Recognising the Constellations
The evening sky can be a confusing mix of stars and planets.
It is often
difficult to point out which
planet is which, and what constellations comprise what stars.
With a little training and know-how, however, constellations
can easily be identified, and you can turn your star-gazing
into an exciting, even more interesting activity.
There are currently eighty-eight officially recognized
constellations in the night sky. These constellations were
handed down to us by the ancient Greeks, who first documented
them. These observations were most likely compiled from
findings by Greek, Sumerian, Babylonian, and Egyptian
astronomers.
Many of the names of the stars, on the
other hand, come from the Arabs, who republished the works of
the Greeks and reintroduced them to Europe hundreds of years
after they were first written.
Almost every culture on earth has ascribed meanings to the
patterns of the stars. The ancient tribes of Britain, American
Indians, Mayans, and Egyptians all had their names for the
constellations. What they might not have known, however, is
that the stars they saw were actually faraway suns, and the
light from these suns had taken thousands of years to reach the
earth.
Some of the stars the ancients saw may already be dead in
reality. Today's night sky will still be peppered with both
stars and planets.
The general rule is: if it twinkles, it's a star; if it
doesn't, it's a planet. Moreover, the night sky of the northern
hemisphere will look different from that over the southern
hemisphere. The rules in this article will apply for northern
hemisphere watchers, although the tools of the trade are
somewhat the same. If you are an astronomy enthusiast wanting
to do some night time work to locate and identify
constellations, then you will need the following
materials.
If you live in a bright city, you may need a telescope to
see parts of the sky that may be obscured by the city lights. A
good pair of binoculars will be enough for watchers from
suburban areas. If you live in the country, however, or have
the chance to go stargazing in the woods, then all you need are
your naked eyes.
You will need star charts in order to check your bearings,
and to see if you have identified the constellations correctly.
Bring writing materials with you to encircle what
constellations you find.
You will need a dim flashlight in order to light up your
star charts, and to keep bright light sources from disrupting
your viewing. There are four basic sky charts depending on the
time of the year that you go stargazing, and depending on
whether you are tracking the constellations before or after
midnight. If you are viewing the sky on a spring evening or
winter morning, you can use the stars of the Big Dipper, which
is part of Ursa Major (or the Great Bear) as a landmark.
This upside down gourd will be visible if you look due
north. Right beneath the Big Dipper's mouth is Polaris, or the
North Star, around which the sky revolves. Near the Big Dipper
are several important constellations, which you can mark on
your star map: Draco, between Ursa Major and Ursa Minor; and
the bright Leo, which you can probably trace as a resting
lion.
If you are watching the sky on a summer evening or spring
morning, then look for the summer triangle, composed of three
bright stars directly overhead or bright in the sky. If you
aren't sure about the triangle, consult your star maps.
Near the summer triangle are important constellations that
you can identify with the help of your map: Cygnus, or the
Swan; Lyra, or the Harp; Aquila the Eagle; and, if your skies
aren't too dark, Delphinus the Dolphin and Sagitta the
arrow.
In good conditions, you can see the Milky Way streaking
across the sky, and through the summer triangle. If you are
tracking constellations on an autumn evening or summer morning,
you will need the Great Square as your landmark.
This Great Square will be overhead or high in the sky, and
three of them make up the constellation of Pegasus; the fourth
is part of the constellation Andromeda. Near this
constellation, marked by a hazy spot in the sky, is the
Andromeda Galaxy. Near the constellation of Andromeda is a
cluster of stars in the shape of a "W" This is Cassiopeia, and
through it skirts the Milky Way. If you are stargazing on a
winter evening or autumn morning, you will easily recognize
Orion.
Orion's belt is made up of three bright stars, from which
hang a "sword." The middle is hazy, and is actually the Orion
Nebula, which you can see through your binoculars. Orion is
part of the Winter Hexagon, which you can find easily overhead,
or through the help of your star maps.
Near the hexagon are the constellations of Canis Major or
the Great Dog; Gemini; Taurus the Bull; and the Pleiades, a
cluster of six or more stars. With practice and patience, you
will be able to identify many of the constellations. If you go
star gazing with friends and family, you will have an even more
exciting and interesting time as you tell them all about the
stars that make up the confusing, but beautiful night sky.
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