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The night sky amazes with its beauty and countless number of heavenly fireflies. What is especially fascinating is that their arrangement is structured, as if they were specially placed in the right order, forming star systems. Since ancient times, stargazers have tried to count all these myriads of heavenly bodies and give them names. Today, a huge number of stars have been discovered in the sky, but this is only a small part of all existing vast Universe. Let's look at what constellations and luminaries there are.

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Stars and their classification

A star is a celestial body that emits enormous amounts of light and heat.

It consists mainly of helium (lat. Helium), as well as (lat. Hydrogenium).

The celestial body is in a state of equilibrium due to the pressure inside the body itself and its own.

Emits warmth and light as a result of thermonuclear reactions, occurring inside the body.

What types are there depending on life cycle and structure:

• Main sequence. This is the main life cycle of the star. This is exactly what it is, as well as the vast majority of others.
• Brown dwarf. A relatively small, dim object with a low temperature. The first one was opened in 1995.
• White dwarf. At the end of its life cycle, the ball begins to shrink until its density balances gravity. Then it goes out and cools down.
• Red giant. A huge body that emits a large amount of light, but is not very hot (up to 5000 K).
• New. New stars do not light up, just old ones flare up with renewed vigor.
• Supernova. This is the same new one with the release of a large amount of light.
• Hypernova. This is a supernova, but much larger.
• Bright Blue Variables (LBV). The biggest and also the hottest.
• Ultra X-ray sources (ULX). They release large amounts of radiation.
• Neutron. Characterized by rapid rotation and a strong magnetic field.
• Unique. Double, with different sizes.

Types depending from the spectrum:

• Blue.
• White and blue.
• White.
• Yellow-white.
• Yellow.
• Orange.
• Red.

Important! Most of the stars in the sky are entire systems. What we see as one may actually be two, three, five or even hundreds of bodies of one system.

Names of stars and constellations

The stars have always fascinated us. They became the object of study, both from the mystical side (astrology, alchemy) and from the scientific side (astronomy). People looked for them, calculated them, counted them, put them into constellations, and also give them names. Constellations are clusters of celestial bodies located in a certain sequence.

In the sky, under certain conditions, up to 6 thousand stars can be seen from different points. They have their own scientific names, but about three hundred of them also have personal names that they received from ancient times. Stars mostly have Arabic names.

The fact is that when astronomy was actively developing everywhere, the Western world was experiencing the “dark ages”, so its development lagged significantly behind. Here Mesopotamia was most successful, China less so.

The Arabs not only discovered new but they also renamed the heavenly bodies, who already had a Latin or Greek name. They went down in history with Arabic names. The constellations mostly had Latin names.

Brightness depends on the light emitted, size and distance from us. The brightest star is the Sun. It is not the largest, not the brightest, but it is closest to us.

The most beautiful luminaries with the greatest brightness. The first among them:

1. Sirius (Alpha Canis Majoris);
2. Canopus (Alpha Carinae);
3. Toliman (Alpha Centauri);
4. Arcturus (Alpha Bootes);
5. Vega (Alpha Lyrae).

Naming periods

Conventionally, we can distinguish several periods in which people gave names to heavenly bodies.

Pre-Antique period

Since ancient times, people have tried to “understand” the sky and gave the night luminaries names. No more than 20 names from those times have reached us. Scientists from Babylon, Egypt, Israel, Assyria and Mesopotamia worked actively here.

Greek period

The Greeks didn't really delve into astronomy. They gave names to only a small number of luminaries. Mostly, they took names from the names of the constellations or simply attributed existing names. All astronomical knowledge of ancient Greece, as well as Babylon, was collected Greek scientist Ptolemy Claudius(I-II centuries) in the works “Almagest” and “Tetrabiblos”.

Almagest (Great Construction) is the work of Ptolemy in thirteen books, where he, based on the work of Hipparchus of Nicea (c. 140 BC), tries to explain the structure of the Universe. He also lists the names of some of the brightest constellations.

Table of celestial bodies described in the Almagest

Tetrabiblos is another work of Ptolemy Claudius in four books. The list of celestial bodies is supplemented here.

Roman period

The Roman Empire was engaged in the study of astronomy, but when this science began to actively develop, Rome fell. And behind the state, its science fell into decay. However, about a hundred stars have Latin names, although this does not guarantee that they were given names their scientists are from Rome.

Arab period

The fundamental work of the Arabs in the study of astronomy was the work of Ptolemy Almagest. They translated most of them into Arabic. Based on the religious beliefs of the Arabs, they replaced the names of some of the luminaries. Names were often given based on the location of the body in the constellation. So, many of them have names or parts of names meaning neck, leg or tail.

Table of Arabic names

Renaissance

Since the 16th century in Europe, antiquity has been revived, and with it science. Arabic names did not change, but Arabic-Latin hybrids often appeared.

New clusters of celestial bodies were practically not discovered, but old ones were supplemented with new objects. A significant event of that time was the release of the starry atlas “Uranometry”.

Its compiler was the amateur astronomer Johann Bayer (1603). On the atlas he painted an artistic image of the constellations.

And most importantly, he suggested principle of naming luminaries with the addition of letters of the Greek alphabet. The brightest body of the constellation will be called “Alpha”, the less bright “Beta” and so on until “Omega”. For example, the brightest star in Scorpii is Alpha Scorpii, the less bright Beta Scorpii, then Gamma Scorpii, etc.

