Constellations Cultural Significance and Movements Made by Yujin

Constellations, Cultural Significance, and Movements Made by Yujin Kwon

Definition of Constellation • 1. An arbitrary formation of stars perceived as a figure or design, especially one of 88 recognized groups named after characters from classical mythology and various common animals and objects. • 2. An area of the celestial sphere occupied by one of the 88 recognized constellations.

Most Popular Constellations • Andromeda • The Big Dipper • Canis Major - The Great Dog • Cygnus - The Swan • Gemini - The Twins • Leo - The Lion • Orion - The Great Hunter • Scorpius - The Scorpion • Taurus - The Bull • Cassiopeia

ANDROMEDA MY NICK NAME IS QUEEN OF THE WINTER SKY

Cultural Significance of Andromeda • The name of Andromeda has been taken from Arabic meaning horse’s navel. • In Greek mythology Andromeda married Perseus after he rescued her from the sea monster. Since then the constellation Andromeda has been part of Perseus’ constellation family.

The Movement of Andromeda • It is located in Northern Hemisphere. • Best time to see the constellation Andromeda is in fall. ( late November) • Andromeda is visible only a few hours in each night. • It is on 38 North longitude and visible latitude is between 90 degrees and – 40 degrees.

Additional Information About Andromeda is one of the 2 nd brightest constellations. It contains three major stars. First is Alpheratz, Latin, representing a woman’s head and it is white. Second is Mirach meaning belt or waist and it is yellow. Third is Almak meaning chain foot and it is orange. Middle of this constellation contains the Andromeda Galaxy.

The Big Dipper I am The Big Dipper. I am the tail part of Major Ursa constellation and I always pointed north.

Cultural Significance of The Big Dipper • In the United States, during the nineteenth century, African. Americans that were being held as slaves in the south made very practical use of the Big Dipper's consistent northern sky location. The Big Dipper was also known as the Drinking Gourd and slaves trying to make their way to freedom used it as a guidepost to find their way North and escape the bonds of slavery. The lyrics of folk song "Follow the Drinking Gourd" served as guide to help them find their way north and its chorus reminded them to always follow the Drinking Gourd, or Big Dipper. • http: //www. comp. nus. edu. sg/~ngch ongm/1506/music/the weavers Follow the Drinking Gourd. mp 3

• The Big Dipper seems to not move because it is located above the earth’s axis. • The very best time to look at the Big Dipper is in the middle of the summer, when it is easily found on any clear night in the northern most part of the night sky. • It is always located near the North Star and near the constellation Cassiopeia.

• The seven stars of The Big Dipper are Dubhe, Merak, Phecda, Megrez, Alioth, Mizar, and Alkaid. • The Big Dipper is known as a constellation to many people, but it is not a real constellation. It is just part of Ursa Major, but The Big Dipper consist of the brightest stars in Ursa Major so people think it is a constellation. • http: //www. hilaroad. com/video s/

Canis Major. Hi I am Canis Major People Called me a Great Dog and I am the one of Orion’s hunting dogs.

To ancient Egyptian’s Canis Major was really important, because it foretold when The Nile River would flood. • The ancient Egyptians and Romans believed during hot summers that the heat came from both the sun and Sirius, the brightest star in Canis Major. Thus the expression ‘ dog days of summer’ to describe the most uncomfortable days of summer. • There are many myths about Canis Major. One Greek myth is when Zeus saw Canis Major running it was so fast that made Zeus surprised. Zeus put it on the sky.

The Movement of Canis Major • Since Canis Major is located so close to Orion, you can see this constellation almost any time that Orion is visible. • Canis Major is very easy to find during the months of November through March. • Located at 24 -S latitude. • It is located near the earth so it seems larger than it is.

• Sirius is brightest star in the sky. It means scorching. This name comes from fact that the star is so bright. • The names of the other six stars are Murzim, Muliphen, Wezen, Adhara, Furud, and Aludra.

I AM CYGNUS I AM THE SUMMER SWAN PEOPLE CALLED ME A NORTHERN CROSS.

Cultural Significance of Cygnus • Cygnus is important in ancient mythology because it appears as a swan. The gods would often change themselves into a swan to attract a beautiful women. • One myth is one day Zeus changed his appearance into a swan and met Sparta’s queen Leda. Later they had a child known as Helen of Troy. • In another myth, Cygnus is a friend of Phaethon, the son of Apollo, the Sun god. Phaethon fell into the river Eridanus, trying to drive the sungods chariot. Cygnus dove repeatedly into the water to search for Phaethon. Out of pity, Zeus turned the boy into a swan.

• It very easy to find high overhead on any night during the mid-summer months. • The body and wings of the swan form a cross. • A conspicuous constellation of the northern hemisphere. It belongs to the Hercules constellation family. • It located at 49 -N latitude.

Information about Cygnus • There are four main stars named, Deneb which means tail of the hen, Sadr which is the hen’s chest, Albireo , which is the beak, and Gienah, which are the wings. • The Summer Triangle is another sign that lets us know that Summer is in full swing here in the Northern Hemisphere. On any clear summer evening, the distinctive triangle formed by Deneb, Altair and Vega gives us another good reason to go outside and enjoy the beauty of the night sky.

GEMINI Hi we are Gemini. Our nick name is the twins.

Cultural Significance of Gemini • The twins are Pollux and Castor, which are the stars that represent the heads of the twins. The twins' mother was Leda, Castor's father was Tyndareus, who was the mortal king of the ancient Greek city of Sparta. Pollux's father was the Greek god Zeus. The result was Castor was mortal and Pollux, being the son of a mythological god, was immortal.

