Zodiac Constellations
Thousands of stars can be visible to the naked eye on a clear and dark night. We can create shapes and patterns by using these stars and our creativity. The patterns which are made from a group of stars are called constellations.
Ancient people were aware of these constellations and named them after some objects and animals they resembled. They also made stories about the constellations. For example, the constellation Perseus, Cetus, Andromeda, Cassiopeia, and Pegasus are part of Greek mythology. Different cultures name the constellations by similar names, like Pisces - fish in Greek and Meena - fish in Sanskrit.
Zodiac and Constellations
Since the Earth rotates from west to east, the constellations also appear to move in the sky from west to east. The constellations of the Northern Hemisphere are not visible from the Southern Hemisphere, and vice versa. That's because the Earth is spherical, and some constellations don't fall in the line of sight. However, people from the equator are able to see all the constellations.
All Zodiac Constellations
All total, you can find 12 major constellations that line-up around the sun's path along the sky; otherwise known as ecliptic. These are called as zodiac zodiac constellations:
Aries (Mesha), Gemini (Mithuna), Taurus (Vrushabha), Leo (Simha), Crab/Cancer (Karka), Virgo (Kanya), Scorpion (Vrushika), Libra (Tula), Capricorn (Makara), Saggitarius (Dhanusha), Aquarius (Kumbha), Pisces (Meena). Initially, these constellations were used to track the movement of the sun and determine the time during ancient times.
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Zodiac Signs and Constellations
The 12 zodiac signs listed in the horoscope closely determine the movement of the Earth through the heavens. The zodiac signs are derived from the constellations, which carve out the sun's path through the universe. It's not like that sun passes through some constellations at a particular date or time of the year, as many people believe.
A closer observation of the Earth, the sun, and the stars reveal that the zodiac signs are more intricate than we think.
As Earth orbits around the sun, it appears like the sun is passing through different constellations. As the moon appears in a different position on the sky every night, the position of the sun also drifts towards the east with relative to distant stars. The sun doesn't actually move. It appears to be moving due to the movement of the Earth around the sun.
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Constellations and Constellation of Stars
Sometimes, we might have looked up in the sky at night and lost within the stars' wonders. You may also have heard about the constellations, but don't know how to identify the constellations by yourself.
You shouldn't worry because with some simple orientation and little knowledge about the constellations; you can easily identify the constellations which commonly appear in the night sky.
a. Big Dipper/Ursa Major, 'The Great Bear'
Big Dipper of the great bear is not actually a constellation, but it is a part of the constellation called Ursa Major. The Big Dipper is usually identified in a pattern of stars of the Northern Hemisphere, and hence it is an excellent starting point to begin the search of constellations.
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b. Little Dipper, 'The Little Bear' (Ursa Minor)
Little Dipper can be spotted by the constellation of Big Dipper. If you look at the two stars which form the right part of the cup and follow the north's straight line, it will lead you to Polaris, the North Star. Polaris is located at the end of Little Dipper's handle, which is actually the Little Bear's cup & tail forms part of the bear's side part.
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c. Orion, 'The Hunter'
It is the easiest constellation to spot in the night sky. Search for three bright stars that form the straight line of the hunter's belt. If you have recognized it, you can easily locate Betelgeuse, the bright star that forms the hunter's armpit, and towards the east, you can locate the hunter's arm holding a bow.
d. Taurus, 'The Bull'
Taurus “The Bull' is easy to locate if you have found the Orion constellation. Taurus is located just above Orion constellation. You can easily locate Taurus if you find the large red star, Aldebaran, which lies near the folk of bull's horn.
The bottom horn is a part of the Crab Nebula. The Pleiades is a famous star cluster located above the bull. These clusters are lovely and can be seen with the naked eyes.
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e. Gemini, 'The Twins'
Orion is also the key to locate the Gemini constellation. The twins can be found above one of the sides of the hunter's raised arm. The constellation resembles two stick figure twins with touching outstretched arms. Start by locating two bright stars of the twins. The rest of the parts are simple to track. Both twins have heads, torsos, and legs. The left twin appears to lift one leg, perhaps like a small jig.
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FAQs on Constellations
1. What is a constellation, according to astronomy?
In astronomy, a constellation is a specific area of the celestial sphere, defined by the International Astronomical Union (IAU). While we often think of them as patterns of stars forming shapes of mythological figures or objects, their official definition is more like a bordered territory in the sky used to map celestial objects.
2. What is the importance of constellations for astronomers and in history?
Constellations have always been important for human activities. The main uses include:
- Navigation: Historically, sailors and travellers used constellations like Ursa Major to find the Pole Star (Polaris) for direction.
- Calendars: The appearance of certain constellations marked the change of seasons, which was crucial for agriculture.
- Modern Astronomy: Today, astronomers use the 88 official constellations as a reference map to locate stars, galaxies, and other celestial events.
3. How many official constellations are there?
There are 88 official constellations recognised by the International Astronomical Union (IAU). These constellations cover the entire night sky in both the northern and southern hemispheres, ensuring that every star is located within the boundaries of one of these constellations.
4. What are some of the most easily recognisable constellations?
Some of the most famous and easy-to-spot constellations include Ursa Major (also known as the Great Bear or Saptarishi), Orion (the Hunter) with its distinct three-star belt, and Cassiopeia, which forms a 'W' or 'M' shape in the sky.
5. Are the stars in a constellation actually close to each other in space?
No, this is a common misconception. The stars forming a constellation appear close together from our line of sight on Earth, but they are often millions of light-years apart in three-dimensional space. The pattern we see is just a chance alignment from our specific viewpoint in the galaxy.
6. Why do we see different constellations during different seasons?
We see different constellations throughout the year because of the Earth's revolution around the Sun. As the Earth moves in its orbit, our perspective of the night sky changes. The constellations visible at night are those in the direction opposite to the Sun. Therefore, the constellations we see in the summer night sky are in the direction the Earth faces away from the Sun during summer.
7. What is the difference between an astronomical constellation and an astrological zodiac sign?
An astronomical constellation is an officially defined region of the sky containing a star pattern. The 'Zodiac' in astronomy refers to the 13 constellations that lie along the Sun's apparent path (the ecliptic). In contrast, an astrological zodiac sign is one of 12 equal 30-degree sections of the sky used for horoscopes, which is a system of belief, not a scientific practice.
8. How can you use the Great Bear constellation to find the Pole Star?
To find the Pole Star (Polaris), first locate the Great Bear (Ursa Major), which contains the famous asterism called the Saptarishi or Big Dipper. Identify the two stars at the end of the 'bowl' of the Dipper. Imagine a straight line extending from these two stars, about five times the distance between them. This line will point directly to a moderately bright star, which is the Pole Star.