Nowadays

With the advent of powerful ones, a huge number of luminaries began to be discovered. Now they are not given beautiful names, but are simply assigned an index with a digital and alphabetic code. But it happens that celestial bodies are given personal names. They are called by names scientific discoverers, and now you can even buy the opportunity to name the luminary as you wish.

Important! The sun is not part of any constellation.

What are the constellations?

Initially, the figures were figures formed by bright luminaries. Nowadays scientists use them as landmarks of the celestial sphere.

The most famous constellations in alphabetical order:

1. Andromeda. Located in the northern hemisphere of the celestial sphere.
2. Twins. The brightest luminaries are Pollux and Castor. Zodiac sign.
3. Big Dipper. Seven stars forming the image of a ladle.
4. Big Dog. It has the brightest star in the sky - Sirius.
5. Scales. Zodiac, consisting of 83 objects.
6. Aquarius. Zodiac, with an asterism forming a jug.
7. Auriga. Its most outstanding object is the Chapel.
8. Wolf. Located in the southern hemisphere.
9. Bootes. The brightest luminary is Arcturus.
10. Veronica's hair. Consists of 64 visible objects.
11. Crow. It is best seen in mid-latitudes.
12. Hercules. Has 235 visible objects.
13. Hydra. The most important luminary is Alphard.
14. Pigeon. 71 bodies of the southern hemisphere.
15. Hound Dogs. 57 visible objects.
16. Virgo. Zodiac, with the brightest body - Spica.
17. Dolphin. Visible everywhere except Antarctica.
18. The Dragon. Northern hemisphere, practically a pole.
19. Unicorn. Located on the Milky Way.
20. Altar. 60 visible stars.
21. Painter. Includes 49 objects.
22. Giraffe. Faintly visible in the northern hemisphere.
23. Crane. The brightest is Alnair.
24. Hare. 72 celestial bodies.
25. Ophiuchus. The 13th sign of the zodiac, but not included in this list.
26. Snake. 106 luminaries.
27. Golden Fish. 32 objects visible to the naked eye.
28. Indian. Faintly visible constellation.
29. Cassiopeia. It's shaped like the letter "W".
30. Keel. 206 objects.
31. Whale. Located in the “water” zone of the sky.
32. Capricorn. Zodiac, southern hemisphere.
33. Compass. 43 visible luminaries.
34. Stern. Located on the Milky Way.
35. Swan. Located in the northern part.
36. A lion. Zodiac, northern part.
37. Flying fish. 31 objects.
38. Lyra. The brightest luminary is Vega.
39. Chanterelle. Dull.
40. Ursa Minor. Located above the North Pole. It has the North Star.
41. Small Horse. 14 luminaries
42. Small Dog. Bright constellation.
43. Microscope. South part.
44. Fly. At the equator.
45. Pump. Southern sky.
46. Square. Passes through the Milky Way.
47. Aries. Zodiacal, having bodies Mezarthim, Hamal and Sheratan.
48. Octant. At the South Pole.
49. Eagle. At the equator.
50. Orion. Has a bright object - Rigel.
51. Peacock. Southern Hemisphere.
52. Sail. 195 luminaries of the southern hemisphere.
53. Pegasus. South of Andromeda. Its brightest stars are Markab and Enif.
54. Perseus. It was discovered by Ptolemy. The first object is Mirfak.
55. Bake. Almost invisible.
56. Bird of paradise. Located near the south pole.
57. Cancer. Zodiac, faintly visible.
58. Cutter. South part.
59. Fish. A large constellation divided into two parts.
60. Lynx. 92 visible luminaries.
61. Northern Crown. Crown shape.
62. Sextant. At the equator.
63. Net. Consists of 22 objects.
64. Scorpion. The first luminary is Antares.
65. Sculptor. 55 celestial bodies.
66. Sagittarius. Zodiac.
67. Calf. Zodiac. Aldebaran is the brightest object.
68. Triangle. 25 stars.
69. Toucan. This is where the Small Magellanic Cloud is located.
70. Phoenix. 63 luminaries.
71. Chameleon. Small and dim.
72. Centaurus. Its brightest star for us, Proxima Centauri, is the closest to the Sun.
73. Cepheus. Has the shape of a triangle.
74. Compass. Near Alpha Centauri.
75. Watch. It has an elongated shape.
76. Shield. Near the equator.
77. Eridanus. Big constellation.
78. South Hydra. 32 celestial bodies.
79. Southern Crown. Dimly visible.
80. Southern Fish. 43 objects.
81. South Cross. In the form of a cross.
82. Southern Triangle. Has the shape of a triangle.
83. Lizard. No bright objects.

What are the constellations of the Zodiac?

Zodiac signs - constellations through which the earth passes through throughout the year, forming a conditional ring around the system. Interestingly, there are 12 accepted zodiac signs, although Ophiuchus, which is not considered a zodiac, is also located on this ring.

Attention! There are no constellations.

By and large, there are no figures at all made up of celestial bodies.

After all, when we look at the sky, we perceive it as plane in two dimensions, but the luminaries are located not on a plane, but in space, at a huge distance from each other.

They do not form any pattern.

Let's say that light from Proxima Centauri, closest to the Sun, reaches us in almost 4.3 years.

