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Constellation

A constellation is a group of stars that forms an imaginary outline or pattern on the celestial sphere, typically representing an animal, mythological person or creature, a god, or an inanimate object.

The origins of the earliest constellations likely go back to prehistory. People used them to relate stories of their beliefs, experiences, creation, or mythology. Different cultures and countries adopted their own constellations, some of which lasted into the early 20th century before today's constellations were internationally recognized. Adoption of constellations has changed significantly over time. Many have changed in size or shape. Some became popular, only to drop into obscurity. Others were limited to single cultures or nations.

The 48 traditional Western constellations are Greek. They are given in Aratus' work Phenomena and Ptolemy's Almagest, though their origin probably predates these works by several centuries. Constellations in the far southern sky were added from the 15th century until the mid-18th century when European explorers began traveling to the Southern Hemisphere. Twelve ancient constellations belong to the zodiac (straddling the ecliptic, which the Sun, Moon, and planets all traverse). 

How Many constellations are there?

• There are 88 constellations in the night sky. Each one is a straight-edged area of sky that includes a pattern made from bright stars, and they all fit togetherlike pieces of a jigsaw to make up the entire sky around Earth.
• The biggest constellation is Hydra, a water snake that meanders its way across 3.16 percent of the whole sky. 
• The smallest constellation is Crus, the southem cross, which is also the brightest constellation.

 Who's who's in the sky

• Thirteen constellations feature humans. Twelve come from Greek mythology, and the thirteenth is Native Americian.
• The 15 animals constellations include a bull and a wolf.
• The eight birds include a peacock and a toucan.
• A crab, a dolphin, and a sea monster are amongst nine water-based constellations.
• Twenty-eight objects include a harp, a compass, a cross, a clock, and a microscope.
• The remaning 15 are a miscellany, from a fly to mythical creatures.

WEIRD OR WHAT?

• The strangest constellations has got to be a head of hair. Its official name is Coma Berencies, because it is named for the hair of Berenice, the Queen of Egypt.
• One of the best known patterns in the night sky, the plough, is not a constellation but a star pattern known as an asterism. The seven stars are part of Ursa Major, the Great Bear.

Far, far away

The stars in a particular pattern only appear together in space. In fact, the stars are totally unrelated andat vastly differing distances from Earth.

Tell me more: spot orion

01. Face the horizon, hold out your arm with hand outstreched. Orion is a little bigger than your hand. If you are in the southern hemisphere, Orion appears upside down.

02. Look for a row of three bright stars very close together in the sky. This is his Belt.

03. At equal distance, one above and one below the belt. The brightest, with a warm red glow, is Betelgeuse. The whiter star is Rigel. 

Tell me more: the celestial sphere

• Ancient astronomers imagined the night sky as a giant sphere of stars rotating around the Earth.
• The idea of a celestial sphere is still used to describe a star's position.
• The sphere is divided into the 88 constellations.
• The outline of the orion constellations (left) is shown in orange.

Some Constellations

Starry Dogs

• Large Dog
  
• Small Dog
  

The compass

Orion

 Bear neccessities

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