There are 88 official constellations
in the skies. Some of them you've heard of: Orion, and the Big Dipper (or
Ursa Major, as it's more properly known). Some of them you probably haven't
ever heard of: Puppis, or Coma Berenices. Each constellation, though (with
the exception of a few like Microscopium, which were named more recently),
has a history and mythology behind it. Although we will mostly concern
ourselves with a few of the best known constellations here, there are whole
websites devoted to the mythologies behind the constellations. Check out
my list of astronomy
references to find some of them!
A constellation is probably the single most familiar concept in astronomy, after the existence of stars themselves. If you've ever read a horoscope or identified yourself by your zodiac sign, you've been referring to constellations. Here is the constellation Orion:
Orion, the Hunter, is probably the most easily recognized constellation in the entire Northern sky. It is only visible during the winter months (during the summer, it is overhead during the day, and we can't see it) and best during the cold month of February, from State College.
Ursa Major and Ursa Minor are two constellations known better by their english translations: the Big Bear and the Little Bear. Most constellation names are in Latin, as are most star's technical names.
For a quick view and basic translation of various constellations, just click on the links below. If you want a more complete story for each constellation, check my links and resources page!
