Introduction
From the earliest times, people have seen images in the pattern formed by the stars. Societies all over the world have grouped the stars into constellations and projected characters, animals and other beings into these groupings. These characters have become so important to cultures that many myths and stories surround them. Some people today still believe that the position of the stars can influence their lives.
The zodiac
Of the 88 constellations that are recognized today, the most ancient form the zodiac. This is a band of 12 constellations that lie along the elliptic, the part of the sky through which the sun appears to move during Earth's orbit. Because the sun always travels through the same part of the sky, these constellations were seen as special in ancient times. Even today, they act as markers in astrology, the belief that human life is influenced by the position of the stars and the planets.
Constellations
There are thousands of stars visible in the night sky, so many that on a clear night you would be able to pick out almost any shape you liked! The most prominent stars in the sky have been grouped together by skywatchers over thousands of years to from patterns called constellations. These range from animals, such as the Great Bear, to mythological heroes, such as Perseus. There is usually no real link between the individual stars of a constellation. Although astrologists draw lines between the points of light to identify shapes in the night sky, the individual stars in any constellation can be hundreds of light years apart.
Mapping the sky
Knowing the patterns in the night sky is as useful to an astronomer as knowing the layout of a new town is to a tourist! It is much easier to get the grips with the innumerable mass of the stars in the heavens if you have markings to go by. Astronomers are not the only people to use the constellations as a map. Ever since humankind first ventured away from the lands in boats, they have been safely guided by the stars. Sailors around the world would learn the position and movements of the constellations to help them navigate their way across the oceans.
Some important facts
1) The elliptic is the line across the sky through which the sun appears to move. Nowadays we know that it is actually the Earth that moves around the sun. However, many years ago people believed that he sun was travelling through these 12 constellations.
2) The stars appear to move in the night sky because Earth is in constant motion around the sun.
Facts and figures
Aries : march 21- april 20
Taurus : april 21- may 21
Gemini : may 22-june 21
Cancer : june 22- july 23
Leo : july 24- august 23
Virgo : August 24- september 23
Libra : september 24- october 23
Scorpio : October 24- november 22
Sagittarius : November 23- december 21
Capricorn : december 22- january 20
Aquarius : january 21- february 19
Pieces : February 20- march 20
From the earliest times, people have seen images in the pattern formed by the stars. Societies all over the world have grouped the stars into constellations and projected characters, animals and other beings into these groupings. These characters have become so important to cultures that many myths and stories surround them. Some people today still believe that the position of the stars can influence their lives.
The zodiac
Of the 88 constellations that are recognized today, the most ancient form the zodiac. This is a band of 12 constellations that lie along the elliptic, the part of the sky through which the sun appears to move during Earth's orbit. Because the sun always travels through the same part of the sky, these constellations were seen as special in ancient times. Even today, they act as markers in astrology, the belief that human life is influenced by the position of the stars and the planets.
Constellations
There are thousands of stars visible in the night sky, so many that on a clear night you would be able to pick out almost any shape you liked! The most prominent stars in the sky have been grouped together by skywatchers over thousands of years to from patterns called constellations. These range from animals, such as the Great Bear, to mythological heroes, such as Perseus. There is usually no real link between the individual stars of a constellation. Although astrologists draw lines between the points of light to identify shapes in the night sky, the individual stars in any constellation can be hundreds of light years apart.
Mapping the sky
Knowing the patterns in the night sky is as useful to an astronomer as knowing the layout of a new town is to a tourist! It is much easier to get the grips with the innumerable mass of the stars in the heavens if you have markings to go by. Astronomers are not the only people to use the constellations as a map. Ever since humankind first ventured away from the lands in boats, they have been safely guided by the stars. Sailors around the world would learn the position and movements of the constellations to help them navigate their way across the oceans.
Some important facts
1) The elliptic is the line across the sky through which the sun appears to move. Nowadays we know that it is actually the Earth that moves around the sun. However, many years ago people believed that he sun was travelling through these 12 constellations.
2) The stars appear to move in the night sky because Earth is in constant motion around the sun.
Facts and figures
Aries : march 21- april 20
Taurus : april 21- may 21
Gemini : may 22-june 21
Cancer : june 22- july 23
Leo : july 24- august 23
Virgo : August 24- september 23
Libra : september 24- october 23
Scorpio : October 24- november 22
Sagittarius : November 23- december 21
Capricorn : december 22- january 20
Aquarius : january 21- february 19
Pieces : February 20- march 20
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