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1-11-06 Unit: Star IdentificationConstellations and Deep sky objects Important terms and facts Constellation Group of stars-appear to form a pattern in the sky 88 different constellations Latitude determines which are visible About 22 are visible from mid-northern latitudes 12 of these are ZODIACAL-the Suns path crosses through these constellations Important terms and facts
1-12-06 Quick Review of Latitude
Latitude Highest latitude is 90 deg at poles 60 minutes in each degree 60 seconds in each minute NYS 40 degrees N. Lat Latitude determines climate Review of Longitude Angular distance east and west of Prime Meridian Prime Meridian runs from N. Pole to S. Pole cutting through Greenwich, Eng. Other lines of Longitude are called MERIDIANS Meridians converge at the poles Longitude Time gets earlier west of P.M. Time gets later east of P.M. 24 Time Zones 4 on continental US Eastern, Central, Mountain and Pacific Each Time Zone is 15 deg Long. Wide Adjacent time zones are 1 hour diff. Longitude The Prime Meridian is HALF of GREAT CIRCLE 180 deg. Is maximum longitude 2 connecting meridians must equal 180 deg. NYS is 75 deg W. Longitude Prime Meridian is 5 hours later Longitude determines Time Important terms Betelgeuese also designated as Alpha Orion Rigel also known as Beta Orion All Alpha and Beta stars can be designated in this fashion Important Terms 1-12-06Constellations are named for mythological beings Some resemble the figures for which they are named Others named in honor of them They encompass the entire celestial sphere
Important terms and facts 2. Circumpolar Constellations "circum" means around "polar" means the N. pole or S. pole These constellations dont rise or set They appear to go around the poles Important terms and facts 3. Asterism Easily recognizable star pattern within a constellation Ex. 1)Big Dipper part of Ursa Major 2)Little Dipper part of Ursa Minor
Important terms and facts 4. Deep-Sky Objects Nebula Stellar Nursery cloud of dust and gas site of star birth 2) Globular Clusters very old stars 3) Open Clusters very young stars Important terms and facts 5. Charles Messier French Astronomer (1730-1817) Compiled a systematic catalogue of deep-sky objects Purpose: For comet hunters Not to mistaken a d.s.o. for a comet Important terms and facts 5. Charles Messier (cont) The d.s.o. is designated with the letter M and a number M for Messier and the number for the order in which it was catalogued Ex. M1 Crab Nebula in the constellation Taurus Important terms and facts 6. Seasonal Skies Groups of constellations change as the seasons change The earth is in a different location The Winter Sky Orion the Hunter Alpha star: Betelgeuese (pronounced BET-el-jooze) Alpha Orion Right shoulder of Orion Red Super giant star 300 light years away Old age portion of life cycle
Betelgeuse The Winter Sky Beta star: Rigel Beta Orion Left knee of Orion Blue super giant star 50 thousand times brighter than sun 1,400 ly away
The Winter Sky Left shoulder: Bellatrix Right knee: Siaph The 3 belt stars (from L to R or E. to W.) Alnitak Alnilam Mintaka The Winter sky Deep Sky Object M42 The Orion Nebula Located beneath Alnitak as sword Appears as fuzzy patch Region of star formation Orion Nebula Orion The Hunter Orion 2 The Winter Sky 2. Taurus the Bull A zodiacal constellation (sun goes through May) Alpha star: Aldebaron (Al-deb-ar-on) Alpha Taurus An orange giant star 60 ly away Marks the eye of the bull The Winter Sky Deep Sky Objects (2) M45 The Pleiades Also known as the 7 sisters Open star cluster (about 500 stars) With naked eye 6 to 9 are visible Forms the bulls shoulder M45-Pleides The Winter Sky (2) M1- Crab Nebula Site of supernova seen in 1054 Crab Nebula Taurus Taurus 2 The Winter Sky 3. Canis Major The Great Dog Alpha star: Sirius the brightest star in entire sky Alpha Canis Major Known as the dog star 8.7 ly away 40 times more luminous than sun "dog days of August" Sirius rises with Sun in August -
Canis Major Cm2 The Winter Sky 4. Canis Minor The Little Dog Alpha star: Procyon Alpha Canis Minor "before the dog" (Procyon rises before Sirius) Canis Minor CM2 The Winter Sky 5. Gemini the twins Alpha star Castor Alpha Gemini Beta star Pollux Beta Gemini A zodiacal constellation - July Gemini Gemini 2 The Winter Sky 6. Auriga (oh-RYE-gah) the charioteer Alpha star: Capella Alpha Auriga Brilliant yellowish star Similar to our sun only larger 50 ly away Auriga Auriga2
