are eighty-eight registered constellations in total. Of these, only forty-seven have been known to mankind since ancient times. Thanks to the astronomer Claudius Ptolemy, who systematized the known constellations of the starry sky in the treatise "Almagest". The rest appeared at a time when a person began to intensively study the world around him, travel more and write down his knowledge. So, other groups of objects appeared in the sky.

The constellations in the sky and their names (photos of some of them will be presented in the article) are quite diverse. Many have several names, as well as ancient legends of origin. For example, there is a rather interesting legend about the appearance of the Ursa Major and Ursa Minor in the firmament. In those days, when the gods ruled the world, the most powerful of them was Zeus. And he fell in love with the beautiful nymph Callisto, and he took her as his wife. In order to protect her from Hera, jealous and dangerous in her anger, Zeus took his beloved to heaven, turning her into a bear. So it turned out the constellation Ursa Major. Callisto the dog became Ursa Minor.

Zodiacal constellations of the solar system: names

The most famous constellations for humanity today are the zodiacal. For a long time, those who meet on the path of our Sun during its annual journey (ecliptic) have been considered as such. This is a fairly wide strip of heavenly space, divided into twelve segments.

Constellation name:

1. Aries;
2. Taurus;
3. Twins;
4. Virgo;
5. Capricorn;
6. Aquarius;
7. Fishes;
8. Scales;
9. Scorpion;
10. Sagittarius;
11. Ophiuchus.

As you can see, unlike the signs of the zodiac, there is one more constellation here - the thirteenth. This happened because the shape of the celestial bodies changes over time. The signs of the zodiac were formed quite a long time ago, when the sky map was slightly different. To date, the position of the stars has undergone some changes. So, on the path of the Sun, another constellation appeared - Ophiuchus. In its order, it stands just after the Scorpio.

The spring equinox is considered to be the starting point of the solar journey. At this moment, our star passes along the celestial equator, and the day becomes equal to the night (there is also an opposite point of the same - autumn).

Constellations Ursa Major and Ursa Minor

One of the most famous constellations of our firmament is the Ursa Major and the accompanying Little Dipper. But why did it happen that not the most pretentious constellation became so important? The fact is that the Polar Star is present in the Ursa Minor's cluster of celestial bodies, which was a guiding star for many generations of sailors, and it remains so today.

This is due to its practical immobility. It is located near the North Pole, and the rest of the stars in the sky revolve around it. This feature of it was noticed by our ancestors, which was reflected in its name among different peoples (Golden stake, Heavenly stake, North Star, etc.).

Of course, there are other main objects around this constellation of the starry sky, the names of which are listed below:

• Cohab (Beta);
• Ferkhad (Gamma);
• Delta;
• Epsilon;
• Zeta;

If we talk about the Big Dipper, then it more clearly resembles a bucket in its shape than its small counterpart. According to estimates, only with the naked eye in the constellation there are about one hundred and twenty-five stars. However, there are seven main ones:

• Dubhe (Alpha);
• Merak (Beta);
• Fekda (Gamma);
• Megrets (Delta);
• Aliot (Epsilon);
• Mitsar (Zeta);
• Benetnash (This).

Ursa Major has nebulae and galaxies, like numerous other stellar constellations. Their names are presented below:

• Spiral galaxy M81;
• The Owl Nebula;
• Spiral Galaxy "Lantern Wheel;
• Barred spiral galaxy M109.

Most amazing stars

Of course, our sky has quite remarkable constellations (photos and names of some are presented in the article). However, besides them, there are other amazing stars. For example, in the constellation Canis Major, which is considered ancient, since our ancestors still knew about it, there is the star Sirius. Many legends and myths are associated with it. In Ancient Egypt, the movement of this star was very carefully monitored, there are even assumptions by some scientists that the African pyramids with their point are aimed precisely at it.