And from another object of the same star system, Omega Centauri, it reaches the earth in 16 thousand years. All divisions are quite arbitrary.

Constellations and stars - sky map, interesting facts

Names of stars and constellations

Conclusion

It is impossible to calculate a reliable number of celestial bodies in the Universe. You can't even get close to the exact number. Stars unite into galaxies. Our Milky Way galaxy alone numbers about 100,000,000,000. From Earth using the most powerful telescopes About 55,000,000,000 galaxies can be detected. With the advent of the Hubble telescope, which is in orbit around the Earth, scientists have discovered about 125,000,000,000 galaxies, each with billions, hundreds of billions of objects. What is clear is that there are at least a trillion trillion luminaries in the Universe, but this is only a small part of what is real.

Pleiades, cohort, conjunction, celestial compass, square Dictionary of Russian synonyms. constellation see galaxy Dictionary of synonyms of the Russian language. Practical guide. M.: Russian language. Z. E. Alexandrova. 2011… Synonym dictionary

CONSTELLATION, a group of stars forming an imaginary figure in the sky. The stars that make up such a group can lie at very different distances from the Earth, and therefore the division into constellations is devoid of physical meaning. In 1930, at the congress... ... Scientific and technical encyclopedic dictionary

CONSTELLATION, constellations, cf. (astro.). A group of stars conventionally united by a common name. Twelve constellations of the zodiac. Ushakov's explanatory dictionary. D.N. Ushakov. 1935 1940 … Ushakov's Explanatory Dictionary

CONSTELLATION, I, Wed. 1. One of 88 sections into which the starry sky is divided for ease of orientation and designation of stars (special); a separate group of stars. Bright village 2. transfer Connection (celebrities, talents) (high). S. names. S. talents... ... Ozhegov's Explanatory Dictionary

Wed. koopa, a flock of stars randomly collected under one common name. Dahl's Explanatory Dictionary. IN AND. Dahl. 1863 1866 … Dahl's Explanatory Dictionary

- (Constellation) a group of stars forming some kind of figure. Ancient astronomers saw in these groups similarities with animals and various objects and, in accordance with this, gave the names of S. (Ursa Major, Libra, etc.). Dividing the sky into N... ... Marine Dictionary

constellation- Groups of stars in the sky (88 in total), highlighted for ease of orientation on the celestial sphere and sometimes used for orientation to the cardinal points... Dictionary of Geography

A group of stars named after a religious or mythical character or animal, or after some notable object, ancient or modern. Constellations are unique monuments of ancient human culture, its mythology,... ... Collier's Encyclopedia

An area of ​​the sky or a group of stars distinguished by the characteristic arrangement of stars in this area, which has its own name. There are 88 constellations in total. Constellations differ in the area they occupy on the celestial sphere and the number of stars in them. If we look at history... ... Astronomical Dictionary

constellation- CONSTELLATION, I, Wed A collection of celestial bodies of stars in an area of ​​the sky, united by a common name. Virgo constellation... Explanatory dictionary of Russian nouns

Books

• Constellation, 1978 Edition. The condition is satisfactory. The authors of the works included in the collection explore the moral problems of the future society, reflect on alien civilizations,… Category: Collections of works Publisher: Children's Literature. Leningrad,
• Constellation of Gemini, Maya Ganina, Maya Ganina devoted her work to moral and ethical problems. The writer’s focus is on issues of morality, spiritual enrichment of modern man, education in him... Category: Classic and modern prose Publisher:

Humanity has always looked to the sky. The stars have long been guides for sailors, and they remain so today. A constellation is a group of celestial bodies that are united by one name. However, they may be at different distances from each other. Moreover, in ancient times the name of the constellations often depended on the shapes taken by the celestial bodies. This will be discussed in more detail in this article.

General information

There are a total of eighty-eight recorded constellations. Of these, only forty-seven have been known to mankind since ancient times. We should say thanks to the astronomer Claudius Ptolemy, who systematized the known constellations of the starry sky in the treatise "Almagest". The rest appeared at a time when people began to intensively study the world around them, travel more and record their knowledge. So, other groups of objects appeared in the sky.

The constellations in the sky and their names (photos of some of them will be presented in the article) are quite diverse. Many have several names, as well as ancient legends of origin. For example, there is a rather interesting legend about the appearance of Ursa Major and Ursa Minor in the sky. In those days when the gods ruled the world, the most powerful of them was Zeus. And he fell in love with the beautiful nymph Callisto, and he took her as his wife. In order to protect her from the jealous and dangerous Hera, Zeus took his beloved to heaven, turning her into a bear. This is how the constellation Ursa Major came about. The little dog Callisto became Ursa Minor.

Zodiacal constellations of the Solar System: names

The most famous constellations for humanity today are the zodiacal ones. Those that meet on the path of our Sun during its annual journey (ecliptic) have long been considered as such. This is a fairly wide strip of celestial space, divided into twelve segments.

Name of constellations:

1. Aries;
2. Calf;
3. Twins;
4. Virgo;
5. Capricorn;
6. Aquarius;
7. Fish;
8. Scales;
9. Scorpion;
10. Sagittarius;
11. Ophiuchus.

As you can see, unlike the signs of the Zodiac, there is one more constellation here - the thirteenth. This happened because the shape of celestial bodies changes over time. The Zodiac signs were formed quite a long time ago, when the sky map was slightly different. Today, the position of the stars has undergone some changes. Thus, another constellation appeared on the path of the Sun - Ophiuchus. In its order, it stands just after Scorpio.

