Ios constellation _ios constellation symbol

My ancient prophet knew that the starry sky was a part of his body. These constellations are oriented by literal meaning. As important navigation tools, they are also spiritual, which can vividly remind them of their myths and their position in the universe.

So in this article, I will explain one of the most famous crash courses in Greek mythology, mainly talking about some skills to find and identify them. In the 2nd century, Ptolemy identified and listed 48 constellations. This is the first written scientific description of this constellation. Although his notes only cover the sky he can see, they have been used as the benchmark of astronomy for centuries. It should be pointed out that many constellations listed also include Babylonia, Egypt, Roman mythology and so on. Interestingly, although the specific characters in the story may change, the thick outline and shape of the constellation are still very similar.

The International Astronomical Union has listed 88 constellations, which have been used since 1922, covering the night sky all over the world. According to the constellation size, visibility, importance, identifiability and historical folklore, the following 15 most common constellations are selected for explanation.

How to find constellations in the night sky

This is what the star map looks like. You can locate it like a map, and then find those constellations!

According to your location and time of year, using the star map will be your best choice to help you find the location of the constellation. It depends on where you live and the season, so using something like AstroViewer allows you to enter your location and provide you with a customized star map. Another good one is Starmap, which also has an iOS app. You can download and print it in PDF format, so you can take the map with you. Things like Google Sky can also help you practice recognizing the shapes of constellations.

Besides the star map, all you need is a dark sky (as far away from the city as possible) and an extra visual assistant, a pair of binoculars or binoculars. With the naked eye, you will see the basic outline, but with binoculars or binoculars, you will see darker stars and other features, such as nebulae and clusters. When you go out to observe, you usually have to face the North Star (learn how to find the direction of the North Star at the bottom of the article).

Although I noticed the "best viewing" month of each constellation below, I can see it for at least 6 months a year, but it is not so vivid. The following constellation is the most famous and obvious to the naked eye in the northern hemisphere.

1. Aquarius

This catalog, published at 1824, contains 32 star maps depicting 79 constellations, many of which are no longer recognized or regarded as sub-constellations. These illustrations are based on what you see in Britain, which makes them very similar to what you see in America.

Latin is "water bearer" or "cup bearer"

Best viewing month: 10 month

Aquarius is one of the largest, most famous and oldest constellations. But it is very fragile and usually difficult to find. In Greek mythology, the image of Aquarius is Ganymede, a very handsome young man. Zeus recognized the young man's beautiful appearance. Will be a supporter of the Olympians. Zeus gave him eternal youth and a place in the night sky.

Despite its prominent position and huge volume, you can see that Aquarius has no real defining features and no bright stars. The prominent line on the right is the right arm of Aquarius, and the big downward shape is the combination of the water flowing out of the vase and the right leg. Although it is not the whole constellation, the above mentioned is what you are most likely to see in the night sky.

Tianying constellation

The dolphin constellation on the left is still a recognized constellation, but it is quite small and weak. Arrows, bows and arrows are considered to be an ancient constellation.

The Latin word for "eagle"

Best viewing time: late summer, September

Aquila is the lightning carrier of Zeus in Greek mythology.

This constellation is located in the Milky Way. Its most famous star is Altair, which is actually one of the naked stars closest to the Earth. The top of Aquila forms a shallow inverted "V" shape, representing the eagle's head and wings. Then a line descends from Altair to form the eagle's body.

In late summer, look for the southern sky of Aquila near the Milky Way.

Aries constellation

Latin for "ram"

Best viewing time: 65438+February

Although many constellations have experienced various iterations of fairy tales, Aries has always been a ram. This constellation is one of the 12 constellations that make up the zodiac. A constellation (called the ecliptic in scientific terms) that passes through the sun and the sky. In ancient times, this gave the zodiac a special meaning.

In Greek mythology, Aries is the ram of golden fleece. Golden fleece is a symbol of kingship and authority, and plays an important role in the hero's story. In order to correctly call the king to the throne, Jason was sent to look for wool and found his trophy with the help of Medea (his future wife). This is one of the oldest stories in ancient times, and it is also a popular story in Homer's time.

Aries consists of only four (sometimes five) visible stars, which form a line from the ram's head (the lowest point in the above picture) downwards and backwards. Hamar is the largest and most obvious star.