Today Sirius is one of the stars closest to Earth. Its characteristics are twice as high as solar. It is believed that if Sirius were in the place of our star, then life on the planet in the form it is now would hardly be possible. With such intense heat, all the oceans from the surface would have boiled away.

A rather interesting star that can be seen in the sky of Antarctica is Alpha Centauri. This is the closest similar star to the Earth. According to its structure, this body contains three stars, two of which may well have terrestrial planets. The third, Proxima Centauri, according to all calculations, cannot have such, since it is rather small and cold.

Large and small constellations

It should be noted that today there are fixed large and small constellations. Photos and their names will be presented below. One of the largest can be safely called Hydra. This constellation covers an area of ​​the sky of 1302.84 square degrees. Obviously, this is why it received such a name, all in appearance it resembles a thin and long strip that occupies a quarter of the stellar space. The main place where Hydra is located is south of the line of the celestial equator.

In terms of its stellar composition, Hydra is rather dim. It includes only two worthy objects that stand out significantly in the sky - Alphard and Gamma Hydra. An open cluster called M48 can also be noted. The second largest constellation belongs to Virgo, which is slightly smaller in size. Therefore, the representative of the space community described below is truly small.

So, the smallest constellation in the sky is the Southern Cross, which is located in the Southern Hemisphere. It is considered an analogue of the Big Dipper in the North. Its area is sixty-eight square degrees. According to ancient astronomical chronicles, it used to be part of Centauri, and only in 1589 it was singled out separately. In the Southern Cross, about thirty stars are visible even with the naked eye.

In addition, there is a dark nebula in the constellation called the Coal Sack. It is interesting in that star formation processes can take place in it. Another unusual object is the open cluster of celestial bodies - NGC 4755.

Seasonal constellations

It should also be noted that the name of the constellations in the sky changes from season to season. For example, in summer the following are clearly visible:

• Lyre;
• Eagle;
• Hercules;
• Snake;
• Chanterelle;
• Dolphin, etc.

Other constellations are characteristic of the winter sky. For example:

• Big Dog;
• Small Dog;
• Auriga;
• Unicorn;
• Eridan, etc.

The autumn sky is the following constellations:

• Pegasus;
• Andromeda;
• Perseus;
• Triangle;
• Keith et al.

And the following constellations open the spring sky:

• Little Lion;
• Crow;
• Bowl;
• Hounds Dogs and others.

Constellations of the northern hemisphere

Each hemisphere of the Earth has its own celestial objects. The names of the stars and the constellations they enter are quite different. So, let's consider which of them are typical for the northern hemisphere:

• Andromeda;
• Auriga;
• Twins;
• Veronica's hair;
• Giraffe;
• Cassiopeia;
• Northern Crown and others.

Constellations of the southern hemisphere

The names of the stars and the constellations they enter are also different for the southern hemisphere. Let's consider some of them:

• Crow;
• Altar;
• Peacock;
• Octant;
• Bowl;
• Phoenix;
• Centaurus;
• Chameleon and others.

Indeed, all the constellations in the sky and their names (photo below) are quite unique. Many have their own special history, beautiful legend or unusual objects. The latter include the constellations Doradus and Toucan. The first contains the Large Magellanic Cloud, and the second contains the Small. These two objects are truly amazing.

The Big Cloud is very similar in appearance to a Segnerian wheel, and the Small Cloud is very similar to a punching bag. They are quite large in terms of their area in the sky, and observers note their similarity to the Milky Way (although they are much smaller in actual size). They seem to be a part of it, which separated in the process. However, in their composition, they are very similar to our galaxy, moreover, the Clouds are the closest systems of stars to us.

A surprising factor is that our galaxy and the Clouds can revolve around the same center of gravity, which forms a triple star system. True, each of this trinity has its own star clusters, nebulae and other space objects.