The spring equinox is considered to be the starting point of the solar journey. At this moment, our luminary passes along the celestial equator, and day becomes equal to night (there is also the opposite point - autumn).

Constellations Ursa Major and Ursa Minor

One of the most famous constellations in our sky is Ursa Major and its companion, Ursa Minor. But why did it happen that not the most demanding constellation became so important? The fact is that the Ursa Minor cluster of celestial bodies contains the Polar Star, which was a guiding star for many generations of sailors, and remains so today.

This is due to its practical immobility. It is located near the North Pole, and the rest of the stars in the sky revolve around it. This feature of it was noticed by our ancestors, which was reflected in its name among different peoples (Golden Stake, Heavenly Stake, Northern Star, etc.).

Of course, there are other main objects in this starry constellation, the names of which are listed below:

• Kohab (Beta);
• Ferhad (Gamma);
• Delta;
• Epsilon;
• Zeta;

If we talk about the Big Dipper, then it more clearly resembles a ladle in shape than its small counterpart. According to estimates, with the naked eye alone there are about one hundred and twenty-five stars in the constellation. However, there are seven main ones:

• Dubhe (Alpha);
• Merak (Beta);
• Phekda (Gamma);
• Megrets (Delta);
• Alioth (Epsilon);
• Mizar (Zeta);
• Benetnash (Eta).

Ursa Major has nebulae and galaxies, as do numerous other star constellations. Their names are presented below:

• Spiral galaxy M81;
• Owl Nebula;
• Spiral Galaxy "Column Wheel"
• Barred spiral galaxy M109.

The most amazing stars

Of course, our sky has quite remarkable constellations (photos and names of some are presented in the article). However, besides them, there are other amazing stars. For example, in the constellation Canis Major, which is considered ancient, since our ancestors knew about it, there is the star Sirius. There are many legends and myths associated with it. In Ancient Egypt, they very carefully monitored the movement of this star; there are even suggestions by some scientists that the African pyramids are aimed at it with their tip.

Today, Sirius is one of the stars closest to Earth. Its characteristics exceed those of the sun twice as much. It is believed that if Sirius were in the place of our star, then life on the planet in the form it is now would hardly be possible. With such intense heat, all the surface oceans would boil away.

A rather interesting star that can be seen in the Antarctic sky is Alpha Centauri. This is the closest similar star to Earth. According to its structure, this body contains three stars, two of which may well have terrestrial planets. The third, Proxima Centauri, according to all calculations, cannot have such properties, since it is quite small and cold.

Major and minor constellations

It should be noted that today there are fixed large and small constellations. Photos and their names will be presented below. One of the largest can be safely called Hydra. This constellation covers an area of ​​the starry sky of 1302.84 square degrees. Obviously, this is why it received such a name; in appearance, it resembles a thin and long strip that occupies a quarter of the stellar space. The main place where Hydra is located is south of the celestial equator line.

Hydra is quite dim in its star composition. It includes only two worthy objects that stand out significantly in the sky - Alphard and Gamma Hydra. You can also note an open cluster called M48. The second largest constellation belongs to Virgo, which is slightly inferior in size. Therefore, the representative of the space community described below is truly small.

So, the smallest constellation in the sky is the Southern Cross, which is located in the Southern Hemisphere. It is considered an analogue of the Big Dipper in the North. Its area is sixty-eight square degrees. According to ancient astronomical chronicles, it used to be part of Centauri, and only in 1589 it was separated separately. In the Southern Cross, about thirty stars are visible even to the naked eye.

In addition, the constellation contains a dark nebula called the Coalsack. It is interesting because star formation processes can occur in it. Another unusual object is the open cluster of celestial bodies - NGC 4755.

Seasonal constellations

It should also be noted that the name of the constellations in the sky changes depending on the time of year. For example, in summer the following are clearly visible:

• Lyra;
• Eagle;
• Hercules;
• Snake;
• Chanterelle;
• Dolphin et al.

The winter sky is characterized by other constellations. Eg:

• Great Dog;
• Small Dog;
• Auriga;
• Unicorn;
• Eridan and others

The autumn sky is the following constellations:

• Pegasus;
• Andromeda;
• Perseus;
• Triangle;
• Keith et al.

And the following constellations open the spring sky:

• Little Leo;
• Crow;
• Bowl;
• Hounds Dogs, etc.

Constellations of the northern hemisphere

Each hemisphere of the Earth has its own celestial objects. The names of the stars and the constellations they belong to are quite different. So, let's look at which of them are typical for the northern hemisphere:

• Andromeda;
• Auriga;
• Twins;
• Veronica's hair;
• Giraffe;
• Cassiopeia;
• Northern Crown and others.

Southern Hemisphere Constellations

The names of the stars and the constellations they belong to are also different for the southern hemisphere. Let's look at some of them:

• Crow;
• Altar;
• Peacock;
• Octant;
• Bowl;
• Phoenix;
• Centaurus;
• Chameleon and others.

Truly, all the constellations in the sky and their names (photo below) are quite unique. Many have their own special history, beautiful legend or unusual objects. The latter include the constellations Dorado and Toucan. The first contains the Large Magellanic Cloud, and the second contains the Small Magellanic Cloud. These two objects are truly amazing.

