Transcript ConstellationsPowerPointPresentation

Constellations
Aquarius
Facts
 The sun passes through this constellation
mid-February through mid-March.
 it is best seen in the month of October at
9:00pm.
 It is visible between latitudes 65 and -90
degrees.
 Right Ascension: 23 hours
 Declination: -15 degrees
• Aquarius is a rather faint constellation which would
not be famous if it weren't part of the Zodiac.
• Aquarius is universally associated with water. In
most cultures, it is drawn as a man pouring water
from a bucket. This may arise from the fact that the
Sun enters Aquarius in early winter when the rainy
season begins in many parts of the world.
• In most myths Aquarius is also identified with
Ganymede, cup-bearer to the gods.
Mythology
Picture by National Geographic Society (Copyright)
Aries
Facts
This constellation can be found in the
winter sky.
 It is best seen in the month of December
at 9:00pm.
It is visible between latitudes 90 and -60
degrees.
Right Ascension: 3 hours
Declination: 20 degrees
• Aries, The Ram, is the first of the twelve zodiac constellations, and in
Greek myth represents the animal whose fleece was sought by Jason
and the Argonauts.
• The Babylonians, the Egyptians, the Greeks and the Persians all agreed
worked together to give this constellation the name of the Ram.
• In Greek mythology, the story of the Ram begins in Thessaly. The King
of Thessaly had two children, Phrixus and Helle, who were beaten by
their stepmother. The god Hermes became angered by this and sent a
ram to carry the two children to safety. Tragically, Helle lost her grip and
tumbled from the ram into the narrow strip of water between Europe and
Asia, now called Hellespont in her honor. Phrixus, on the other hand,
arrived safely to the shores of the Black Sea where he sacrificed the ram
and gave its fleece to a sleepless dragon for safe-keeping. Later, Jason
and his Argonauts recovered the prized fleece and returned it to
Thessaly.
Mythology
Picture by National Geographic Society (Copyright)
Cancer
Facts
 This constellation can be found in the
spring sky.
 It can be best seen in March at 9:00pm.
 It is visible between latitudes 65 and -90
degrees.
 Right Ascension: 23 hours It is visible
between latitudes 90 and -60 degrees.
 Right Ascension: 9 hours
 Declination: 20 degrees
• Cancer, the Crab, plays a minor role in the Twelve Labors
of Hercules. While Hercules was busy fighting the multiheaded monster, Hydra, the goddess Hera, who did not like
Hercules, sent the Crab to distract him. Cancer grabbed
onto the hero's toe with its claws. Barely breaking the
rhythm of his great battle with Hydra Hercules crushed the
crab with his foot. Hera, grateful for the little crustacean's
heroic but pitiful effort, gave it a place in the sky.
• Cancer is famous despite the fact it is very faint with no
stars brighter than 4th magnitude.
Mythology
Picture by National Geographic Society (Copyright)
Capricorn
Facts
Capricorn is best seen in autumn during
the month of September around 9:00pm.
Location:
It is visible between latitudes 60 and -90
degrees.
Right Ascension: 21 hours
Declination: -20 degrees
• Capricornus has been recognized as a goat since
Babylonian and Chaldean times.
• Usually, it is depicted as a goat with a fish tail, which might
relate to a story about the god Pan. Pan, fleeing a monster
called Typhon, jumped into the Nile River. The part of him
that was below water turned into a fish, while the rest of
him above water, stayed as a goat.
Mythology
Picture by National Geographic Society (Copyright)
Gemini
Facts
Gemini is best seen in winter in the month
of February at 9:00pm.
It is Visible between latitudes 90 and -60
degrees
Right Ascension: 7 hours
Declination: 20 degrees
• Castor and Pollux, the "twins" of Gemini, were Greek
heroes. They were among the men Jason led on his
voyages on the Argo.
• This is one of the 13 constellations of the Zodiac.
Mythology
Picture by National Geographic Society (Copyright)
Leo
Facts
Leo is best seen in the spring sky in the
month of April at 9:00pm.
It is visible between latitudes 90 and -65
degrees.
Right Ascension: 11 hours
Declination: 15 degrees
• This is one of the 13 constellations of the Zodiac.
• Leo is the Nemean Lion, which was killed by Hercules on one of
his great quests. Legend says that the lion had a hide that could
not be punctured by iron, bronze or stone. Since he couldn't
reason with the ferocious beast, Hercules strangled it to death
and the local people were very grateful.
