Revised by Ms. Pacheco 8/16/06

Ursa Major: a.k.a. Big DipperUrsa Major: a.k.a. Big Dipper

Almost directly overheadAlmost directly overheadEasy to findEasy to findHelps you find other constellations and Helps you find other constellations and starsstarsThe second to last star in the handle is The second to last star in the handle is actually a visual double star, Alcor and actually a visual double star, Alcor and Mizar. You can almost see them with your Mizar. You can almost see them with your eyes, definitely with binoculars.eyes, definitely with binoculars.81 and 78 ly respectively.81 and 78 ly respectively.

This is the Big Dipper over 500 year old Hohenzoller Castle in Germany.

Alcor and Mizar

Ursa Minor: a.k.a. Little DipperUrsa Minor: a.k.a. Little DipperFollow the first two stars of the cup of the Big Follow the first two stars of the cup of the Big Dipper to Polaris, The North Star, which makes Dipper to Polaris, The North Star, which makes up the end of the handle of the Little Dipper.up the end of the handle of the Little Dipper.

Polaris is a supergiant, 2000 times brighter than Polaris is a supergiant, 2000 times brighter than our sun. It is only the 49our sun. It is only the 49thth brightest star in the brightest star in the sky!sky!

Polaris actually has a small, blue companion Polaris actually has a small, blue companion star. You need a large scope to see it.star. You need a large scope to see it.

In summer, the Big Dipper is standing on its In summer, the Big Dipper is standing on its side, ladle down, with the Little Dipper to the side, ladle down, with the Little Dipper to the right.right.

In addition to the Northern Lights here, you can see the Big and Little Dippers here. See If you can find Polaris.

These are star trails made by the Earth’s rotation, making these stars appear to rotate around Polaris. Really, the Earth is rotating around the North Pole.

Circumpolar ConstellationsCircumpolar Constellations

Definition: constellations that are visible Definition: constellations that are visible year round. They appear to closely orbit year round. They appear to closely orbit Polaris (the North Star)Polaris (the North Star)They include:They include:– Ursa Major (Big Dipper)Ursa Major (Big Dipper)– Ursa Minor (Little Dipper)Ursa Minor (Little Dipper)– CassiopeiaCassiopeia– CepheusCepheus– DracoDraco

CygnusCygnus LyraLyra AquilaAquila SagittariusSagittarius Scorpius Scorpius These constellations can be found straight These constellations can be found straight

above you in the sky during the summer above you in the sky during the summer months at the midnight to 1 o'clock hour.  The months at the midnight to 1 o'clock hour.  The three brightest stars of these constellations three brightest stars of these constellations form what is called the Summer Triangle.form what is called the Summer Triangle.

CygnusCygnus

Cygnus, The Swan, is one of the more Cygnus, The Swan, is one of the more obvious constellations in the summer obvious constellations in the summer skies, which -- because of its shape -- is skies, which -- because of its shape -- is sometimes called the Northern Cross. sometimes called the Northern Cross. This constellation was known as "Ornis" This constellation was known as "Ornis" (Bird) to the Greeks. It was the Romans (Bird) to the Greeks. It was the Romans who named it who named it CygnusCygnus and who adopted and who adopted the Greek myths to explain its name. The the Greek myths to explain its name. The Arabs (and other cultures since then) saw Arabs (and other cultures since then) saw the constellation as a hen.the constellation as a hen.

The Swan in the Sky

Lyra

• In Greek mythology, the lyre was invented by Hermes. When only a child, he pulled a cow-gut across a tortoise shell, and thereby created the lyre. Hermes gave this lyre to his half-brother Apollo (both were fathered by Zeus). As the god of music, Apollo became associated with the instrument.

• The constellation is small and rather faint, but it is home to the fifth brightest star, Vega, which is the head of the constellation.

The instrument of the Gods

Aquila, the eagle

• This constellation dates from ancient times, representing the bird that in Mythology was the companion of Jupiter, and often carried his thunderbolts. 