The Big Cloud is very similar in appearance to a Segner wheel, and the Small Cloud is very similar to a punching bag. They are quite large in terms of their area in the sky, and observers note their similarity to the Milky Way (although in actual size they are much smaller). They seem to be a part of him that separated in the process. However, in their composition they are very similar to our galaxy, moreover, the Clouds are the star systems closest to us.

The amazing factor is that our galaxy and the Clouds can revolve around the same center of gravity, which forms a triple star system. True, each of this trinity has its own star clusters, nebulae and other space objects.

Conclusion

So, as you can see, the names of the constellations are quite varied and unique. Each of them has its own interesting objects, stars. Of course, today we do not know even half of all the secrets of the cosmic order, but there is hope for the future. The human mind is quite inquisitive, and if we do not die in a global catastrophe, then there is the possibility of conquering and exploring space, building new and more powerful instruments and ships to obtain knowledge. In this case, we will not only know the name of the constellations, but also comprehend much more.

> Constellations

Explore everything constellations in the sky of the Universe: diagrams and maps of constellations, names, list, description, characteristics with photos, asterisms, history of creation, how to observe.

Constellations- These are imaginary drawings in the sky, created based on the position here, which appeared based on the imagination of poets, farmers and astronomers. They used forms that are familiar to us and have been inventing them for the last 6,000 years. The main purpose of constellations is to quickly show the location of a star and tell its features. On a perfectly dark night, you will be able to spot 1000-1500 stars. But how do you know what you're looking at? This is why the brightest constellations are needed, dividing the heavens into identifiable sectors. For example, if you find three bright stars, you will realize that you are looking at part of Orion. And then it’s a matter of memory, because Betelgeuse is hidden in the left shoulder, and Rigel is hidden in the leg. Nearby you will notice the Canes Hounds and its stars. Use diagrams and maps of constellations that show the names, brightest stars, and location in the sky. Photos, pictures and interesting facts are presented for each constellation. Don't forget to look at the zodiac constellations in the starry sky.

All constellations around the world are distributed by month. That is, their maximum level of visibility in the sky depends entirely on the season. Therefore, when classifying, groups are distinguished according to 4 seasons (winter, spring, summer and autumn). The main thing to remember is one point. If you track the constellations strictly according to the calendar, then you need to start at 21:00. When observing ahead of schedule, you need to push back half the month, and if you started after 21:00, then add half.

For navigation convenience, we have distributed everything names of constellations in alphabetical order. This is extremely useful if you are interested in a particular cluster. Remember that only the brightest stars are shown in the diagrams. To delve into more detail, you need to open a star chart or a planisphere - a moving version. You can find out more interesting information about constellations thanks to our articles:

Clear boundaries between the constellations were drawn only at the beginning of the 20th century. There are 88 in total, but 48 are based on the Greek ones captured by Ptolemy in the 2nd century. The final distribution took place in 1922 with the help of American astronomer Henry Norris Russell. The boundaries were created in 1930 by the Belgian astronomer Egen Delport (vertical and horizontal lines).

Most have retained the names of their predecessors: 50 are Rome, Greece and the Middle East, and 38 are modern. But humanity has existed for more than one millennium, so constellations appeared and disappeared depending on the culture. For example, the Wall Quadrant was created in 1795, but later divided into the Dragon and Bootes.

The Greek constellation Ship Argo was divided by Nicholas Louis de Lacay into Carina, Velae and Puppis. It was officially cataloged in 1763.

When we talk about stars and objects, scientists mean that they lie within the boundaries of these constellations. The constellations themselves are not real, because in reality all stars and nebulae are separated from each other by great distances and even planes (although from the Earth we see straight lines).

Moreover, remoteness also means a lag in time, because we observe them in the past, which means they can be completely different now. For example, Antares in Scorpio is 550 light years away from us, which is why we see it as before. The same applies to the three-dimensional Sagittarius Nebula (5200 light years). There are also more distant objects - NGC 4038 in the constellation Raven (45 million light years).

Constellation definition

This is a group of stars creating a specific shape. Or one of the 88 official configurations listed in the catalog. Some dictionaries insist that it is any of a specific grouping of stars that represents a being in the heavens and has a name.

History of the constellations

Ancient people, looking at the sky, noted the figures of various animals and even heroes. They started making up stories for them to make it easier to remember the location.

For example, Orion and Taurus have been revered by various cultures for many centuries and have a number of legends. As soon as astronomers began creating the first maps, they took advantage of already existing myths.

The word "constellation" originates from the Latin constellātiō - "many with stars." According to the Roman soldier and historian Ammianus Marcellinus, it began to be used in the 4th century. It came into English in the 14th century and first referred to planetary conjunctions. It was only in the mid-16th century that it began to take on its modern meaning.

The catalog is based on the 48 Greek constellations proposed by Ptolemy. But he only listed what the Greek astronomer Eudoxus Cnidus discovered (he introduced astronomy to Babylon in the 4th century BC). 30 of them date back to antiquity, and some even extend back to the Bronze Age.

The Greeks adopted Babylonian astronomy, so the constellations began to intersect and overlap. Many of them could not be found by the Greeks, Babylonians, Arabs or Chinese because they were not visible. The southern ones were recorded at the end of the 16th century by the Dutch navigators Federico de Houtman and Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser. They were later included in Johann Bayer's star atlas Uranometria (1603).