Conclusion

So, as you can see, the name of the constellations is quite diverse and unique. Each of them has its own interesting objects, stars. Of course, today we do not know even half of all the secrets of the cosmic order, but there is hope for the future. The human mind is quite inquisitive, and if we do not die in a global catastrophe, then there is the possibility of conquering and conquering space, building new and more powerful devices and ships to gain knowledge. In this case, we will not only know the name of the constellations, but also comprehend much more.

> Constellations

Explore all constellations in the sky of the Universe: diagrams and maps of constellations, names, list, description, characteristics with photos, asterisms, history of creation, how to observe.

Constellations- these are imaginary drawings in the sky, created based on the position here, which appeared on the basis of the imagination of poets, farmers and astronomers. They have used the forms we are accustomed to and have invented them for the last 6,000 years. The main purpose of the constellations is to quickly show the location of the star and tell its features. On a perfectly dark night, you can spot 1000-1500 stars. But how do you know what you are looking at? For this, the brightest constellations are needed, dividing the heavens into identifiable sectors. For example, if you find three bright stars, you will realize that you are looking at part of Orion. And then it's a matter of memory, because Betelgeuse is hiding in the left shoulder, and Rigel is in the leg. You will notice the Hounds Dogs and its stars nearby. Use diagrams and constellation maps for names, brightest stars, and location in the sky. Photos, pictures and interesting facts are presented for each constellation. Do not forget to consider the zodiacal constellations of the starry sky.

All the constellations around the world are distributed by months. That is, their maximum level of visibility in the sky depends entirely on the season. Therefore, when classifying, groups are distinguished according to 4 seasons (winter, spring, summer and autumn). The main thing to remember is one thing. If you are tracking the constellations strictly according to the calendar, then you need to start at 21:00. When observing ahead of time, you need to push back half a month, and if you started after 21:00, then add half.

For navigational convenience, we have distributed all constellation names in alphabetical order. This is extremely useful if you are interested in a particular congestion. Keep in mind that only the brightest stars are shown in the diagrams. To understand in more detail, you need to open a map of the starry sky or a planisphere - a mobile option. You can find out more interesting information about the constellations thanks to our articles:

Constellations of the sky in alphabetical order
Russian name	Latin name	Reduction	Area (sq. Degrees)	Stars brighter than 6.0
	Andromeda	And	722	100
	Gemini	Gem	514	70
	Ursa major	UMa	1280	125
	Canis major	CMa	380	80
	Libra	Lib	538	50
	Aquarius	Aqr	980	90
	Auriga	Aur	657	90
	Lupus	Lup	334	70
	Bootes	Boo	907	90
	Coma berenices	Com	386	50
	Corvus	Crv	184	15
	Hercules	Her	1225	140
	Hydra	Hya	1303	130
	Columba	Col	270	40
	Canes venatici	Cvn	565	30
	Virgo	Vir	1294	95
	Delphinus	Del	189	30
	Draco	Dra	1083	80
	Monoceros	Mon	482	85
	Ara	Ara	237	30
	Pictor	Pic	247	30
	Camelopardalis	Cam	757	50
	Grus	Gru	366	30
	Lepus	Lep	290	40
	Ophiuchus	Oph	948	100
	Serpens	Ser	637	60
	Dorado	Dor	179	20
	Indus	Ind	294	20
	Cassiopeia	Cas	598	90
	Carina	Car	494	110
	Cetus	Cet	1231	100
	Capricornus	Cap	414	50
	Pyxis	Pyx	221	25
	Puppis	Pup	673	140
	Cygnus	Cyg	804	150
	Leo	Leo	947	70
	Volans	Vol	141	20
	Lyra	Lyr	286	45
	Vulpecula	Vul	268	45
	Ursa Minor	UMi	256	20
	Equuleus	Equ	72	10
	Leo Minor	LMi	232	20

