Constellation
Constellation
I. Constellations
88 recognized by
International
Astronomy Union
What are Constellations?
A group of stars
that form a pattern
in the sky.
Why do the Stars appear to move in the
night sky?
Earth’s Rotation!
Southern Hemisphere
Northern Hemisphere
Myths
Cassiopeia Orion
Cygnus Ursa major
Scorpius Ursa minor
Draco
Some Common
Constellations that You
Might Know…
Cassiopeia – “ The Queen”
Cassiopeia – “The Queen”
• Brightest Star – Schedar
• Best season to view – all year
• The Myth:
Cassiopeia was the queen of Ethiopia. She
was so proud of her beauty and bragged
about it. She offended the sea god Poseidon.
He sent a sea monster to attack her kingdom
and teach her some humility.
According to the legend, the sea god
Poseidon placed the figure of Cassiopeia
among the stars to remind people of her
vanity.
This is Cassiopeia!
Cygnus – “The Swan”
Cygnus – “The Swan”
• Brightest Star – Deneb
• Best season to view – all year
The Myth:
The Myth:
Orion was a very good hunter, but also boastful.
Gaia, the goddess of Earth, became fed up with
Orion’s boast so she sent a deadly scorpion to kill the
hunter. The scorpion ended Orion’s bragging. Both
Orion and Scorpius were placed in the sky but to
avoid any further battles, they are never in the sky
at the same time. Orion is seen in the winter and
Scorpius is seen in the summer.
This is Orion!
Ursa Major – “Big Bear”
Ursa Major – “Big Bear”
• Brightest Star – Dubhe and Merak
• Best season to view – all year
The Myth:
Zeus, king of the gods, fell in love with Callisto.
Together they had a son, Arcas. Zeus changed
Callisto into a bear to protect her from his jealous
wife, Hera. When Arcas grew up, he almost shot
his mother by mistake. Zeus protected Callisto by
changing Arcas into another bear (Ursa Minor-
Little Dipper) and placing both bears in the sky.
This is Ursa Major!
Ursa Minor – “Little Bear”
• Ursa Minor, aka, Little Bear, contains the
Little Dipper and the North Star, Polaris
Ursa Minor – “Little Bear”
• Brightest Star – Polaris
• Best season to view – all year
Navigation
-The Polaris is widely used in navigation
because it does not change its position at any
time of the night or year. This allows the
sailors to sail across the sea.
Stars and Constellations Used by
Matigsalug Manobo of BUkidnon
Local Name Month of Related Western Equivalent
Appearance Agricultural
Activity
Baha December to Clearing of forest Taurus
February
Pandarawa January Start of planning Pleiades
what kind of crops
to plant
Balatik February Start of planting Orion’s Belt
and setting of traps
to protect the crops
from animals
Malihe March Planting of rice,
corn or vegetables
Gibbang April and May End of planting Gemini
season; signifies rich
harvest
Stars and Constellations Used by
Matigsalug Manobo of BUkidnon
Local Name Month of Related Western
Appearance Agricultural Equivalent
Activity