Winter Sky Sky Chart-Winter The Spring Sky Ursa Major The Great Bear Contains the asterism, The Big Dipper Constellation is circumpolar Alpha star: Dubhe Alpha Ursa Major Beta star: Merak Beta Ursa Major The Spring Sky Dubhe and Merak - the pointer stars Pointer stars point to North star The big dipper forms the tail and back of bear Ursa Major UM2 The Spring Sky 2. Ursa Minor The Little Bear Contains the asterism, The little dipper Constellation is circumpolar Alpha star: Polaris or North star Alpha Ursa Minor The altitude of Polaris = observers latitude Ursa Minor UM2 The Spring Sky 3. Bootes (boh-OH-teez) The Herdsman Alpha star: Arcturus Alpha Bootes Bootes Bootes2 The Spring Sky 4. Virgo The Virgin Alpha star: Spica Alpha Virgo A zodiacal constellation Only female among the zodiac Virgo Virgo 2 Spring Sky 5. Corvus the Crow Alpha star Alchiba Alpha Corvus Corvus Corvus2 The Spring Sky 6. Leo the Lion Alpha star Regulus (heart of the lion) Alpha Leo Beta star Denebola (tail of the lion) Beta Leo A zodiacal constellation Leo Leo2 The Spring Sky A way to remember how to navigate through the Spring Sky Follow the arc (in the big dipper) to Arcturus Speed to Spica Cruise to Corvus Leap to Leo The pointer stars point to Polaris
Sky Chart-Spring The Transitional Sky Hercules the Hero Alpha star: Ras Algethi Alpha Hercules Deep-Sky object: M 13 The Hercules Cluster Globular Cluster (very old stars) Hercules H2 The Transitional Sky 2. Corona Borealis the northern crown Alpha star: Gemma (gem) Alpha Corona Borealis Small but clear semicircle of faint stars Corona Borealis C2 The Transitional Sky 3. Scorpius the scorpion Alpha star: Antares "the heart of the scorpion" "rival of Mars" Red supergiant (like Betelquese) Alpha Scorpius A zodiacal constellation Scorpius S2 The Transitional sky 4. Libra the scales, the balance A zodiacal constellation Was part of Scorpion at one time Alpha star: Zubenel Genubi (southern claw) Alpha Libra Beta star: Zubenel Schmali (northern claw) Beta Libra The Transitional Sky 2 interesting points of interest Libra was part of scorpion at one time The claws thus the names of the 2 stars A 12th zodiacal constellation was needed (2) When sun was at the autumnal equinox it was in Libra Thus the name balance (12hrs of darkness and 12 hrs of light)
Libra L2 Sky Chart-Transitional The Summer Sky The constellations of the summer form the "summer triangle" Cygnus the Swan Alpha star: Deneb Alpha cygnus Beta star: Albiero Beta cygnus The Summer Sky Cygnus the swan contains the asterism, The Northern Cross Cygnus C2 The Summer Sky Aquila the Eagle Alpha star: Altair Alpha Aquila Aquila A2 The Summer Sky 3. Lyra the Harp Alpha star: Vega Alpha Lyra Deep Sky Object M57 (The Ring Nebula) Whispy smokey ring of light Formed when an aging star blew off its outer layer of gas
Ring Nebula Lyra L2 Sky Chart-Summer The Autumn Sky Rich in mythological lore Astronomically not the brightest stars Perseus the Hero Slays medusa snake haired monster Rescues Princess Andromeda Alpha star: Mirphak Alpha Perseus The Autumn Sky Beta star: Algol Beta Perseus brightens and dims periodically really a double star eclipsing binary star medusas blinking eye Perseus P2 The Autumn Sky 2. Cassiopia - the Queen A striking W-shaped figure Located on other side of Polaris Alpha star: Shedar Alpha Cassiopia Cassiopeia C2 The Autumn Sky 3. Cepheus The King Alpha star: Alderamin Alpha Cepheus Cepheus C2 The Autumn Sky 4. Andromeda The Chained Princess Mythology is rich Perseus the Hero rescues Andromeda from the Sea Monster (Cetus) Perseus rides in on Pegasus Alpha star: Alpheratz Alpha Andromeda The Autumn Sky Deep Sky Object in Andromeda M 31 The Andromeda Galaxy The closest major galaxy 200 billion stars M31-Andromeda Andromeda A2 The Autumn Sky 5. Pegasus The flying horse Asterism called the "Great Square" Horse is flying upside down Alpha Star: Markab Alpha Pegasus Pegasus P2 The Autumn Sky 6. Cetus The Sea Monster Alpha star: Menkar Alpha Cetus Cetus C2 Sky Chart- Autumn
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