	Canis minor	CMi	183	20
	Microscopium	Mic	210	20
	Musca	Mus	138	30
	Antlia	Ant	239	20
	Norma	Nor	165	20
	Aries	Ari	441	50
	Octans	Oct	291	35
	Aquila	Aql	652	70
	Orion	Ori	594	120
	Pavo	Pav	378	45
	Vela	Vel	500	110
	Pegasus	Peg	1121	100
	Perseus	Per	615	90
	Fornax	For	398	35
	Apus	Aps	206	20
	Cancer	Cnc	506	60
	Caelum	Cae	125	10
	Pisces	Psc	889	75
	Lynx	Lyn	545	60
	Corona borealis	CrB	179	20
	Sextans	Sex	314	25
	Reticulum	Ret	114	15
	Scorpius	Sco	497	100
	Sculptor	Scl	475	30
	Mensa	Men	153	15
	Sagitta	Sge	80	20
	Sagittarius	Sgr	867	115
	Telescopium	Tel	252	30
	Taurus	Tau	797	125
	Triangulum	Tri	132	15
	Tucana	Tuc	295	25
	Phoenix	Phe	469	40
	Chamaeleon	Cha	132	20
	Centaurus	Cen	1060	150
	Cepheus	Cep	588	60
	Circinus	Cir	93	20
	Horologium	Hor	249	20
	Crater	Crt	282	20
	Scutum	Sct	109	20
	Eridanus	Eri	1138	100
	Hydrus	Hyi	243	20
	Corona australis	CrA	128	25
	Piscis Austrinus	PsA	245	25
	Crux	Cru	68	30
	Triangulum australe	TrA	110	20
	Lacerta	Lac	201	35

Clear boundaries between the constellations were drawn only at the beginning of the 20th century. There are 88 of them, but 48 are based on the Greek ones captured by Ptolemy in the 2nd century. The final distribution took place in 1922 with the help of the American astronomer Henry Norris Russell. The borders were created in 1930 by the Belgian astronomer Ejen Delport (vertical and horizontal lines).

Most have retained the names of their predecessors: 50 - Rome, Greece and the Middle East, and 38 - modern. But humanity has existed for more than one millennium, so the constellations appeared and disappeared depending on the culture. For example, the Wall Quadrant was created in 1795, but later divided into Dragon and Bootes.

The Greek constellation Ship Argo was divided into Keel, Sails and Stern by Nicholas Louis de Lacai. It was officially introduced into the catalog in 1763.

When it comes to stars and objects, scientists mean that they lie within the boundaries of these constellations. The constellations themselves are not real, because in reality all stars and nebulae are remote from each other at great distances and even planes (although we see straight lines from Earth).

Moreover, remoteness also means a lag in time, because we observe them in the past, which means that now they can be completely different. For example, Antares in Scorpio is 550 light-years away from us, which is why we see it as before. The same goes for the 3D Sagittarius Nebula (5200 light years). There are also more distant objects - NGC 4038 in the constellation Raven (45 million light years).

Constellation definition

It is a group of stars that creates a specific shape. Or one of the 88 official configurations listed in the catalog. Some dictionaries insist that this is any of a specific grouping of stars that represents a creature in the sky and has a name.

Constellation history

Ancient people, looking at the sky, noted the figures of various animals and even heroes. They began to invent stories for them to make it easier to remember the location.

For example, Orion and Taurus have been revered by different cultures for many centuries and have a number of legends. As soon as astronomers began creating the first maps, they took advantage of pre-existing myths.

The word "constellation" originates from the Latin constellātiō - "many with stars." According to the Roman soldier and historian Ammianus Marcellinus, it began to be used in the 4th century. It came to English in the 14th century and at first referred to planetary unions. Only in the middle of the 16th century did it begin to take on its modern meaning.

The catalog is based on 48 Greek constellations proposed by Ptolemy. But he only listed what the Greek astronomer Eudoxus Cnidus discovered (he introduced astronomy to Babylon in the 4th century BC). 30 of them date back to antiquity, and some even touch the Bronze Age.