• The Chaldeans associated Leo with the sun since it is in the sky
during the summer solstice (although this is no longer true, due
to the precession of the Earth's axis). Since Nile floods around
this time, the ancient Egyptians worshipped the celestial lion.
Mythology
Picture by National Geographic Society (Copyright)
Libra
Facts
 This constellation can be seen in the
summer sky. It can be seen best in the month
of June at 9:00pm.
 Location:
 It is visible between latitudes 65 and -90
degrees.
 Right Ascension: 15 hours
 Declination: -15 degrees
• Libra is the balance to the golden Pluto vehicle (Hades).
• Hades was the brother of Zeus and Poseidón.
• The vehicle was wire being pulled by four black horses.
Mythology
Picture by National Geographic Society (Copyright)
Orion
Facts
 This constellation is best seen in the winter
sky. It is best seen in the month of January
at 9:00pm.
 Location:
 Visible between latitudes 85 and -75
degrees
 Right Ascension: 5 hours
 Declination: 5 degrees
• Perhaps second only to the Big Dipper in Ursa Major, the constellation of
Orion is one of the most recognizable patterns of stars in the northern sky.
• Orion, the hunter, stands by the Eridanusand River and is accompanied by
his faithful dogs, Canis Major and Canis Minor. Together they hunt various
animals, including Lepus, the rabbit, and Taurus, the bull.
• According to Greek mythology, Orion was in love with Merope, one of the
Seven Sisters who form the Pleiades, but Merope would have nothing to do
with him. Orion's tragic life ended when he stepped on Scorpius, the
scorpion.
• The gods felt sorry for him, so they put him and his dogs in the sky as
constellations.
• They also put all of the animals he hunted up there near him. Scorpius,
however, was placed on the opposite side of the sky so Orion would never
be hurt by it again.
Mythology
Picture by National Geographic Society (Copyright)
Pisces
Facts
 This constellation can be seen best in the
autumn sky. It can be seen best in the month
of November at 9:00pm.
 Location:
 Visible between latitudes 90 and -65
degrees
 Right Ascension: 1 hours
 Declination: 15 degrees
•
Pisces is known as a "faint constellation" and is represented by two fish whose tails are tied
together. This constellation lies between the constellations Aquarius and Aries.
•
According to the Greco-Roman myth, one of the sons of Gaia and Tartaros, Typhon, decided
to overthrow Zeus. Typhon is a monstrous god who is very tall with a wicked gleam in his
eyes. He has hundred dragon-heads sprouting out in the place of his fingers. He was as
strong as the Titans.
Many of the gods of the Mount Olympus went into hiding fearing him. One day, Typhon
happened to see Aphrodite (Greek counterpart of Roman goddess Venus, the goddess of
beauty), and her son Eros (Greek counterpart of Roman god Cupid, the god of love) on the
banks of a river. To escape from his clutches, Aphrodite and Eros turned into a fish and
swam into the depths of the river. They had tied their tails together so they would not be
separated. In the river, they were saved by other fish and were later hung in the sky along
with the other celestial objects in the northern skies. This was done to commemorate the day
when the goddess of beauty and god of love were saved from being destroyed.
•
Mythology
Picture by National Geographic Society (Copyright)
Sagittarius
Facts
 This constellation can be seen best in the
summer sky. It can be seen best in the month
of August at 9:00pm.
 Location:
 Visible between latitudes 55 and -90
degrees
 Right Ascension: 19 hours
 Declination: -25 degrees
• This is one of the signs of the zodiac.
• Sagittarius represents a centaur named Chiron.
• A centaur is a mythical creature that is half man half horse. Centaurs were
known as beasts, but the Greeks had respect for horses so they didn’t
consider them all bad.
• Chiron was actually known for his gentleness. He was a musician, archer,
and physician.
• He tutored Hercules, Jason, and Achilles. He was wounded by Hercules by
a poison arrow by mistake. He couldn’t cure himself even though he was a
physician. He was immortal so he would stay wounded without dying.
• He decided to offer himself up to free Promethus who was being punished
and tortured by the gods. He gave up his immortality to take Promethus
place. The god Jupiter recognized his good deed and offered him a place in
the stars.
Mythology
Picture by National Geographic Society (Copyright)
Scorpio
Facts
 This constellation can be seen best in the
summer sky. It can be seen best in the month
of July at 9:00pm.