Bayer added 11 constellations, including Toucan, Fly, Dorado, Indian and Phoenix. In addition, he gave approximately 1,564 stars Greek letters, giving them a value based on their brightness (starting with Alpha). They have survived to this day and take their place among the 10,000 stars that are visible without the use of instruments. Some have full names because they had extremely strong brightness (Aldebaran, Betelgeuse and others).

Several constellations were added by French astronomer Nicolas Louis de Lacaille. His catalog was published in 1756. He scanned the southern sky and found 13 new constellations. Notable among them are the Octant, the Painter, the Furnace, the Table Mountain and the Pump.

Of the 88 constellations, 36 are located in the northern sky and 52 in the southern sky.

History of the starry sky

Astrophysicist Anton Biryukov about Ptolemy's catalog, Christian constellations and the final list:

Constellations can be an invaluable tool in studying the stars scattered throughout the sky. Just combine them and admire the incredible wonders of space.

If you are a beginner and just knocking on the door of amateur astronomy, then you will not move unless you overcome the first obstacle - the ability to understand the constellations. You won't be able to find the Andromeda Galaxy if you can't figure out where to even start or where to look. Of course, the first attempts to understand this entire celestial massif can be scary, but it is quite possible.

Every person, no matter how he views astrology, knows under what zodiac sign he was born. Their names originate from the times of ancient Antiquity, when the location of the stars, due to the displacement of the earth's axis, was somewhat different. The names of the Zodiacal constellations echo ancient myths and legends.

History of the names of constellations.
The history of the constellations is very interesting. A very long time ago, sky observers united the brightest and most noticeable groups of stars into constellations and gave them various names. These were the names of various mythical heroes or animals, characters from legends and tales - Hercules, Centaurus, Taurus, Cepheus, Cassiopeia, Andromeda, Pegasus, etc.
In the names of the constellations Peacock, Toucan, Indian, South. The Cross, Bird of Paradise reflected the Age of Discovery.
There are a lot of constellations - 88. But not all of them are bright and noticeable. The winter sky is richest in bright stars.
At first glance, the names of many constellations seem strange. Often in the arrangement of stars it is very difficult or even simply impossible to see what the name of the constellation indicates. The Big Dipper, for example, resembles a ladle; it is very difficult to imagine a Giraffe or Lynx in the sky. But if you look at ancient star atlases, the constellations are depicted in the form of animals.

Aries.
The constellation Aries was highly revered in ancient times. The supreme god of Egypt, Amon-Ra, was depicted with a ram's head, and the road to his temple was an alley of sphinxes with ram's heads. It was believed that the constellation Aries was named after Aries with the Golden Fleece, after whom the Argonauts sailed. By the way, there are a number of constellations in the sky that reflect the Argo Ship. The alpha (brightest) star of this constellation is called Gamal (Arabic for "adult ram"). The brightest star in the constellation Taurus is called Aldebaran.

According to the ancient Greek myth, Nephele, the Titanide of the clouds, wanting to save her children Gella and Phrixus from their evil stepmother, whose name was Ino, sent them a magical golden-haired ram, who was supposed to put them on his back and transport them to the kingdom of Colchis, where they would be in security. However, Gella could not resist during the flight and fell into the strait, which was later named after her. Upon arrival, Phrixus sacrificed a magic ram to Zeus, who took him to heaven.

Taurus constellation
Among the ancient peoples, the most important constellation was Taurus, since the new year began in the spring. In the zodiac, Taurus is the most ancient constellation, since cattle breeding played a huge role in the life of ancient peoples, and the bull (Taurus) was associated with the constellation where the Sun seemed to conquer winter and herald the arrival of spring and summer.

In general, many ancient peoples revered this animal and considered it sacred. In ancient Egypt there was a sacred bull, Apis, who was worshiped during his lifetime and whose mummy was ceremonially buried in a magnificent tomb. Every 25 years Apis was replaced with a new one. In Greece, the bull was also held in high esteem. In Crete the bull was called Minotaur. The heroes of Hellas Hercules, Theseus, and Jason pacified the bulls.

Where are Gemini in the sky?
In this constellation, two bright stars are very close to each other. They received their name in honor of the Argonauts Dioscuri - Castor and Pollux - twins, sons of Zeus, the most powerful of the Olympian gods, and Leda, a frivolous earthly beauty, brothers of Helen the beautiful - the culprit of the Trojan War.
Castor was famous as a skilled charioteer, and Pollux as an unsurpassed fist fighter. They took part in the Argonauts' campaign and the Calydonian hunt. But one day the Dioscuri did not share the spoils with their cousins, the giants Idas and Lynceus. In the battle with them, the brothers were severely wounded. And when Castor died, the immortal Pollux did not want to part with his brother and asked Zeus not to separate them. Since then, by the will of Zeus, the brothers spend six months in the kingdom of gloomy Hades, and six months on Olympus. There are periods when on the same day the star Castor is visible against the background of the morning dawn, and Pollux - in the evening. Perhaps it was precisely this circumstance that gave rise to the birth of the legend about brothers living either in the kingdom of the dead or in heaven.