The Greeks adopted Babylonian astronomy, so the constellations began to intersect and overlap. Many of them could not be found by the Greeks, Babylonians, Arabs or Chinese because they were not visible. The southern ones were recorded at the end of the 16th century by the Dutch navigators Federico de Houtman and Peter Dierkszun Keizer. Later they were included in Johann Bayer's star atlas "Uranometria" (1603).

Bayer added 11 constellations including Toucan, Mucha, Dorado, Indian and Phoenix. In addition, he gave Greek letters to about 1,564 stars, giving them meaning in terms of brightness (he began with Alpha). They have survived to this day and take their place among the 10,000 stars that can be seen without the use of instruments. Some have full names because they were extremely bright (Aldebaran, Betelgeuse and others).

Several constellations were added by the French astronomer Nicholas Louis de Lacay. His catalog was published in 1756. He scanned the southern sky and found 13 new constellations. Notable among them are Octant, Painter, Stove, Table Mountain and Pump.

Of the 88 constellations, 36 are located in the northern sky and 52 in the southern.

The history of the starry sky

Astrophysicist Anton Biryukov on Ptolemy's catalog, Christian constellations and the final list:

Constellations can be an indispensable tool for studying the stars scattered across the sky. Just combine them and admire the incredible cosmic wonders.

If you are a beginner and are just knocking on the door of amateur astronomy, then you will not budge unless you overcome the first obstacle - the ability to understand the constellations. You won't be able to find the Andromeda galaxy if you can't figure out where to start and where to look. Of course, the first attempts to understand all this celestial array may be frightening, but this is quite real.

Do you remember your first day at school? Many unfamiliar faces, unknown objects and furnishings. But surely even then, you managed to start a conversation with someone. And so gradually, day after day, you adapted until you became your own. So constellations are friends who open the way to a new world, so you need to make friends with them, and not be afraid.

Pleshakov had a good idea - to create an atlas for children, by which it is easy to determine the stars and constellations. Our teachers picked up this idea and created their own atlas-determinant, which is even more informative and visual.

What are constellations?

If you raise your eyes to the sky on a clear night, you can see many sparkling lights of various sizes, which, like a scattering of diamonds, adorn the sky. These lights are called stars. Some of them seem to be collected in clusters and upon prolonged examination they can be divided into certain groups. Such groups are called "constellations" by man. Some of them may resemble the shape of a bucket or intricate outlines of animals, however, in many ways, this is just a figment of the imagination.

For many centuries, astronomers have tried to study such clusters of stars and give them mystical properties. People tried to systematize them and find a general pattern, and so constellations appeared. For a long time, the constellations were carefully studied, some were broken into smaller ones, and they ceased to exist, and some, after clarification, were simply corrected. For example, the constellation Argo was divided into smaller constellations: Compass, Carina, Sail, Korma.

The history of the origin of the names of the constellations is also very interesting. To facilitate memorization, they were given names united by one element or literary work. For example, it was noticed that during the period of heavy rains the Sun rises from the side of certain constellations, which were given the following names: Capricorn, Whale, Aquarius, constellation Pisces.

In order to bring all the constellations to a certain classification, in 1930, at a meeting of the International Astronomical Union, it was decided to officially register 88 constellations. According to the decision, the constellations do not consist of groups of stars, but represent areas of the starry sky.

What are the constellations?

Constellations differ in the number and brightness of the stars that make up it. There are 30 most prominent groups of stars. The Ursa Major is considered the longest constellation in area. It includes 7 bright and 118 stars visible to the naked eye.

The smallest constellation located in the southern hemisphere is called the Southern Cross and it is impossible to see it with the naked eye. It consists of 5 brighter and 25 less visible stars.

Lesser Horse is the smallest constellation in the northern hemisphere and consists of 10 faint stars that can be seen with the naked eye.

The constellation Orion is considered the most beautiful and brightest. It includes 120 stars visible to the naked eye and 7 of them are very bright.

