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Jump to Hercules Jump to Big Dipper Jump to Leo Jump to Scorpio Jump to Pegasus |
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Gemini |
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Gemini is a zodiacal constellation, which means a constellation located along the ecliptic, the annual path of the sun traveling across the sky. Gemini is only located and visible in the Northern hemisphere. Gemini's most recognizable features are the two brightest stars, Castor and Pollux. Gemini also includes a star cluster visible on a clear, moonless night. The word twins come from the Latin word Gemini. Astronomers of ancient Egypt symbolize this constellation by a pair of young goats, the Arabs by a pair of peacocks, and the Greeks by twin young children. |
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Hercules is a huge constellation visible only in the Northern Hemisphere, lying between Lyra and Corana Borealis. Hercules is only visible in the summer. This constellation was represented by the figure of the Greek hero Hercules in a kneeling position. The stars in this constellation are of third magnitude or even dimmer. Hercules contains in his constellation a star cluster called Messier 13, which has more than 50,000 stars. This cluster can be seen by the naked eye, even if it is 34,000 light-years away. |
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The Big Dipper is the common name for this constellation. It was known to the ancient Greeks as the bear with a wagon, to the Romans as Ursa Major (the Great Bear), and Septentriones as the Seven Plowing Oxen. Seven stars make this constellation and six of those constellations and six of those seven are second the magnitude and the last is a third magnitude. Two of the stars form the outer edge of the bowl and the point to Polaris, the North Star, which therefore are called the pointers. |
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Leo is a northern constellation that contains a first-magnitude star Regulus. Leo is a Zodiacal constellation, which means it travels along the elliptic. The Latin word Leo means ''Lion''. Regulus means little king. Leo is easy to recognize in the night sky because it is made up of two trapezoids. In mythology Hercules killed the lion by choking it because its skin was immune to injury. Hercules wore the skin as a fear-inspiring garment. |
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Scorpio also known by the name of Scorpios; Latin for Scorpion, is a southern constellation situated party in the Milky Way next to Libra. Scorpio is a zodiacal constellation is Antares, a red star of the first magnitude. In mythology, this was the powerful scorpion that stung Orion, the hunter, to death. Before, it was a large constellation, but later, Libra formed from its claws. |
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Pegasus is a northern constellation, situated southeast of Andromeda. The three brightest stars are Markab, Scheat, and Algenib form the square with Andromeda, called the square of Pegasus. The constellation, which is named for the winged horse of Greek mythology, is usually seen, upside down in the sky, with only the head, neck, and front half of the animal represented by the stars. |
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