Julia+Constellations

Each star is different and has a different brightness, which is why astronomers use the magnitude scale to determine this:
 * Apparent vs Absolute Magnitude **



m=magnitude, b=brightness

There are two ways to measure brightness: apparent magnitude and absolute magnitude.

Apparent magnitude is measured as observed from any distance. The apparent brightness is measured, using the inverse square law, and then converted to magnitude. However, the inverse square law explains that intensity of light will decrease as distance increases. Thus, a farther star will have a lower apparent brightness.

Absolute magnitude can be described by astronomers as the apparent brightness a star would have if it were placed at 10 parsecs (32.6 light years). It can be described as true brightness. Once again, it is determined using the inverse square law. There is nothing special about the distance 10 parsecs. It is just a common distance used by astronomers to measure absolute brightness. A small m denotes apparent magnitude, while a capital M denotes absolute magnitude. The Greek word for constellation is kastasterismoi. Constellations in Greek mythology were regarded as heroes and beasts, favoured or cursed by the Gods who were given a place in heaven to remember their deeds. They were considered living, semi-divine spirits who roamed the heavens. The constellations revolve around, the pole star or heavenly axis (Greek word: polos). The pole star is a central point in the northern sky. Only the stars closest to the pole can we seen.
 * Greeks and the Constellations **

You may recognize some of the constellation names such as zodiac (Greek: Zodiakos) or Gemini. Twelve rising signs cross the sun’s rising at dawn. The Greeks referred to these as // zodiakos // (zodiac) or // zodiakos kyrklos // (circle of little animals). In fact if you’re born in mid-June and wonder why you’re a cancer, it’s because that’s when the cancer constellation first rises.

The Greeks considered the first rising (heliacal rising) of the 12 signs the most important. They believed those constellations ruled the heavens because they rose preceding the sun, narrowly.

The Greeks envisioned the constellations fixed on the heavens, a vast, solid dome. Some believed it was made of Bronze. The Titan Atlas, they deemed, spun the globe, causing the rising and setting of stars.

They also believed that constellations would inhabit hell. Upon their rise into the heavens, Earth’s waters would purify them.

Here are some famous constellations, which the Greeks also worshipped:

Source: [] Source: [] Source: [] ** Seasonal Constellations ** As the earth revolves around the sun, it faces towards different parts of the universe. This is why we see different constellations during the summer than in the winter.

The first rising of a star on the Western horizon is called the heliacal rising. It occurs just before dawn. As the nights advance, the star will move higher, nearer to the pole and become visible earlier and earlier.

In summer, we can look at the teapot and look straight into the Milky Way galaxy. In fall, we look south of the Milky Way and see the Andromeda galaxy. In winter, it is the spiral arms of the Milky Way, which we observe. Finally, in spring, we gaze into galaxies north of the Milky Way.


 * Summer Constellations: **

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 * Fall Constellations: **

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 * Winter Constellations: **



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 * Spring Constellations: **

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Works Cited Astrowiki. "Stellar Magnitudes." n. pag. On-line. Internet. May 25th, 2009. Available at: http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr162/lect/stars/magnitudes.html. Atsma, Aaron. "Kastasterismoi Greek Constellations." n. pag. On-line. Internet. May 25th, 2009. Available at: [].

University of Loisville. "Constellations." n. pag. On-line. Internet. May 25th, 2009. Available at: http://www.physics.louisville.edu/astro/students/107-01/topics/constellations/index.html.

By Julia Brocklehurst