All constellations are conventionally divided into those located in the southern or northern hemisphere. For those who live in the southern hemisphere of the Earth, the clusters of stars located in the northern hemisphere and vice versa are not visible. Of the 88 constellations, 48 ​​are in the southern hemisphere and 31 in the northern. The remaining 9 groups of stars are located in both hemispheres. The Northern Hemisphere can be easily identified by the Pole Star, which always shines very brightly in the sky. She is the extreme star on the handle of the Ursa Minor bucket.

Due to the fact that the Earth revolves around the Sun, which does not allow us to see some constellations, the seasons change and the position of this star in the sky changes. For example, in winter, the location of our planet in a circumsolar orbit is the opposite of that in summer. Therefore, at each time of the year, only certain constellations can be seen. For example, in the summer, you can see the triangle formed by the stars Altair, Vega and Deneb in the night sky. In winter, there is an opportunity to admire the endlessly beautiful constellation Orion. Therefore, sometimes they say: autumn constellations, winter, summer or spring constellations.

The constellations are best seen in the summer and it is advisable to observe them in an open space, outside the city. Some stars can be seen with the naked eye, and some may require a telescope. The constellations Ursa Major and Ursa Minor and Cassiopeia are best seen. In autumn and winter, the constellations Taurus and Orion are clearly visible.

Bright constellations seen in Russia

The most beautiful constellations of the northern hemisphere visible in Russia are: Orion, Big Dipper, Taurus, Big Dog, Small Dog.

If you look closely at their location and give free rein to imagination, you can see a hunting scene, which, as if on an ancient fresco, has been captured in the sky for more than two thousand years. The brave hunter Orion is always depicted surrounded by animals. Taurus runs to his right, and the hunter swings a club at him. At the feet of Orion are the faithful Big and Small dogs.

Constellation orion

It is the largest and most colorful constellation. It can be clearly seen in autumn and winter. Orion can be seen over the entire territory of Russia. The arrangement of its stars resembles the outline of a person.

The history of the formation of this constellation originates from ancient Greek myths. According to them, Orion was a brave and strong hunter, the son of Poseidon and the nymph Emvriala. He often hunted along with Artemis, but one day, for defeating her during the hunt, he was struck by an arrow of the goddess and died. After death, he was turned into a constellation.

The brightest star in Orion is Rigel. It is 25 thousand times brighter than the Sun and 33 times its size. This star has a bluish-white glow and is considered supergiant. However, despite such an impressive size, it is much smaller than Betelgeuse.

Betelgeuse adorns Orion's right shoulder. It is 450 times larger than the diameter of the Sun, and if you put it in the place of our star, then this star will take the place of four planets to Mars. Betelgeuse shines 14,000 times brighter than the Sun.

The constellation Orion also includes nebula and asterisms.

Constellation Taurus

Taurus is another large and incredibly beautiful constellation in the northern hemisphere. It is located northwest of Orion and is located between the constellations Aries and Gemini. Not far from Taurus, there are constellations such as: Charioteer, Cetus, Perseus, Eridanus.

This constellation in mid-latitudes can be observed throughout almost the entire year, with the exception of the second half of spring and early summer.

The history of the constellation dates back to ancient myths. They talk about Zeus turning into a calf in order to kidnap the goddess Europa and bring her to the island of Crete. For the first time this constellation was described by Eudoxus - a mathematician who lived long before our era.

The brightest star not only in this constellation, but also in other 12 groups of stars is Aldebaran. It is located on the head of Taurus and used to be called the "eye". Aldebaran is 38 times the diameter of the Sun and 150 times brighter. This star is located 62 light-years from us.

The second brightest star in the constellation is Nat or El-Nat (bull horns). It is located near the Charioteer. It is 700 times brighter than the Sun and 4.5 times larger than it.

Within the constellation are two incredibly beautiful open clusters of stars, the Hyades and the Pleiades.

The age of the Hyades is 650 million years. They can be easily found in the starry sky thanks to Aldebaran, who is perfectly visible among them. They include about 200 stars.