 Location:
 Visible between latitudes 40 and -90
degrees
 Right Ascension: 17 hours
 Declination: -40 degrees
• Scorpio is one of the signs of the Zodiac.
• Scorpius is known for killing Orion.
• This is why the two constellations are place 180
degrees away from each other to avoid trouble.
Mythology
Picture by National Geographic Society (Copyright)
Taurus
Facts
 This constellation can be seen best in the
winter sky. It can be seen best in the month
of January at 9:00pm.
 Location:
 Visible between latitudes 90 and -65
degrees
 Right Ascension: 4 hours
 Declination: 15 degrees
• This is one of the signs of the Zodiac. The Greeks saw Taurus as Zeus in disguise.
The story is that Zeus fell in love with the King of Phoenica’s daughter, Europa. So
he disguised himself as a white bull. Europa noticed the bull when she was playing
near the water one day. She went near him and he scooped her up on his back on
took her away to become his mistress. It also represents the white bull that was
sent to Minos as a sign that he was the rightful heir to the throne. Minos was
supposed to sacrifice the bull to Poseidon, but he didn’t so the sea god caused his
queen, Pasiphaë, to fall in love with it.
• Later, in another myth, Theseus of Athens goes to Crete and slays the dreadful
Minotaur, which actually was reported to be a man with a bull's head that could
breathe fire.
• The Chinese called this constellation the “White Tiger” or the “Great Bridge. The
Egyptians saw this constellation as their god Osiris.
Mythology
Picture by National Geographic Society (Copyright)
Ursa Major
Facts
 This constellation can be seen best in the
spring sky. It can be seen best in the month
of April at 9:00pm.
 Location:
 Visible between latitudes 90 and -30
degrees
 Right Ascension: 11 hours
 Declination: 50 degrees
• According to some Native American legends, the bowl of the Big Dipper is a giant
bear and the stars of the handle are three warriors chasing it.
• The constellation is low in the sky in autumn evening sky, so it was said that the
hunters had injured the bear and its blood caused the trees to change color to red.
• The Big Dipper is one of the most recognizable patterns in the northern sky.
• In other cultures it was identified as a wagon or cart, a plow, a bull's thigh, and (to
the Chinese) the government.
• The Big Dipper was also a very important part of the Underground Railroad which
helped slaves escape from the South before the Civil War. There were songs
spread among the slave population which included references to the "Drinking
Gourd." The songs said to follow it to get to a better life. This veiled message for
the slaves to flee northward was passed along in the form of songs since a large
fraction of the slave population was illiterate.
Mythology
Picture by National Geographic Society (Copyright)
Ursa Minor
Facts
 This constellation can be seen best in the
summer sky. It can be seen best in the month
of June at 9:00pm.
 Location:
 Visible between latitudes 90 and -10
degrees
 Right Ascension: 15 hours
 Declination: 70 degrees
• The constellation Ursa Minor contains the group of stars commonly called
the Little Dipper.
• The handle of the Dipper is the Little Bear's tail and the Dipper's cup is the
Bear's flank. Arcas was the son of Callisto, who was transformed by Juno
into a bear. When Arcas was fifteen, he was out hunting in the forest when
he came across a bear. The bear behaved quite strangely, looking him in
the eyes. He of course could not recognize his mother in her strange shape,
and was preparing to shoot her when Jupiter prevented him. Arcas was
transformed into a bear like his mother, and the two were taken up into the
sky.
• The mother bear is Ursa Major.
Mythology
Picture by National Geographic Society (Copyright)
Virgo
Facts
 This constellation can be seen best in the
autumn sky. It can be seen best in the month
of May at 9:00pm.
 Location:
 Visible between latitudes 80 and -80
degrees
 Right Ascension: 13 hours
 Declination: 0 degrees
• In Greek mythology and many other mythologies Virgo is related to
the theme of maidens, purity, and fertility.
• Greek mythology says that, Persephone, daughter of Zeus and
Demeter, had been abducted and taken to the underworld by
Hades. In revenge her mother ruined the harvests, the earth
became infertile and the people were starving.
• Zeus was forced to issue a decree stating that Persephone should
spend only a short time each year in the underworld, and when
she was released Demeter permitted Nature to resume its natural
course.
Mythology
Picture by National Geographic Society (Copyright)
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