• Aquila lies in the Milky Way and contains rich star fields. Aquila straddles the celestial equator in the Milky Way and is easily recognized by the bright white star Altair with its two flanking yellow stars.

The Eagle

Sagittarius

• In ancient times the three bright stars in the curved line were seen as a bow to some, leading both Greek and Roman writers to confuse the constellation with Centaurus.

• Sagittarius is also half-man, half-beast, said by some to have been placed in the heavens to guide the Argonauts in their travels.

Sagittarius

Scorpius

• Scorpius is one of the oldest constellations known - possibly even one of the original six signs of the zodiac. While the sun still traverses Scorpius, it only takes nine days to do so.

• "The Sting" in Arabic traditionally forms the stinger, although some star maps currently show the nearby "G Scorpii" as one of the stingers.

• The constellation was once much larger, but the western portion representing the claws of the scorpion was given to Libra.

The Sting

Something to Appreciate

• “We look and see what we want, but what we don’t want to see are the things that are right before our eyes, and it is those things that are most beautiful.”– Anonymous

Works CitedWorks Citedwww.utahskies.org/www.utahskies.org/ Dec19, 2005 Dec19, 2005http://www.polaris.iastate.edu/NorthStar/Unit9/unit9_sub4.htmhttp://www.polaris.iastate.edu/NorthStar/Unit9/unit9_sub4.htm published by: Dept. of Physics published by: Dept. of Physics and Astronomy copyright 2000-2001 Iowa State Universityand Astronomy copyright 2000-2001 Iowa State UniversityCopyright © 1995 - 2004Copyright © 1995 - 2004Kathy Miles, Author, and Chuck Peters, Kathy Miles, Author, and Chuck Peters, http://www.starryskies.com/articles/dln/6-01/summer.sky.htmlhttp://www.starryskies.com/articles/dln/6-01/summer.sky.html The Constellations Web Page © 2000 by Richard Dibon-Smith. The Constellations Web Page © 2000 by Richard Dibon-Smith. http://www.dibonsmith.com/cyg_con.htmhttp://www.dibonsmith.com/cyg_con.htmhttp://www.ap.stmarys.ca/hpc/cygnus.gifhttp://www.ap.stmarys.ca/hpc/cygnus.gif Last Updated:Last Updated: January 19, 2005 by Dave Lane, System January 19, 2005 by Dave Lane, System AdministratorAdministratorhttp://www.dibonsmith.com/lyr_con.htmhttp://www.dibonsmith.com/lyr_con.htm The Constellations Web Page© 2000 by Richard The Constellations Web Page© 2000 by Richard Dibon-Smith.Dibon-Smith.www.sciencenet.org.ukwww.sciencenet.org.uk/.../ /.../ ConstList/lyra.htmlConstList/lyra.html Last Modified 17 September 2003 Last Modified 17 September 2003Contributed by Paul Rodmell, Southland Astronomical Society Contributed by Paul Rodmell, Southland Astronomical Society http://www.faster.co.nz/~rasnz/Stars/Aquila.htmhttp://www.faster.co.nz/~rasnz/Stars/Aquila.htmborghetto.astrofili.orgborghetto.astrofili.org/ / costellazioni/bordo.htmcostellazioni/bordo.htm 9 Novembre 1998 9 Novembre 1998 DamianoDamiano TriscianiTrisciani and and FilippoFilippo CubattoliCubattolihttp://www.dibonsmith.com/sgr_con.htm The Constellations Web Page© 2000 by Richard Dibon-http://www.dibonsmith.com/sgr_con.htm The Constellations Web Page© 2000 by Richard Dibon-Smith.Smith.www.esa.int/esaSC/ SEM248R1VED_sensations_1.htmlwww.esa.int/esaSC/ SEM248R1VED_sensations_1.html Copyright 2000 - 2005 © European Copyright 2000 - 2005 © European Space Agency. All rights reserved. Space Agency. All rights reserved. http://www.progressiveart.com/erte/golden_fleece_embellishments.htmhttp://www.progressiveart.com/erte/golden_fleece_embellishments.htm