~ The 88 Constellations ~

Click here: Sky Map

Andromeda	The Princess
Antilia	The Pump
Apus	The Bird of Paradise
Aquarius	The Water Bearer
Aquila	The Eagle
Ara	The Alter
Aries	The Ram
Auriga	The Charioteer
Bootes	The Herdsman
Caelum	The Chisel
Camelopardalis	The Giraffe
Cancer	The Crab
Canes Venatici	The Hunting Dogs
Canis Major	The Large Dog
Canis Minor	The Small Dog
Capricornus	The Sea Goat
Carina	The Keel
Cassiopeia	The Queen
Centaurus	The Centaur
Cepheus	The King
Cetus	The Whale
Chamaeleon	The Chameleon
Circinus	The Compasses
Columba	The Dove
Coma Berenices	The Berenice's Hair
Corona Australis	The Southern Crown
Corona Borealis	The Northern Crown
Corvus	The Crow
Crater	The Cup
Crux	The Southern Cross
Cygnus	The Swan
Delphinus	Dolphin
Dorado	The Goldfish
Draco	The Dragon
Equuleus	The Colt
Eridanus	The River
Fornax	The Furnace
Gemini	The Twins
Grus	The Crane
Hercules	The Champion
Horologium	The Pendulum Clock
Hydra	The Sea Serpent
Hydrus	The Serpent
Indus	The Indian
Lacerta	The Lizard
Leo	The Lion
Leo Minor	The LIttle Lion
Lepus	The Rabbit
Libra	The Scales
Lupus	The Wolf
Lynx	The Cat
Lyra	The Harp
Mensa	The Table
Microscopium	The Microscope
Monoceros	The Unicorn
Musca	The Fly
Norma	The Carpenter's Square
Octans	The Instrument
Ophiuchus	The Serpent Bearer
Orion	The Hunter
Pavo	The Peacock
Pegasus	The Flying Horse
Perseus	The Hero
Phoenix	The Firebird
Pictor	The Painter's Easel
Pisces	The Two Fish
Pisces Austrinus	The Southern Fish
Puppis	The Ship's Stern
Pyxis	The Ship's Compass
Reticulum	The Net
Sagitta	The Arrow
Sagittarius	The Archer
Scorpius	The Scorpion
Sculptor	The Sculptor's Tool
Scutum	The Shield
Serpens	The Serpent
Sextans	The Sextant
Taurus	The Bull
Telescopium	The Telescope
Triangulum	The Triangle
Triangulum Australe	The Southern Triangle
Tucana	The Toucan
Ursa Major	The Big Bear
Ursa Minor	The Little Bear
Vela	The Sails
Virgo	The Maiden
Volans	The Flying Fish
Vulpecula	The Little Fox

Click here: Quick Guide to the Constellations

Click here (shown in red): The Southern Constellations

Click here (shown in green): The Zodiac Constellations

Click here (shown in blue): The Northern Constellations

Get to know the Winter Circle:

Above: Winter Circle (note star color):

Capella is yellow. Aldebaran is orange. Betelgeuse is red. Rigel is blue. Sirius is blue-white.

 

Above: Winter Star Chart for the Northern Hemisphere

Above: Spring Star Chart for the Northern Hemisphere

Above: Summer Star Chart for the Northern Hemisphere

Above: Fall Star Chart for the Northern Hemisphere

Above and Below: Star Chart of Southern Constellations

 

Above and Below: The Celestial Sphere

Note: "Declination" and "Ascension" is like "Longitude" and "Latitude" for the sky.

 

"Starry Night"

by Vincent van Gogh

 

Above: Charles Messier and his Deep Sky Objects

Click here: Catalog of the 110 Messier Objects

(Non-Star Deep Sky Objects listed by Charles Messier)

Click here: New General Catalogue (NGC) Deep Sky Objects

 

~ Constellation Connect-the-Dots ~

Cassiopeia - The Queen	Gemini - The Twins (Castor and Polux)

Learn More: Queen Cassiopeia / Gemini Twins - Castor and Polux

The Royal Family: King Cepheus, Queen Cass, Princess Andromeda

Learn More: Royal Family of the Night Sky

Can you identify the connect-the-dot patterns above?

Orion - The Hunter	Canis Major - The Hunting Dog

Learn More: Orion the Great Hunter / Canis Major and Minor - the Hunting Dogs

(the Little Hot Dog)

Do you see a little hunting dog in the constellation connect-the-dots above?

