Constellations And Horoscope/Zodiac

Introduction to constellations

• A constellation is any one of the 88 areas into which the sky

is divided

• The constellations are totally imaginary things, made up

over the past 6000 years

• Constellations break up the sky into more managable bits

• People of ancient time saw the constellations as character

or animals in the sky. They made up stories to explain how

the object, animal, or character came into the night sky.

• This type of schematic draws

the stars as different sizes to

represent different

brightnesses

• In almost every star atlas,

you will see Orion drawn

with these same lines

• Every star on the chart is

labeled

The ancient

astronomers named

the constellations after

personalities and

creatures from their

mythologies

What is a star?

• A STAR is a large sphere of glowing gases.• Stars change over time.

– Which is the closest star to Earth?

• THE SUN!• The sun is a medium sized star• MUCH, MUCH larger than Earth

Why do the Stars Move?

• The Stars don’t actually move… It is the Earth that is moving (spinning).

• The spinning Earth gives the perception that the stars move.

• Polaris – Earth’s northern axis points at this star so its movement is not affected by Earth’s Rotation.

STAR CHARTS

Terminologies• Astronomy: study of celestial beings• Astrology: theory that planetary position

influences life in more than just a physical sense

• CONSTELLATION: Star formations, help people know where different stars are

• EQUINOX: Sun crosses Earth’s equator, night/day equal. – March 21: Vernal

– September 21: Autumn

• HOROSCOPE or Zodiac: A prediction based on stars formation

WHAT IS THE ZODIAC/Horoscope?

• Latin• “Band of Animals”• In Astronomy:– 12 Constellations in ecliptic

• In Astrology:– Band following ecliptic– 360 degrees divided into 12, 30 degree sections– Named after constellations that are in each band– Don’t match up anymore because of equinoxes

http://daphne.palomar.edu/jthorngren/tutorial.htm

ASTRONOMICAL ASPECT

• Observations• 12 constellations• Sun follows ecliptic path• Blocks one constellation a

month– EXAMPLE: Aries: March 21 -

April 20

ASTROLOGY

• THEORY• 12 zones x 30 degrees =

360 degrees• Used to correspond with

constellations• Equinoxes/time changes,

no longer match up• Horoscope signs off• One month ahead

Aries• Astronomy– Between Pisces and

Taurus– Brightest star: Hamal

• Astrology– 1st sign– Ram– March 21-April 19– Mars– Bold, self sufficient– The “Golden Fleece”

saved the children of Athamas from sacrifice.

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Taurus

• ASTRONOMY– Between Aries and

Gemini– Brightest star: Aldebaran

• ASTROLOGY– 2nd sign– Bull– Venus– April 21-May 21– Reliable, conservative– Zeus took the form of a

bull when he carried off Europa, a Phoenician maiden.

Gemini• Astronomy– Between Taurus and

Cancer– Brightest stars: Castor

and Pollux

• Astrology– 3rd sign– Twins– Mars– May 21-June 21– Quick witted, restless– Has correlation with

Romulus and Remus, sons of Mars.

Cancer

• Astronomy– Between Gemini and Leo– Brightest star: N/A

• Astrology– 4th sign– Crab– Moon– June 22-July 22– Sensitive, deep– Hera sent Cancer to fight

Heracles.

Leo• Astronomy– Between Cancer and

Virgo– Brightest star: Regulus

• Astrology– 5th sign– Lion– Sun– July 23-August 22– Confident, generous– Hera also sent the Lion

to fight Heracles.

Virgo

• Astronomy– Between Leo and Libra– Brightest star: Spica

• Astrology– 6th sign– Virgin– Mercury– August 23-September 22– Shy, adaptable– Virgo probably

represents the daughter of Apollo, Parthenos, who died at a young age.

Libra• Astronomy– Between Virgo and

Scorpio– Brightest Star: Zubenegenubi

• Astrology– 7th sign– Scales– Venus– September 23-October

23– Strong willed, Social– Represents scale of

fates, Jupiter used between Achilles and Hector

Scorpio• Astronomy– Between Libra and

Sagittarius– Brightest star: Antares

• Astrology– 8th sign– Scorpion– Pluto– October 24-November

21– Loyal, competitive– Gaea sent the Scorpion

to kill Orion.

Sagittarius• Astronomy– Between Scorpio and

Capricorn– Brightest Star: Rukbat

• Astrology– 9th sign– Archer– Jupiter– November 22-December

21– Positive, social– Zeus immortalized

Crotus, the Muses’ nurse.

Capricorn

• Astronomy– Between Sagittarius and

Aquarius– Brightest Star: Alpha

Capricorni

• Astrology– 10th sign– Sea Goat– Saturn– December 22-January 19– Ambitious, authority– Aegipan escaped from

monster Typhon by turning into a sea goat.

www.athenasweb.com

Aquarius

• Astronomy– Between Capricorn and

Pisces– No significantly bright

stars

• Astrology– 11th sign– Water Carrier– Saturn/Uranus– January 20-February 18– Unpredictable, inventive– Ganymede served as a

cupbearer in Olympus.

Pisces• Astronomy– Between Aquarius and

Aries– No significantly bright

stars, but sun passes through it in vernal equinox.

• Astrology– 12th sign– Fish– Jupiter/Neptune– February 20-March 20– Sensitive, creative– Aphrodite and Eros

escaped monster Typhon by turning into fish.