4. Canis major

What is listed in Ptolemy's original 48 constellations does not represent any Greek mythology. Although it is not in this list, it can be found under Orion.

Latin for "big dog"

Best viewing time: February

Canis Canis represents the famous Greek dog Laelaps. There are some origin stories, but the common theme is that he was very fast and was taken to the sky by Zeus. Laelaps is also considered as one of Orion's hounds, lagging behind his bull chasing Taurus in the night sky.

Canis major is noteworthy because it contains Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky. Traditionally, it is pointed out that Canis Canis first appeared in the dawn sky in late summer. In the night sky, it looks like a nobody, with Sirius in its head and another bright star, Adala, at its back end.

Casio poya

Best viewing time: 1 1 month

Cassiopeia in Greek mythology is a vain queen who often boasts of her beauty. She is the mother of Princess Moda of Andlau. In sharp contrast to other characters placed in the sky, Cassiopeia was forced to come to heaven as punishment.

Cassiopeia is one of the most recognizable constellations in the night sky in autumn and early winter. Five bright stars form a unique "W" shape.

6. Cygnus (also known as Northern Cross)

Lizards and foxes are weak constellations near Cygnus and Lyra. Until17th century, neither was classified as a constellation.

The Latin Greek word is "swan"

Best viewing time: September

In Greek mythology, swans have many images. Once, Zeus turned into a swan, seducing the twins of Troy and Helen's mother Leda. Another story says that orpheus was murdered and placed in the sky, just like the swan next to his lyre (Lyra, also pictured above).

This constellation may also come from the story of Phaeton and Zeus. Phaeton is the son of Helius, and one day he traveled in his father's sun chariot. However, Phaeton could not control the reins, so Zeus had to shoot down the chariot with Phaeton and kill him. Phaeton's brother Zeus (now spelled Cygnus) spent many days grieving and collecting bones, which touched the gods. They turned him into a swan and gave him a place in the sky.

The Northern Cross is actually just a constellation of Cygnus (recognizable star pattern). Tianjin IV, the swan's tail (or the top of the cross) is one of the brightest stars in the night sky. You will find Cygnus in the Milky Way, which is why you sometimes see a constellation called the pillar of the Milky Way. In the night sky, the goose looked down at its wings parallel to the horizon.

Gemini

Latin for "twins"

Best viewing time: February

Gemini stands for Gemini Castor and Pollux. Although the twins' mother is Leda, Custer's father is the mortal king of Sparta, and Pollux's father is the king of Zeus (he seduced Leda in the form of a swan). After Caster was killed, the immortal Bo Looks begged Zeus to give Caster eternal life. He put his brother in the night sky.

Castor and Pollux also happen to be the names of the brightest stars in the constellation, representing the heads of twins. Then each star has a line to form their body, which makes the constellation form a roughly "U" shape. The twins sit next to Orion, so it is easy to find them in winter.

8. Leo

Leo is a recognized constellation, but it is too small and weak, Ptolemy did not include it in the initial list. To this day, Major Leo is also called "Leo".

The Latin word for "lion"

Best viewing time: April

In almost all myths and traditions, Leo is a great lion in the night sky. In Greek legend, Leo was a huge lion and was killed by Hercules. The lion can't be killed by mortal weapons, because its fur is not attacked, and its claws are sharper than any human sword. Finally, Hercules tracked down and killed the beast, although he lost a finger in the process.

The big orange star below Leo is actually Jupiter.

Leo looks a bit like its name, so it is the easiest sign to find in the zodiac. A special backward question mark forms the head and chest, and then moves to the left to form a triangle and the back end of the lion. The brightest star in Leo, located at the lower right of the constellation, represents the lion's right front leg.

9. Lila

Latin for "lyre"

Best viewing time: August

Lyra is related to the myth of the great musician orpheus. It is said that his music is more beautiful than any mortal. His music can relieve anger and bring joy to a tired heart. After his wife died, he wandered in the depression, he was killed and his harp was thrown into the river. Zeus sent an eagle to retrieve the piano and put it in the night sky.

Lyra forms an unbalanced square with Vega, the brightest star on its tail, and Vega is one of the brightest stars in the sky. It is very small, almost overhead in summer, but the bright Vega is easy to find.

10. Orion

The lion head held by Orion is sometimes regarded as a shield.

