Constellations
By Jill Peer
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/100/299741934_4b0e536f67.jpg
What are Constellations?
• A group of stars in the sky
• Named after an object, animal or mythological
being that supposedly resembles or might suggest.
• Currently 88 constellations in the sky
• Your location determines which are available
http://www.twanight.org/newTWAN/photos/3001760.jpg
What do Constellations tell us?
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Stories/Myths
Compass
Time
Season
Entertainment
http://www.twanight.org/newTWAN/photos/3001760.jpg
http://aurorahunter.com/images/science/Star-Chart-Black.gif
Big Dipper/Big Bear
Through Greek Myhtology, Zeus, king of
all the gods in the heavens, was walking
through a wooded area on Earth. He
comes across a beautiful huntress named
Callisto. Hera, Zeus’s wife, becomes
jealous and turns Callisto into a bear.
One day Callisto comes across a
handsome hunter who she recognizes as
her son Arcas. She jumps onto her hind
legs to embrace him, but he thinks the
bear is going to attack so he takes out his
spear.
Zeus sees this and quickly turns Arcas
into a little bear. He then picks them both
up by the tail and throws them into the
sky where they will be together forever. http://www.twanight.org/newTWAN/photos/3001760.jpg
http://www.redorbit.com/modules/reflib/article_images/10_ef34821be588c74
b91a771fc0819cc8f.jpg
http://www.relia.net/~thedane/constellation_ursa_major_dipper_REY_full1.jpg
http://www.ursaminorlodge.com/images/umain/ursaminor-bear-photo2.gif
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/skytellers/polaris/about.shtml
Little Dipper/Little Bear
http:://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/skytellers/polaris/about.shtml
http://my.execpc.com/60/B3/culp/astronomy/fig/LittleDipper.gif
http://www.ursaminorlodge.com/images/umain/ursaminor-bearphoto2.gif
http://www.twanight.org/newTWAN/photos/3001760.jpg
Cassiopeia
Cassiopeia was beautiful, arrogant
and vain. She boasted that her
daughter and her beauty was
more beautiful than the seanymphs.
When hearing this Poseidon
released Cetus, the sea monster,
on Ethiopia to teach Cassiopeia
a lesson. Luckily Perseus arrives
in time to save the Princess.
Poseidon wanting Cassiopeia
punished placed her in the
heavens in such a position that
for half the time she will be
upside down on her throne.
http://scienceblogs.com/startswithabang/upload/2009/08/get_up_
early_this_wednesday/Cassiopeia.gif
http://www.twanight.org/newTWAN/photos/3001760.jpg
http://starryskies.com/The_sky/constellations/draco02.jpg
Draco the Dragon
There are several myths about this
constellation.
In Greek, he represents Ladon, the
dragon who guarded the golden
apples of the Hesperides. It was
the eleventh of the Twelve
Labours of Hercules. He puts
Ladon to sleep with music then
steals the golden apples. Hera
places Draco into the sky
afterwards.
http://starryskies.com/The_sky/constellations/draco02.jpg
Also used in the story of the
Golden Fleece.
http://www.twanight.org/newTWAN/photos/3001760.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/100/299741934_4b0e536f67.jpg
Now it’s Your Turn!
• Find a partner
• One partner come up
and gather materials;
– Pencil
– Paper
– 1 piece Black
construction paper
– 1 piece of chalk
– 8 star stickers
• Take turns dropping
stickers onto black
construction paper
• Use chalk to connect
stars
• Title your constellation
• Create a short story
explaining your
constellation’s creation
When finished, look through a few of the constellation books on front table