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Constellations. What is a constellatio n?. Using stars, it is an imaginary picture in the sky that represents a person, animal, or object. Why were constellations created?. Calendars – Helped farmers keep track of seasons. Religion. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Constellations
What is a constellation?
Using stars, it is an imaginary picture in the
sky that represents a
person, animal, or object.
Why were constellations
created?Calendars – Helped farmers keep track of
seasons.
Constellations represented important
religious figures or events.
Religion
Know where you are as you travel.
Navigation
Source: NOAA
Important Groups of
ConstellationsThe twelve (thirteen, really!) constellations of
the Zodiac*.*Zodiac – Greek for “circle of
animals.”
The Sun, Moon, and planets
appear to move through the
zodiac.
Source: MSN Encarta
Circumpolar ConstellationsConstellations that rotate around the North Star and are
visible all year.
Source: Windows on the Universe
Orion
Found in the high southern winter sky.
Other Constellations
you should know
Other Constellations
you should know
Killed by a scorpion and placed in the sky.
Source: Dr. Islam’s Constellation pagehttp://www2.potsdam.edu/islamma/Phys335Constellations.htm
Other constellations
you should knowBoötes
Found in the northern sky during spring.
Other Constellations
you should knowThe herdsman
watching the bears.
Source: Dr. Islam’s Constellation pagehttp://www2.potsdam.edu/islamma/Phys335Constellations.htm
Other Constellations
you should know
Use the Big Dipper’s handle to find Boötes.(Make an arc to Arcturus.)
Other constellations
you should know
Scorpius
Found in the southern sky in summer.
Other Constellations
you should know
Killed Orion. When Orion is seen, Scorpius is nowhere to be found!Source: Dr. Islam’s Constellation page
http://www2.potsdam.edu/islamma/Phys335Constellations.htm
When you look at a
constellation, all the stars appear to be
the same distance from
Earth.
`
Look at Orion:
Source: NASA StarChildhttp://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/questions/question9.html
Why do we see different
constellations during the evening?Earth rotates on its axis.
Why do we see different
constellations through the year?The Earth revolves around
the Sun.
Constellations used for
navigation.The North Star helps find direction.Runaway slaves
used the Big Dipper (Drinking
Gourd).
