Constellations: Binary Star and Stars
CONSTELLATIONS
AND STARS
There are about 48 old constellations. Today astronomers recognize 88 (44 in each hemisphere) dividing all of the entire sky.
THE GREAT BEAR AND THE SEVEN STARS
Probably the most famous group of stars is the Big Dipper. It is a part of the constellation called Ursa Major. It resembles a bear in many civilizations. The handle of the Dipper is the tail of the bear curving away from the bowl.
THE LITTLE BEAR AND POLARIS:
Five major constellations are always visible above the horizon from our latitudes: Ursa Minor, Ursa Major, Cassiopeia, Cepheus and Draco. They all revolve once in 24 hours around the North Star and stars in these are known as Circumpolar stars. Ursa Minor or the Little Bear is well known for being the host of Polaris, positioned very close to the celestial north pole. Actually the Polaris revolves in radius of 1 degree about the North celestial pole.
Polaris is the brightest star in the Ursa Minor. It is part of 7 well known stars similar to Big Dipper. The handle in it curves towards the bowl unlike Big Dipper.
CASSIOPEIA
Cassiopeia lies on the other side of the pole from Ursa Major, almost directly opposite the Big Dipper. One can sees the seven stars with naked eyes. Sometimes people visualize it as part of a Crown of the Egyptian queen Cassiopeia, other people see it as an inclined chair or throne.
CEPHEUS
NEXT TO CASSIOPEIA is her husband the king Cepheus, known for some of the well-studied variable stars. Cepheus forms a shape resembling the cap of a clown. Its wedge corner is very close to Polaris and is one of the circumpolar stars. The brightest star in this constellation is called Aldemarin, meaning the arm. It stays close to his queen.
Draco, the Dragon
Another famous constellation near the North Pole is Draco meaning Dragon placed beneath the Ursa Minor. It is the dragon that the giant Hercules faces up to. Two known stars in it are called Etamin (tip of Dragon's head) and Thuban in the tail (3rd last
AND STARS
There are about 48 old constellations. Today astronomers recognize 88 (44 in each hemisphere) dividing all of the entire sky.
THE GREAT BEAR AND THE SEVEN STARS
Probably the most famous group of stars is the Big Dipper. It is a part of the constellation called Ursa Major. It resembles a bear in many civilizations. The handle of the Dipper is the tail of the bear curving away from the bowl.
THE LITTLE BEAR AND POLARIS:
Five major constellations are always visible above the horizon from our latitudes: Ursa Minor, Ursa Major, Cassiopeia, Cepheus and Draco. They all revolve once in 24 hours around the North Star and stars in these are known as Circumpolar stars. Ursa Minor or the Little Bear is well known for being the host of Polaris, positioned very close to the celestial north pole. Actually the Polaris revolves in radius of 1 degree about the North celestial pole.
Polaris is the brightest star in the Ursa Minor. It is part of 7 well known stars similar to Big Dipper. The handle in it curves towards the bowl unlike Big Dipper.
CASSIOPEIA
Cassiopeia lies on the other side of the pole from Ursa Major, almost directly opposite the Big Dipper. One can sees the seven stars with naked eyes. Sometimes people visualize it as part of a Crown of the Egyptian queen Cassiopeia, other people see it as an inclined chair or throne.
CEPHEUS
NEXT TO CASSIOPEIA is her husband the king Cepheus, known for some of the well-studied variable stars. Cepheus forms a shape resembling the cap of a clown. Its wedge corner is very close to Polaris and is one of the circumpolar stars. The brightest star in this constellation is called Aldemarin, meaning the arm. It stays close to his queen.
Draco, the Dragon
Another famous constellation near the North Pole is Draco meaning Dragon placed beneath the Ursa Minor. It is the dragon that the giant Hercules faces up to. Two known stars in it are called Etamin (tip of Dragon's head) and Thuban in the tail (3rd last