The Dioscuri brothers were considered in ancient times to be the patrons of sailors caught in a storm. And the appearance of “St. Elmo’s Fire” on the masts of ships before a thunderstorm was considered a visit to the Twins by their sister Elena. St. Elmo's lights are luminous discharges of atmospheric electricity observed on pointed objects (tops of masts, lightning rods, etc.). The Dioscuri were also revered as guardians of the state and patrons of hospitality.
In ancient Rome, a silver coin “Dioscuri” with images of stars was in circulation.

How did Cancer appear in the sky?
The constellation Cancer is one of the most inconspicuous zodiac constellations. His story is very interesting. There are several rather exotic explanations for the origin of the name of this constellation. For example, it was seriously argued that the Egyptians placed Cancer in this region of the sky as a symbol of destruction and death, because this animal feeds on carrion. Cancer moves tail first. About two thousand years ago, the summer solstice point (i.e., the longest daylight hours) was located in the constellation Cancer. The sun, having reached its maximum distance to the north at this time, began to “back away” back.

The length of the day gradually decreased.
According to classical ancient mythology, a huge sea Cancer attacked Hercules when he was fighting the Lernaean Hydra. The hero crushed him, but the goddess Hera, who hated Hercules, placed Cancer in heaven.
The Louvre houses the famous Egyptian circle of the zodiac, in which the constellation Cancer is located above all others.

Is Leo scary in the sky?
About 4.5 thousand years ago, the summer solstice point was located in this constellation, and the Sun was in this constellation during the hottest time of the year. Therefore, among many peoples, it was the Lion that became the symbol of fire.
The Assyrians called this constellation “great fire,” and the Chaldeans associated the fierce lion with the equally fierce heat that occurred every summer. They believed that the Sun received additional strength and warmth by being among the stars of Leo.
In Egypt, this constellation was also associated with the summer period: flocks of lions, escaping the heat, migrated from the desert to the Nile valley, which was flooding at that time. Therefore, the Egyptians placed images in the form of a lion's head with an open mouth on the gates of irrigation canals that directed water to the fields.

Virgo.
The constellation Virgo, located next to Leo, this constellation was sometimes represented by the fairy-tale sphinx - a mythical creature with the body of a lion and the head of a woman. Often in early myths, the Virgin was identified with Rhea, the mother of the god Zeus, the wife of the god Kronos. Sometimes she was seen as Themis, the goddess of justice, who in her classical guise holds Libra (the zodiac constellation next to Virgo). There is evidence that in this constellation ancient observers saw Astraea, the daughter of Themis and the god Zeus, the last of the goddesses who left the Earth at the end of the Bronze Age. Astraea, the goddess of justice, a symbol of purity and innocence, left the Earth due to the crimes of people. This is how we see the Virgin in ancient myths.

The Virgin is usually depicted with the rod of Mercury and an ear of corn. Spica (Latin for “spike”) is the name given to the brightest star in the constellation. The very name of the star and the fact that the Virgin was depicted with an ear of corn in her hands indicate the connection of this star with human agricultural activities. It is possible that her appearance in the sky coincided with the beginning of some agricultural work.

Libra is the only “non-living” zodiac constellation.
Indeed, it seems strange that among the animals and “semi-animals” in the Zodiac there is the sign of Libra. More than two thousand years ago, the point of the autumnal equinox was located in this constellation. The equality of day and night could be one of the reasons why the zodiac constellation received the name “Libra”.
The appearance of Libra in the sky in the middle latitudes indicated that the time for sowing had come, and the ancient Egyptians, already at the end of spring, could consider this as a signal to begin harvesting the first harvest. Libra - a symbol of balance - could simply remind ancient farmers of the need to weigh the harvest.

Among the ancient Greeks, Astraea, the goddess of justice, weighed the destinies of people with the help of Libra. One of the myths explains the appearance of the zodiac constellation Libra as a reminder to people of the need to strictly observe the laws. The fact is that Astraea was the daughter of the almighty Zeus and the goddess of justice Themis. On behalf of Zeus and Themis, Astraea regularly “inspected” the Earth (armed with scales and blindfolded, in order to judge everything objectively, supply Olympus with good information and mercilessly punish deceivers, liars and everyone who dared to commit all kinds of unfair acts). So Zeus decided that his daughter’s Libra should be placed in heaven.

Does the constellation really look like Scorpio?
Not only because of its external similarity, this constellation was assigned the role of a poisonous creature.
The sun entered this area of ​​the sky in late autumn, when all nature seemed to be dying, only to be reborn again, like the god Dionysus, in the early spring of the next year. The sun was considered to be “stinged” by some poisonous creature (by the way, in this area of ​​the sky there is also the constellation Snake!), and “as a result it was sick” all winter, remaining weak and pale.

According to classical Greek mythology, this is the same Scorpio that stung the giant Orion and was hidden by the goddess Hera on the diametrically opposite part of the celestial sphere. It was he, the heavenly Scorpio, who most frightened the unfortunate Phaeton, the son of the god Helios, who decided to ride across the sky on his fiery chariot, without listening to his father’s warnings. Other peoples gave this constellation their names. For example, for the inhabitants of Polynesia, it was represented as a fishing hook, with which the god Maun pulled the island of New Zealand from the depths of the Pacific Ocean. The Mayan Indians associated this constellation with the name Yalagau, which means “Lord of Darkness.”
According to many astronomers, the sign of Scorpio is the most sinister - a symbol of death. It seemed especially scary when the planet of disasters - Saturn - appeared in it.
Scorpio is a constellation where new stars often flare up, in addition, this constellation is rich in bright star clusters.

