ConstellationsBelow you will find a list of 30 constellations that you will need to know for the final constellation test. There are three things you will need to be able to do for this test. First, you need to be able to name the constellation image, second you will need to match the key star or feature (nebula, galaxy or cluster) associated with each constellation and third, you should know the five circumpolar constellations visible from Hillsboro, OR and be able to trace them on a chart of the northern sky. Note: there is extra credit available on the third part of the test if you can find and label other constellation on the chart of the northern sky.
Information about the constellations can be found here. |
30 CONSTELLATIONS AND KEY FEATURES (STARS, GALAXIES, ETC.) YOU NEED TO KNOW FOR CLASS
FLASH CARDS CAN BE FOUND HERE but you must identify them. Constellation charts (outlines) can be found here. THE SIX (6) CIRCUMPOLAR CONSTELLATIONS FOR HILLSBORO, OR Cassiopeia (Cas) - Caph Camelopardalis (Cam) - Cepheus (Cep) - Delta Cephei Draco (Dra) - Thuban Ursa Major (UMa) - Mizar/Alcor Ursa Minor (UMi) - Polaris THE OTHER 24 CONSTELLATIONS EASILY SEEN FROM HILLSBORO Andromeda (And) - Alpharatz & Andromeda Galaxy (M31) Aries (Ari) - Hamal Auriga (Aur) - Capella Boötes (Boo) - Arcturus Cancer (Can) - Beehive Cluster (M44) Canis Major (CMa) - Sirius Canis Minor (CMi) - Procyon Corona Borealis (CrB) - Alphecca Corvus (Cor) - Antennae Galaxies Cygnus (Cyg) - Deneb & Albireo Delphinus (Del) - Gamma Delphini Gemini (Gem) - Castor & Pollux Hercules (Her) - Globular Cluster (M13) Lacerta (Lac) - Leo (Leo) - Regulus Lyra (Lyr) - Vega & Ring Nebula (M57) Orion (Ori) - Betelgeuse, Rigel & Orion Nebula (M42) Pegasus (Peg) - Markab Perseus (Per) - Algol Sagittarius (Sag) - Lagoon Nebula (M8) & Trifid Nebula (M20) Scorpius (Sco) - Antares Serpens (Ser) - Globular Cluster (M5) Taurus (Tau) - Aldebaran & Pleiades (M45) Triangulum (Tri) - Triangulum/Pinwheel Galaxy (M33) |
COORDINATES IN THE SKY
The sky is like a big bowl called the CELESTIAL SPHERE that is placed over the Earth and while there are different coordinate systems for the sky, the one we will use to plot the constellations involves coordinate points called the RIGHT ASCENSION (RA) and the DECLINATION (Dec). Right ascension is like longitude on the Earth and declination is like latitude. Just like longitude and latitude can be used to locate a point on the spherical surface of the Earth, right ascension and declination can be used to find a location in the celestial sphere of the sky. You can get a feel for the celestial sphere using the Celestial-Equitorial (RA/Dec) Demonstrator. Things to notice in the demonstrator that will help you as you plot the constellations. First, note that right ascension is measured in hours to the east of the zero (0) hour circle and that once around the Earth is 24 hours corrisponding to one complete rotation of the Earth (1 day). Second, notice there is a CELESTIAL EQUATOR directly above the equator on the Earth and that if the position is north of the equator it is a positive (+) declination and if it is south of the equator it is negative (-). Astronomers record right ascension in hours(h):minutes(m):seconds(s) and declination in degrees:minutes('):seconds("), for example: RA 18h 37m 12.2s Dec +37deg 27' 40.8". We will simplify this a little in our class by listing right ascension (RA) in hours and minutes and declination (dec) in degrees , for example: RA 13h 24.5m, Dec +44.8 degrees or RA 04h 55.2m, Dec -18.4 degrees.
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