The Pleiades got their name from the nine parts. Seven of them are named after the seven sisters of Ancient Greece (Pleiades), and two more after their parents. The Pleiades are very visible in winter. They include about 1000 stellar bodies.

An equally interesting formation in the constellation of Taurus is the Crab Nebula. It was formed after a supernova explosion in 1054 and was discovered in 1731. The nebula is 6500 light-years distant from Earth, and its diameter is about 11 light years. years.

This constellation belongs to the Orion family and is bordered by the constellations Orion, Unicorn, Dog Minor, Hare.

The constellation Canis Major was first discovered by Ptolemy in the second century.

There is a myth that Big Dog was formerly Lelap. It was a very fast dog that could catch up with any prey. Once he chased a fox, which was not inferior to him in speed. The outcome of the race was a foregone conclusion, and Zeus turned both animals to stone. He placed the dog in heaven.

The constellation Canis Major is very visible in winter. The brightest star of not only this, but all other constellations is Sirius. It has a bluish sheen and is located fairly close to Earth, 8.6 light years away. In terms of brightness in our solar system, it is surpassed by Jupiter, Venus, and the Moon. Light from Sirius reaches the Earth in 9 years, and it is 24 times stronger than the sun. This star has a companion called Puppy.

The education of such a concept as "Vacation" is associated with Sirius. The fact is that this star appeared in the sky during the summer heat. Since Sirius is called "canis" in Greek, the Greeks began to call this period a vacation.

Constellation Canis Minor

Lesser Dog is bordered by such constellations as: Unicorn, Hydra, Cancer, Gemini. This constellation represents an animal that, together with Canis Major, follows the hunter Orion.

The history of the formation of this constellation, if we rely on myths, is very interesting. According to them, the Little Dog is Mera, the dog of Ikaria. This man was taught to make wine by Dionysus and this drink turned out to be very strong. One day his guests decided that Ikaria decided to poison them and killed him. Mayra was very sad for the owner and soon died. Zeus placed it in the form of a constellation in the starry sky.

This constellation is best observed in January and February.

The brightest stars in this constellation are Portion and Gomeisa. Portion is located 11.4 light-years from Earth. It is somewhat brighter and hotter than the Sun, but physically it differs little from it.

Gomeisa is visible to the naked eye and glows with a blue-white light.

Constellation Ursa Major

Ursa Major, shaped like a dipper, is one of the three largest constellations. It is mentioned in the writings of Homer and in the Bible. This constellation is very well studied and is of great importance in many religions.

It borders on such constellations as: Waterhew, Leo, Hounds, Dogs, Dragon, Lynx.

According to ancient Greek myths, the Big Dipper is associated with Callisto, the beautiful nymph and lover of Zeus. His wife Hera turned Callisto into a bear as punishment. Once, this bear stumbled into the forest on Hera and his son Zeus, Arkas. To avoid tragedy, Zeus turned his son and nymph into constellations.

The big bucket is formed by seven stars. The most striking of them are three: Dubhe, Alkaid, Aliot.

Dubhe is a red giant and points to the North Star. It is located 120 light years from Earth.

Alkaid, the third brightest star in the constellation, expresses the end of the Ursa Major's tail. It is located at a distance of 100 light years from Earth.

Aliot is the brightest star in the constellation. She personifies the tail. Because of its brightness, it is used in navigation. Aliot shines 108 times brighter than the Sun.

These constellations are the brightest and most beautiful in the northern hemisphere. They can be perfectly seen with the naked eye on an autumn or frosty winter night. The legends of their formation allow fantasies to roam and imagine how the mighty hunter Orion, along with his faithful dogs, runs after the prey, and Taurus and the Big Dipper are watching him closely.

Russia is located in the northern hemisphere, and in this part of the sky we manage to see only a few of all the constellations that exist in the sky. Depending on the season, only their position in the sky changes.