Constellations are a locality of the empyrean outlined by boundaries. the full sky is split into eighty-eight-star regions (the call was created at the primary General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union in 1922 in Rome). several constellations retain their names from times of yore. Some names of constellations are connected with Hellenic language mythology, some - with subjects. There are constellations known as animal names. historically, the brightest stars of astronomers are known as the letters of the alphabet with the addition of the name of the constellation.
How to conduct constellation observations
- Choose a place with a good view (so that the light of lanterns, windows of houses does not interfere)
- Determine the sides of the horizon by compass and Polaris.
- Observe the constellations and the daily sky rotation
- Using a movable map of the starry sky, find and remember the shape of the Big and Little Bear constellations.
- Draw these constellations.
- Write the names of the bright stars of the Big Bear Bucket - Merak, Megrets, Fekda, Aliot, Mitsar, Dubhe, Alkaid.
- The last star in the handle of the Little Bear's bucket is the Polar Star.
- Using a moving map of the starry sky, find and remember the shape of the constellations of Swan and Lyra.
- At the top of the cross, in the tail of the figure of the Swan, find a bright star Deneb. The star in the bird's head, named Albireo, is a visually double star with a yellow and blue component.
Because of the Earth's axial rotation, the stars seem to be moving through the sky. All the stars describe the course of the day as full circles with the center near the Polaris. If you stand facing the south side of the horizon, you will notice that the stars rise on the east side of the horizon and enter the west side. A close observation shows that the Polaris hardly ever changes its position with respect to the horizon.
How to observe the daily rotation of the sky
- Choose a place with a good view.
- On the compass, trim the sides of the horizon on the polar star.
- Using a moving star chart, find and remember the shape of the eagle's constellation. Beautiful constellation is easy to recognize by three bright stars located almost in a straight line on the neck, back and left shoulder of the figure of the Eagle. The two tail stars of the Eagle lie in the western branch of the Milky Way.
- Write the name of the brightest star, Altair.
- After an hour, repeat the observation and make sure the stars move due to the daily rotation of the sky.
- Repeat the observation for 3-4 hours. Enter the observation results in the table.
- Take a picture of the circumpolar region of the sky at an exposure of 1-2 hours. You will receive convincing documentation of the daily sky rotation.
- 7 degrees south of Altair, find the star of the Eagle, which is a classic example of a variable cepheid star that changes the luster from 3.69 to 4.4 stars with a period of 7.2 days.
Everyone is aware of that the planet moves round the Sun, and also the Sun, in turn, moves not on the equator, however on the great circle. The sparkling sky changes during this case. this modification may be seen if the position of bright stars is mounted at a similar time for 1-3 months.
How to observe the starry sky during the year:
- Choose a place with a good view (so as not to disturb the light of lanterns, windows of houses).
- Using the compass, identify the sides of the horizon by the Polaris Star.
- Using a moving map of the sparkling sky, notice the circumpolar constellations you already understand, further because the constellations of Lyra and Cassiopeia. Cassiopeia is one among the foremost lovely constellations within the hemisphere, love the letter M once seen on top of the North Pole in December, and W once seen below the pole in June. Most of the constellation lies within the Milky Way and contains many fascinating scattered clusters. Lyra may be a tiny however terribly lovely constellation between Hercules and Swan.
- Draw these constellations.
- Write the names of the brightest stars of these constellations. The main star of Lyra is Vega (in Arabic "falling").
- After two weeks (at the same time), repeat the observation and make sure that the starry sky changes during the year.
- Repeat the observation for 3-4 months (at the same time). The results of the observation can be recorded in a table.
- Find Sheliak (Beta Lira) - a double variable star in the constellation of Lira, changing the shine with a period of 13 days from 3.4 to 4.3 stars. This eclipsing variable star was discovered in 1784 by English astronomer John Goodrike. Recall that the eclipsing variable stars are systems of two stars, the total brightness of which periodically changes over time. The reason for the change in brightness may be the eclipse of the stars each other.