Constellations
November 14th 2007 06:01
If you are inclined to get up early morning and would like to get a vibrant view of planet Venus, see it now as the “morning Star” . Venus shines at magnitude 4.2 and easily dominates the predawn sky. Venus begins the month close to Virgo's brightest star, 1 st magnitude Spica. “Venus will again grace our evening skies around August 2008
Astronomers use the term magnitude to denote the brightness of celestial body. The lower the number, the brighter it is. For example magnitude brighter than 0 are represented by a negative number therefore the planet Venus is refered to as magnitude -4.7 at it’s brightest. The Sun's magnitude is -26.7, the full Moon is about -12, and the bright star Sirius is -1.5 perhaps the most faintest star we can see with the human eye is around magnitude 5.
Constellations
There are a miryads of constellation in the night sky some are easly recegonisable some appear more abstract in shape and form.
The ancients found constellations to be a usefull navigating tool as well as season’s calculator. Each constellation was given a name and the shape was interperated according to the shape of the constellation either form mythology or taken from everyday life for example Cygus named after the swan The interpretation of the constellation itself, varies with cultures around the world. To some North American Indians, for example, the stars of Orion’s Belt represent three deer. In Australia, a number of Aborigines consider parts of Orion to be a canoe. And, in Thailand, the constellation depicts a turtle.
The constellation Orion the Hunter is beginning to come into view in the southern hemisphere around 8 pm Eastern daylight time (some people call it the saucepan) Orion stands high in the east around midnight during the summer months. It makes a wonderful starting point for people finding their way around the sky. When I began learning star patterns as a child, Orion’s Belt proved to be a particularly useful guide , pointing toward Sirius to its southeast and Aldebaran to its northwest. In my earliest recollection the Southern Cross was equally fascinating.
The constellations are named in Latin and Greek some are derived from Arabic.
One of the most confusing in terms of both its origin and pronunciation is Betelgeuse. This reddish star lies at the lower right of the Hunter's hand. Scholars think the name originated as yad al jawza, said to mean "hand of the giant. ' It's unclear, however, why al jawza was used, because al jabbar would be the correct term for "the giant. ' Occasionally, you'll see the name written as ibt al jawza, where ibt means "armpit." By the way, the proper way to pronounce this star's name is BET el jooz.
Orion’s left shoulder is marked by Bellatrix, which comes from the Latin for "female warrior." This seems strange because Orion has always been depicted as male. The association with a female warrior has led some to call Bellatrix the 'Arnazon Star."
The brilliant blue white star Rigel forms Orion’s left leg. Its name comes from the Arabic rifl, meaning "leg" To the east of Rigel lies Orion’s other leg,
Saiph. This name comes from the Arabic al saif, meaning Ihe sword." Beginners often get confused with this, because Orion’s sword usually is represented either by the line of stars ending at Iota (t) Orionis or by the star Eta (il) Orionis.
At the center of the constellation, Orion’s Belt consists of three stars, named Mintaka, Alnilarn, and Alnitak (see photo above) from west to east (left to right). Mintaka name derives from the Arabic al mintakah, meaning "The belt," while Alnitak means "the girdle" and Alnilam string of pearls"
It's fun to think about these fascinating names and ideas as you gaze at Orion. Take your dusty telescope out of the cupboard you don’t want to miss Orion’s other delights. Tops on the list, of course, is the famous Orion Nebula (M42), with its tightly packed multiple star system known as the Trapezium.
Images by Carlcan
Astronomers use the term magnitude to denote the brightness of celestial body. The lower the number, the brighter it is. For example magnitude brighter than 0 are represented by a negative number therefore the planet Venus is refered to as magnitude -4.7 at it’s brightest. The Sun's magnitude is -26.7, the full Moon is about -12, and the bright star Sirius is -1.5 perhaps the most faintest star we can see with the human eye is around magnitude 5.
Constellations
There are a miryads of constellation in the night sky some are easly recegonisable some appear more abstract in shape and form.
You can see here a representation of "Aquarius "with the New Moon this evening look to the west around 8 pm EDST
The ancients found constellations to be a usefull navigating tool as well as season’s calculator. Each constellation was given a name and the shape was interperated according to the shape of the constellation either form mythology or taken from everyday life for example Cygus named after the swan The interpretation of the constellation itself, varies with cultures around the world. To some North American Indians, for example, the stars of Orion’s Belt represent three deer. In Australia, a number of Aborigines consider parts of Orion to be a canoe. And, in Thailand, the constellation depicts a turtle.
The constellation Orion the Hunter is beginning to come into view in the southern hemisphere around 8 pm Eastern daylight time (some people call it the saucepan) Orion stands high in the east around midnight during the summer months. It makes a wonderful starting point for people finding their way around the sky. When I began learning star patterns as a child, Orion’s Belt proved to be a particularly useful guide , pointing toward Sirius to its southeast and Aldebaran to its northwest. In my earliest recollection the Southern Cross was equally fascinating.
Image of Orion's Belt taken outside my back yard near Brisbane on Nov 13 th 2007
The constellations are named in Latin and Greek some are derived from Arabic.
One of the most confusing in terms of both its origin and pronunciation is Betelgeuse. This reddish star lies at the lower right of the Hunter's hand. Scholars think the name originated as yad al jawza, said to mean "hand of the giant. ' It's unclear, however, why al jawza was used, because al jabbar would be the correct term for "the giant. ' Occasionally, you'll see the name written as ibt al jawza, where ibt means "armpit." By the way, the proper way to pronounce this star's name is BET el jooz.
Orion’s left shoulder is marked by Bellatrix, which comes from the Latin for "female warrior." This seems strange because Orion has always been depicted as male. The association with a female warrior has led some to call Bellatrix the 'Arnazon Star."
The brilliant blue white star Rigel forms Orion’s left leg. Its name comes from the Arabic rifl, meaning "leg" To the east of Rigel lies Orion’s other leg,
Saiph. This name comes from the Arabic al saif, meaning Ihe sword." Beginners often get confused with this, because Orion’s sword usually is represented either by the line of stars ending at Iota (t) Orionis or by the star Eta (il) Orionis.
At the center of the constellation, Orion’s Belt consists of three stars, named Mintaka, Alnilarn, and Alnitak (see photo above) from west to east (left to right). Mintaka name derives from the Arabic al mintakah, meaning "The belt," while Alnitak means "the girdle" and Alnilam string of pearls"
It's fun to think about these fascinating names and ideas as you gaze at Orion. Take your dusty telescope out of the cupboard you don’t want to miss Orion’s other delights. Tops on the list, of course, is the famous Orion Nebula (M42), with its tightly packed multiple star system known as the Trapezium.
Images by Carlcan
| 56 |
| Vote |
Add To: 
Subscribe to this blog
Comment by Mountain Fog
Infognito
Are these names familiar to you? Are they known outside Australia?
fog
Comment by CarlCan
Astroearth
Yes, the big dipper and little Dipper are very well known Constellations in the Northern Hemisphere.
The Big Dipper is Ursa Major (Latin for Big Bear). It is a common for people to get Orion and Ursa Major the two constellations mistaken as being the same.
They are entirely different Ursa Major is “technically”
only seen in the Northern hemisphere although you can see portions of Ursa Major in the Southern hemisphere around mid June (our winter season) when Ursa Major may be seen dimly to the North just after sunset.
In Australia the constellation of Orion the hunter is often referred to as the " saucepan."
Carl