Written By: Pranavi Kondam Edited By: Kevin Nhan
What do you see when you look up?
If you’re inside, it’s probably the ceiling. If you’re outside, maybe it’s the sky. And if you’re standing outside at night, away from the city, you would be able to see stars.
Groups of stars are called constellations. If you connect the stars, they sometimes form an image! These constellations are the same ones that humans have seen for ages. This means that what you’re able to see is the same as the people standing there eons ago!
Because these constellations have existed for so long and are important to people across the world, we have a list of 88 official constellations that are designated by the International Astronomical Union (IAU). In the past, constellations have been connected to mythology and have helped in navigation.
While constellations do not change, it is important to note that the constellations you are able to see depends on where you are standing on Earth. Since the Earth is always in orbit and moves every day, the constellations you see today will appear a little further west tomorrow. This also means that someone in another part of the world will have a slightly different view and, as a result, will see some different constellations.
Different cultures have used constellations for many reasons, including predicting natural events
The Inca utilized constellations to find dark cloudy spots (yana phuyu) in between the stars where they were able to see animals. These animals were only spotted during certain times of the year, allowing them to predict certain natural events. For example, one of the yana phuyu was in the shape of a fox, which indicated it was December, when a lot of baby foxes are born.
For the Ancient Egyptians, the constellation Sirius (which looks like a dog), was important in predicting the flood of the Nile. This event was significant, because the flooding would bring more fresh soil and water to the crops that grew near the Nile, preparing the land for sowing and improving growth.
Constellations remain important to us today. Just as they once served as beacons or guides for navigation, celestial navigation is still used today by major astronomical organizations like NASA. We know that one star, Polaris, is really bright and points almost directly north because of its location near the north pole. This can act as a compass to those who might be lost or unsure of where they are.
Want to try finding constellations yourself? Try this:
One of the most well known and recognizable constellations is the one that is made up of the seven brightest stars in Ursa Major (translates to great bear), which you might know as the “Big Dipper”. It looks similar to a pan or pot, with four stars creating a trapezoid and 3 creating the handle. Can you spot it?
Hint: The brightest star in the constellation is actually Polaris, which serves an important role in navigation, as mentioned above.
References
The Digital Library : Science : Cultural Astronomy. (n.d.). eCUIP : The Digital Library : Science : Cultural Astronomy. Retrieved October 18, 2024, from https://ecuip.lib.uchicago.edu/diglib/science/cultural_astronomy/cultures_egypt-2.html
Gullberg, J., Urton, G., & Cartagena, M. A. (n.d.). The Constellations | IAU. International Astronomical Union | IAU. Retrieved October 18, 2024, from https://www.iau.org/public/themes/constellations/
McMains, D., & Domingo, D. (n.d.). The Great Inka Road: Engineering an Empire. The Great Inka Road: Engineering an Empire. Retrieved October 18, 2024, from https://americanindian.si.edu/inkaroad/ancestors/creationstories/milky-way.html
Ursa Minor (Little Bear) and Polaris | Royal Observatory. (n.d.). Royal Museums Greenwich. Retrieved October 18, 2024, from https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/ursa-minor-little-bear-polaris
What Are Constellations? (n.d.). NASA Space Place. Retrieved October 18, 2024, from https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/constellations/en/
What are constellations? | Royal Observatory. (n.d.). Royal Museums Greenwich. Retrieved October 18, 2024, from https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/constellations