Who is the star Sagittarius aiming at?
According to ancient Greek mythology, the wisest of the centaurs, Chiron, the son of the god Chronos and the goddess Themis, created the first model of the celestial sphere. At the same time, he reserved one place in the Zodiac for himself. But he was ahead of him by the insidious centaur Krotos, who took his place by deception and became the constellation Sagittarius. And after his death, the god Zeus turned Chiron himself into the constellation Centaur. That's how two centaurs ended up in the sky. Even Scorpio himself is afraid of the evil Sagittarius, at whom he aims with a bow.
Sometimes you can find an image of Sagittarius in the form of a centaur with two faces: one facing backward, the other forward. In this way he resembles the Roman god Janus. The first month of the year, January, is associated with the name Janus. And the Sun is in Sagittarius in winter.

Thus, the constellation seems to symbolize the end of the old and the beginning of the new year, with one of its faces looking into the past, and the other into the future.
In the direction of the constellation Sagittarius is the center of our Galaxy. If you look at a star map, the Milky Way also passes through the constellation Sagittarius.
Like Scorpio, Sagittarius is very rich in beautiful nebulae. Perhaps this constellation, more than any other, deserves the name “celestial treasury”. Many star clusters and nebulae are strikingly beautiful.

Where is Capricorn going?
Capricorn is a mythical creature with the body of a goat and the tail of a fish. According to the most widespread ancient Greek legend, the goat-footed god Pan, son of Hermes, patron of shepherds, was frightened by the hundred-headed giant Typhon and threw himself into the water in horror. From then on he became a water god and grew a fish tail. Transformed into a constellation by the god Zeus, Capricorn became the ruler of the waters and the harbinger of storms. It was believed that he sent abundant rains to the earth. According to another legend, this is the goat Amalthea, who fed Zeus with her milk.

The Indians called this constellation Makara, i.e. a miracle dragon, also half goat, half fish. Some peoples depicted him as a half-crocodile - half-bird. Similar ideas existed in South America. When the Sun entered the constellation Capricorn, the Indians celebrated the New Year by wearing masks depicting goat heads for ceremonial dances. But the indigenous Australians called the constellation Capricorn the constellation Kangaroo, which celestial hunters are chasing in order to kill it and roast it on a big fire.
Many ancient peoples revered the goat as a sacred animal, and services were held in honor of the goat. People dressed in sacred clothes made of goat skins and brought a gift to the gods - a sacrificial goat.

It is with such customs and with this constellation that the idea of ​​the “scapegoat” - Azazel - is associated. Azazel - (scapegoat) - the name of one of the goat-shaped gods, demons of the desert. On the so-called day of scapegoating, two goats were selected: one for sacrifice, the other for release into the desert. Of the two goats, the priests chose which one would be for God and which one would be for Azazel. First, a sacrifice was made to God, and then another goat was brought to the high priest, on which he laid his hands and thereby, as it were, transferred to him all the sins of the people. And after that the goat was released into the desert. The desert was a symbol of the underworld and a natural place for sins. The constellation Capricorn is located in the lower part of the ecliptic. Perhaps this gave rise to the idea of ​​the underworld.
About 2 thousand years ago, the winter solstice point was located in the constellation Capricorn. The ancient philosopher Macrobius believed that the Sun, having passed the lowest point, begins to climb upward, like a mountain goat striving for the top.

Where does Aquarius pour water?
This constellation was called Hydrochos by the Greeks, Acuarius by the Romans, and Sa-kib-al-ma by the Arabs. All this meant the same thing: a man pouring water. The Greek myth about Deucalion and his wife Pyrrha, the only people who escaped the global flood, is associated with the constellation Aquarius.
The name of the constellation really leads to the “homeland of the Flood” in the valley of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. In some writings of the ancient people - the Sumerians - these two rivers are depicted flowing from the vessel of Aquarius. The eleventh month of the Sumerians was called the “month of the water curse.” According to the Sumerians, the constellation Aquarius was located in the center of the “heavenly sea”, and therefore foreshadowed the rainy season. It was identified with God, who warned people about the flood. This legend of the ancient Sumerians is similar to the biblical tale of Noah and his family - the only people saved from the flood in the ark.

In Egypt, the constellation Aquarius was observed in the sky on the days of the highest water level in the Nile River. It was believed that the god of water, Knemu, was throwing a huge ladle into the Nile. It was also believed that the White and Blue Nile rivers, tributaries of the Nile, flow from the vessels of God.
It is possible that the legend about one of the labors of Hercules is connected with the constellation Aquarius - the cleaning of the Augean stables (for which the hero needed to dam three rivers).

Pisces closes the ring of zodiac constellations.
The very arrangement of the stars in the sky suggests the idea of ​​two fish tied together with a ribbon or rope. The origin of the name of the constellation Pisces is very ancient and, apparently, is associated with Phoenician mythology. The Sun entered this constellation at the time of rich fishing. The goddess of fertility was depicted as a woman with a fish tail, which, as legend has it, appeared when she and her son, frightened by a monster, threw themselves into the water.

A similar legend existed among the ancient Greeks. Only they believed that Aphrodite and her son Eros had turned into fish: they walked along the river bank, but frightened by the evil Typhon, they threw themselves into the water and were saved by turning into fish. Aphrodite became the southern Pisces, and Eros became the northern Pisces.

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