Section 8.6
• Two Definitions:
– Astronomical – a region
in the sky
– Traditional - A group of
stars observed from Earth
often forming shapes.
• The signs of the zodiac,
mythological figures and
other shapes.
• They are different in the
different hemispheres…
• We are still able to see the same
constellations as the ancient
people, however the stars are
not in the exact same location as
they once were. This is because
the stars are moving away from
each other due to the expanding
Universe.
• Also, because of Earth’s rotation
the stars (and the constellations)
always appear to be moving in
the sky.
• Complete The Constellation Confusion
Worksheet
• The two stars at the end of
the bowl of the Big Dipper
are called the "Pointer Stars"
because a line drawn
between them points to
Polaris, the North Star.
• The Big Dipper is a
circumpolar asterism, which
means it stays above the
horizon all night long as it
apparently rotates around
Polaris due to the Earth's
rotation.
• Shows the relative
positions of the stars in
a particular part of the
sky.
• There are “apps for
that” or you can use
yours that you are
going to create today!
• It is the imaginary sphere
that rotates around Earth,
onto which all celestial
objects are projected.
• Celestial navigation – the use
of positions of stars to
determine location and
direction when travelling.
• The Big Dipper and Polaris
played an important part in
the story of the Underground
Railroad which helped slaves
escape their captivity by
fleeing north to Canada.
• Building and using a star map
• Pg. 333 #1-2, 4-6
• Homework: Find at least one constellation in
the sky tonight!
• Mayans – built a pyramid (El
Castillo) and on the solstices at
sunset the shadow formed looks
like a snake
• Stonehenge – may have been
used to predict the motions of the
Sun (an astronomical calendar)
• Aboriginal – have many legends
relating to astronomy (stars
formed because the Sun spit
sparks, lunar eclipses because
monsters swallowed the Moon,
the Sun goes to sleep so its
brother the Moon rises in the east
to give light during the night)