USING CONSTELLATIONS USING CONSTELLATIONS What are constellations How

USING CONSTELLATIONS

USING CONSTELLATIONS What are constellations? How were constellations used throughout history? What do modern astronomers use constellations for? Is there even a need?

FIND THE BIG DIPPER

EASY!

FIND THE BIG DIPPER NOW?

STILL EASY?

CAN YOU SPOT POLARIS?

IS THIS IT? ? ?

POLARIS IS NOT A BRIGHT STAR. . . NOPE!

WHY BIG DIPPER? It is fairly easy to recognize It is seen year round in the northern hemisphere – just look to the north! Astronomers and navigators have been using it to guide the night skies for a long time It also helps us locate Polaris

WHAT SO SPECIAL ABOUT POLARIS? Our Pole Star It is directly above our North Pole All stars seem to “go around” Polaris

VIEW OF THE STARS

LET’S FIND POLARIS ON YOUR MAP!

START WITH URSA MAJOR

FIND THE BIG DIPPER

THE BIG DIPPER IS PART OF URSA MAJOR

FIND THE “LIP” OF THEBIG DIPPER LIP!

IT POINTS YOU TO POLARIS About 5 times the length of the lip

EASY! POLARIS!

POLARIS IS THE BRIGHTEST STAR INURSA MINOR Ursa Minor Polaris Big Dipper

FINDING SIRIUS Sirius is the BRIGHTEST star in the night sky!

FINDING THE ANDROMEDA GALAXY

ASTERISMS The Big Dipper is not an official constellation, but rather an asterism. It is a pattern of (usually the brightest) stars that is easily recognized in the night sky. It is NOT a smaller pattern within a constellation as our textbook suggests. Some other examples: � Orion’s Belt � The “W” � Summer Triangle � Winter Triangle � Fish Hook (Scorpious)

FIND THE BIG DIPPER

ORION’S BELT

SUMMER TRIANGLE

WINTER TRIANGLE

“W” OF CASSIOPEIA

FISH HOOK (SCORPIO)