• It should be easy to find Gemini any time that Orion is visible. • Gemini is visible in the early morning hours during the late fall and early winter. It is overhead during the winter months. • It is located at 29 -N latitude. • Gemini, has the peak of appearance around Dec 13 every year. It is visible on Christmas.

Information about Gemini • Two main stars in Gemini are Kastor and Pollux. Kastor is brighter than Pollux and colored orange. Kastor is colored white. • An annual meteor shower known as the Geminids appears to radiate from this constellation during the second week in December.

L E O I am the Leo. My nick name is a great or brave lion.

Cultural Significance of Leo • Hercules had to perform 12 tasks to prove himself. The first task was to kill the immortal lion of Nemea which lived in the forest near Zeus’ palace. After the lion died Hercules skinned him. The dead lion went into the sky as the constellation Leo.

• It is one of the constellations that travels high above our heads at our latitudes. • You can see Leo in the middle of April and it represents the beginning of spring. • It is located in the south sky. • It is located at 15 -N latitude. • Leo lies between Cancer to the west and Virgo to the east.

Information about Leo • Leo’s meteor shower called Leonides is occurs every 33 years. It can be seen around November 18 th. In 1833, within one hour 10, 000 meteors dropped from the constellations. • The largest and brightest star in Leo is Regulus. This large blue star shines brightly as the heart of the lion. Although not a giant star, Regulus is still over five times as large as our Sun.

Hi my name is Orion I am the Great Hunter and I am the one of the largest constellation

Cultural Significance of Orion • In one version, Artemis, the goddess of hunt and the moon fell in love with him and stopped doing her job of illuminating the sky at night. Her twin brother Apollo, seeing Orion swimming on the sea, dared his sister to strike what only appeared to be a spot on the waves. Not knowing it was Orion, Artemis shot an arrow and killed him. Later, when she found out what she did, she placed his body among the stars. The grief she felt explains why the moon looks so sad at night.

• Orion is visible in the early morning hours beginning on the August through early December. • The easiest way to find Orion is to look for the three stars in his "belt". • Orion is really big constellation so it is located between 90 -N and 75 -S latitude.

Information about Orion • When Orion and Artemis were fall in love her twin brother Apollo didn’t like that. Thus he send a Scorpion to kill him. Still now after both of them become a constellation Scorpion still follow the Orion. • Third star of Orion , which names Nebula, is one of the most beautiful thing in night sky. • http: //www. hilaroad. com/video s/

Hi I am scorpius. My nick name is a deadly killer. And I am following constellation Orion.

Cultural significance of Socrpius • The mythology is very interesting because in the legend, Scorpio spent a great deal of time trying to kill the great hunter Orion, but they are on opposite sides of the sky. According to varying legends, Scorpio either was or was not finally successful in killing the mighty hunter. • After Orion and Scorpion became a constellation Scorpion realize that he can kill Orion. The reason that Scorpius can kill Orion is when Scorpius came out Orion ran away opposite place of scorpius.

• Scorpius is one of the real highlights of the summer sky. • You can only see the entire constellation during the months of July, August and September. The head of Scorpio starts to peek above the southern horizon in June, and, after September. • It is located at 40 -S latitude.

Information About Scorpius • The real star of Scorpius is Antares, its giant red heart. The super massive star is about seven hundred times as large as our Sun. It also shines with a light that is as red as a standard traffic light. • The Scorpio's nine stars are Antares, Graffias, Dschubba, Sargas, Shaula, Jabbah, Grafias, Alniyat, Lesath.

Hi my name is Taurus My nick name is The bull.

Cultural Significance of Taurus. • The Greeks saw Taurus as Zeus in disguise. The story went that Zeus fell in love with Europa, the daughter of Agenor who was King of Phoenica. On one day while she was playing by the waters edge, she caught sight of a majestic white bull grazing amongst her fathers heard. When she approached the bull, it knelt down and let get on it's back. Once she was on, it sprang to it's feet and took off to the sea in Crete where Zeus made her his mistress.

• One of the easiest constellations to see and it is just northwest of the Orion constellation. • It is located 17 -N latitude. • Riding between Orion and Perseus in the bright Milky Way is the constellation of Taurus the Bull. • The sun passes through this constellation from mid-May to late June and it is best observed in the early wintertime.

Information About Taurus • Taurus’s three major stars are Crab Nebula, Aldebaran, Elnath. • The Crab Nebula is one of the most intensely studied and frequently photographed objects in the night sky when it exploded. Almost every telescope has taken pictures of it because of its beauty. This explosion happened almost a thousand years ago, the gases are still spreading out in space at a speed of thousands of miles per hour.

Hi I am Cassiopeia. I am the queen of Ethiopia.

ultural Significance of Cassiopei • Long ago in Ethiopia Cassiopeia has been the wife of Cepheus and the mother of Andromeda. Because she thought herself more beautiful than the daughters of Nereus, a god of the sea, she challenged the anger of the god Poseidon. To punish her, her daughter was chained to a rock of the coast as a sacrifice for a sea monster. Andromeda was saved from death by Perseus.

• It is associated with the Perseus constellation family. • The constellation of Cassiopeia is one of the most famous in the sky. It is very easy to identify the stars that are part of it because they have the shape of a W. • It is located 60 -N latitude.

Information of Cassiopeia • The Cassiopeia’s six major stars are Shedir, Caph, Ruchba, Segin, Achird, and Marfak. • It is one of the 88 modern constellations, and was also one of the 48 listed by Ptolemy. • Discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1781, this open cluster with an apparent brightness of 7. 4 m lies at a distance of approximately 8, 130 light year.

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