Named after the mythical Greek hunter Orion

Best viewing: 65438+ 10 month

Orion is one of the largest and most famous constellations. The whole world can see it. Homer, Virgil and even the Bible mentioned it. It is the most famous constellation.

Orion is a huge and talented hunter, the son of Poseidon. It is said that he often hunted in Crete with themis (the goddess of hunting) and was later stabbed to death by the big scorpion of Scorpio.

The three bands of Orion are the easiest constellations to find, and Betelgeuse (lower right corner) and Betelgeuse (upper left corner) are the two brightest stars. The other two corners form a general quadrangle, and his head and bow are sometimes visible. Orion is also unique. You can use it to find other constellations in the winter sky.

1 1. Pisces Palace

Latin word for "fish" (plural)

Best viewing time: 1 1 month

Two fish in the sky represent Aphrodite and her son eros. They turned themselves into fish and tied them together with ropes to escape from Tifeng, the biggest and fiercest monster in all Greek mythology.

It is very unlikely that you will find Pisces in the city, because each of its stars is not particularly bright. It forms a big "V", the fish on the right forms a small "O" at the end, and the fish on the left forms a small triangle at the end (the above picture does not connect the points on the upper left to make it a triangle).

12. Scorpio people

Scorpio is called Scorpio.

The Latin word for "scorpion"

Best viewing time: July

Scorpions have all kinds of myths, almost all of which are related to hunters and Orion. Orion once boasted that he could kill all the animals on the earth. He met a scorpion, and after a long and fierce battle, Orion was defeated. It was a hard battle, and Zeus attached great importance to it. Later, scorpions were put in the night sky.

Scorpio is easy to find in the night sky. Antares is the most dazzling star in the constellation and is said to be the core of scorpions. This is the easiest star to find, but it is sometimes confused with Mars because of its red and orange color. There are 3-5 stars on the right side of the heart that make up the head. On the left is a long string of stars, bent into a question mark or turned upside down.

13. Taurus

Latin for "bull"

Best viewing time: 1 month

As one of the oldest constellations, the myth of Taurus can be traced back to the early Bronze Age. There are several Greek myths about Taurus. Zeus disguised himself as a bull, or disguised his mistress as a multi-headed unfaithful bull.

Constellation is quite easy to find, because its most obvious constellation forms a very prominent "V", representing the bull's head and the horn. The brightest star in the constellation is Aldebaran, which forms the right eye of a cow. The five stars are quite close to the naked eye, forming a nearly perfect small "V", which extends to the other two final stars, that is, the corners.

14. Ursa major

Latin for "big bear"

Best viewing time: April

It is generally believed that the Big Dipper itself is a constellation, but it is actually a constellation in Ursa Major. It is considered to be the most universally recognized star pattern, which can always be seen in the northern hemisphere. It is of great significance to the myth of multiculturalism around the world.

Greek mythology also tells the story of Ursa minor. Zeus was fascinated by a young goddess named callisto. Hera, Zeus' wife, was so jealous that she turned Crystal into a bear. In animal form, Crystal meets her son Arcaz. As his man, he tends to shoot bears, but Zeus won't let this happen, so he also turned Arcaz into a bear and put his mother (Ursa Major) and son (Ursa Minor) in the night sky forever.

The seven stars in the Big Dipper are easy to identify and almost always visible. They form part of the bear's back and tail. Although other parts of the bear must adopt the same name, this is not common in lightly polluted areas. The Big Dipper is not just a beautiful shape; The outer edge of its bowl will lead you to the North Star. Just line up the two stars on the outer edge of the Big Dipper and stretch the line into the sky. When the distance between the two stars you start using reaches about 5 times, you will find the North Star.

15. Ursa minor

The bear is almost surrounded by the huge Draco. Although it is still a modern constellation, the figure of Draco is obscured by the importance of Ursa minor and Polaris.

Latin for "bear"

Perfect angle: June.

Ursa minor is famous for collecting Polaris. Many people mistakenly think that Polaris is directly above their heads, but it is only in the North Pole.

You can see the big dipper protruding below Ursa Major. This also provides a good visualization for how to use the Big Dipper to find the North Star.

Ursa minor is famous for its little Big Dipper. It is considered a bear with a very long tail. It can distinguish the Big Dipper not only by its size, but also by the curvature of its tail. When you use the Big Dipper to find the North Star at the end of the bear's tail, you can easily identify the rest of the constellation.