Astronomers must have active imaginations!

Ursa Major and Ursa Minor	The Big and Little Dippers with Draco

Learn More: Draco the Dragon / Ursa Major and Ursa Minor - The Bears & Dippers

Above: Quicktime Movie Showing a 3-D Trip around the Big Dipper

Taurus - The Bull	Pegasus - The Flying Horse

Learn More: Taurus the Bull / Pleiades Star Cluster - The Seven Sisters / Pegasus

 

Web Surfin' Safari:

Click here: Star Surfin: Constellations / Mallorca Constellation Search

Click here: NASA Lucky Stars Cootie Catcher / Uncle Al's Replacement Sky Wheel

Click here: Ursa Major: The Big Dipper / Ursa Minor: Polaris: The North Star / Mobile

Click here: Find the Big Dipper Video / Jack's Stargazer Videos / Orion the Hunter / Chart

Click here: Astro Viewer / Dibonsmith Constellations / Planetarium Pictures / Google Sky

Click here: Hawaiian Deepsky Atlas / Astrosurf Constellations / Constellations by Month

Click here: Enchanted Learning Constellations / Astrowisc Constellations and Stars

 

Click here: Greek Myths / Mythology / Multi-Cultural Star Myths

Click here: Star Tales / Greek Star Myths / Legends of the Constellations

 

~ The 12 Zodiac Constellations ~

Above: Zodiac Symbols

 

Above: The Zodiac Constellations are positioned along the sun's path (Ecliptic) in the sky.

 

~ Zodiac Signs and Birthdates ~

	Aquarius the Water Bearer: (January 20 - February 18)
	Pisces the Fish: (February 19 - March 20)
	Aries the Ram: (March 21 - April 19)
	Taurus the Bull: (April 20 - May 20)
	Gemini the Twins: (May 21 - June 21)
	Cancer the Crab: (June 22 - July 22)
	Leo the Lion: (July 23 - August 22)
	Virgo the Maiden: (August 23 - September 22)
	Libra the Scales: (September 23 - October 23)
	Scorpio the Scorpion : (October 24 - November 21)
	Sagittarius the Archer: (November 22 - December 21)
	Capricorn the Sea Goat: (December 22 - January 19)

 

~ The Twelve Zodiac Characters ~

 

~ Astrology and Horoscopes ~

Aquarius	Independent, Perceptive, Intellectual
Aries	Energetic, Assertive, Leader, Aggressive
Cancer	Introverted, Emotional, Sensitive, Moody
Capricorn	Disciplined, Rigid, Practical, Ambitious
Gemini	Flexible, Restless, Communicative, Logical
Leo	Ambitious, Extroverted, Proud, Confident
Libra	Idealistic, Peacemaker, Gracious, Charming
Pisces	Serious, Sympathetic, Artistic, Imaginative
Sagittarius	Casual, Friendly, Enthusiastic, Honest
Scorpio	Intense, Determined, Powerful, Mysterious
Taurus	Determined, Cautious, Conservative
Virgo	Practical, Responsible, Sensible, Critical

Click here: Zodiac Sign Personality Traits

 

~Ancient Cultures as Astronomers~

Egyptian Merkhet

 

Astronomy at the Great Pyramid (LiveCam) at Giza, Egypt

 

Native Americans look to the stars

 

Click here: Early Observatories

 

Native American "Woodhenge" Star Observatory

 

Click here: America's Stonehenge (N.H.)

 

England's Early Astronomical Observatory: Stonehenge

 

Above: Arabic Mansions of the Moon

 

Above: The Chinese Zodiac

 

Tibetan Kalachakra Wheel of Time

 

Mayan Calendar: Countdown to the Winter Solstice 12-21-12

Above: The Aztec Zodiac Calendar

 

~ Precession and the North Star: Polaris ~

Nightly Swirl around the North Star

 

Above: Gyroscope

Precession of the Axis	Historical North Stars

 

It takes 26,000 Years to Complete One Cycle of Precession	Chart of North Stars Throughout History

 

Above: Precession (wobble) of the Earth's Axis

 

The Current North Star: Polaris

 

Pointer stars in the "Big Dipper" lead to Polaris, the North Star.

 

Surf the Web:

Filling the Sky / Big Dipper Video / Winter Sky Chart / Best Constellation Information / Sky Chart / Myths

88 Constellations / 12 Zodiac / Sky Charts / Constellation Guide / Mythology / Astrology / Connect the Dots