What is a constellation?

Constellation refers to the stars in the sky. In fact, the stars in the same constellation have no actual relationship with each other, but their projection positions on the celestial sphere are similar. Since ancient times, people have been interested in the arrangement and shape of stars, and naturally linked some stars with similar positions to form constellations. Constellations are divided into Polaris, South Star and Zodiac. The whole day is currently divided into 88 constellations. Constellations are generally named after musical instruments or Greek mythical figures.

Sphere projection diagram

Constellations play an important role in astronomy; Astrology also uses images of the zodiac 12, but astronomers regard astrology as pseudoscience without using real scientific methods. Basically, dividing stars into constellations is a random process. Different civilizations have different constellations made up of different stars-although some constellations made up of more conspicuous stars are roughly the same in different civilizations, such as Orion and Scorpio. The International Astronomical Union divides the sky into 88 official constellations with precise boundaries, so that every star in the sky belongs to a specific constellation. Most of these official constellations are based on the ancient Greek traditional constellations handed down from the Middle Ages. In order to identify the stars easily, people divided several regions according to their natural distribution in the sky. Different sizes. Each region is called a constellation. Connect the bright stars in the same constellation with lines to form various figures. In shape, they are similar to animals and utensils.

The Origin of Western Ancient Constellations

Constellation originated in Babylon, one of the four ancient civilizations. About 5000 years ago, a group of Babylonian shepherds lived a nomadic life in Mesopotamia. In their wandering life as shepherds, they still don't forget to observe the twinkling stars in the night sky every day. Over time, they can see the regular changes of time and season from the dynamics of the stars. Every night, they look at the sheep, observe all kinds of stars, connect the brighter stars with each other, associate all kinds of animals, utensils and even gods they believe in from the connected shapes, and name them, creating the so-called constellation. It is said that there are more than 20 constellation names, such as the so-called zodiac 12 constellation, which was born at that time. Since then, the Babylonians have continued to divide the sky into many regions and put forward new constellations. But the constellation

Constellations are of little use, and even less are discovered and named. The constellation 12 on the ecliptic was originally used to measure time, not to express people's character as it is now. Around 1000 BC, 30 constellations have been proposed. The Tigris River and the Euphrates River flow from northwest to southeast and flow into the Persian Gulf, so they are also called "two river basins". After the culture of the two river basins spread to ancient Greece, it promoted the cultural development of ancient Greece. Ancient Greek astronomers supplemented and developed the Babylonian constellation and compiled the ancient Greek constellation table. In the 2nd century A.D., Ptolemy, an ancient Greek astronomer, synthesized the astronomical achievements at that time and sorted out 48 constellations. Connect the main bright stars in the constellation with imaginary lines, imagine them as images of animals or characters, and give them appropriate names in combination with fairy tales. This is the origin of the constellation name. Most of the 48 constellations in Greek mythology live in the northern sky and north and south of the equator. After the Middle Ages, European capitalism rose and needed to expand outward, and the navigation industry was greatly developed. Ships sailing at sea need navigation at any time, and stars are the best street lamps. Among the stars, this constellation has a special shape and is the easiest to observe. Therefore, constellations have aroused widespread concern. When Magellan sailed around the world in the16th century, he not only used constellations to navigate and orient, but also studied constellations. 1922, the General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union decided to divide the sky into 88 constellations, and their names basically followed the historical names. There are nearly 6,000 stars visible to the naked eye, each of which can be classified as a unique constellation. Each constellation can be identified by the shape of the bright star inside.

China Ancient Constellation

In order to facilitate research, people divide the starry sky into several regions, which are called constellations. China has long divided the sky into three walls and twenty-eight nights. Historical records and official records are quite detailed. Sanyuan is the three areas around the north celestial pole, namely Ziweiyuan, Taiweiyuan and Tianshiyuan. Twenty-eight lodgings are distributed in 28 areas near the ecliptic and the white road, namely, Dongqi lodge, Nanqi lodge and Xiqi lodge. The North Seven lodgings belong to Donggong Qinglong: Jiao, Kang, Bi, Fang, Xin, Wei and Ji. The seven nights that Nangong Suzaku belongs to are: well, ghost, willow, star, Zhang, wing and bird; The seven nights that Xigong White Tiger belongs to are: Kui, Lou, Wei, Chang, Bi, Gou and Shen; Gong Bei Xuanwu (tortoise and snake) belongs to seven nights: fighting, ox, female, emptiness, danger, house and wall. China's achievements in stargazing are earlier than those in the west. People in China say that there are 28 places on the three walls, and the constellations in the sky are divided into three 28 categories, not just the western 12 constellation. One of the most important is Ziwei Garden. China's astrology, now collectively referred to as the purple constellation, is different from the twelve constellations in the west. China constellation * * * has 14 main stars, namely, China, Cat, Sun, Tiantong, Tianfu, Taiyin, Wolf-greedy, Giant Gate, Astronomy, and Seven Shames. According to the Book of Changes, it can be divided into men and women, and the corresponding personalities can be divided into four categories: pioneer, dominant, supportive and [1] modeling.

Modern constellation determination

1928 The International Astronomical Union officially announced 88 constellations commonly used in the world. At the same time, it is based on the vernal equinox and equator of 1875. According to the different positions of the 88 constellations on the celestial sphere and the appearance of the stars, they are divided into five regions, namely, the Northern Celestial Constellation (5), the Polaris Constellation (40 ~ 90, 19), the Twelve Constellations (12 constellation near the ecliptic on the celestial sphere) and the Zodiac Constellation (19). The 88 constellations in the whole day are: North Sky Constellation (5 constellations): Ursa minor (closest to the north celestial pole), Ursa major, Cassiopeia, Draco and Cepheus. Polaris constellation (19): Scorpio, Andromeda, Lupo, Auriga, Canis major, Foxes, Cygnus minor, Perseus, Shepherd, Pentecost, Backrow, Corona Nordica, Tmall, Lyra, Dolphin, Pegasus, Triangle. Zodiac (12): Cancer, Aries, Gemini, Aquarius, Virgo, Leo, Taurus, Pisces, Capricorn, Scorpio, Libra and Sagittarius. constellation

Twelve constellations (10): Sagittarius, Canine, Eagle, Ophiuchus, Ophiuchus, Sextant, Ophiuchus, Unicorn, Orion and Whale. Southern Constellation (***42): Temple of Heaven, Picture Frame, Fly, Mountain Case, India, Tian Yan, Flying Fish, Long Ruler, Swordfish, Clock, Rhododendron, Southern Triangle, Compass, Dragonfly, Telescope, Hydra and Southern Cross (1999).