Five stars, fairly close together to the naked eye, form an almost perfect small “V,” with the “V” extending up quite a ways to two more final stars that are the points of the horns. Its name is derived from Greek word “Ophioukhos” which translates to “Serpent-bearer.” The constellation is represented as a man grasping a serpent. Orion is popular because it is near the equator and can be seen from any place on the planet. With the naked eye, you’ll see basic outlines, but with binoculars or a telescope you’ll see fainter stars and other features like nebulae and star clusters. Phaethon’s brother, Cycnus (now spelled Cygnus), spent many days grieving and collecting the bones, which so touched the gods that they turned him into a swan and gave him a place in the sky. As the story goes, she boasted that her beauty (or her daughter’s, depending on the story) was greater than that of the sea nymphs. Best viewed in: November. It is best seen during summer. Another myth has the bull being the 7th labor of Hercules after the beast wreaked havoc in the countryside. Best viewed in: February. The constellation’s name, which translates to “greater she-bear,” is associated with mythology and amateur astronomy in numerous world cultures. To the right of the heart are 3-5 stars that form the head. Using a star map will be your best bet for assisting in finding where to look for constellations, depending on your location and time of year. You’ll find Cygnus within the Milky Way, which is why you’ll sometimes see the constellation referred to as the backbone of the galaxy. While the rest of the bear definitely takes the shape of its namesake, it’s not often visible in light polluted areas. A distinctive backwards question mark forms the head and chest, then moves to the left to form a triangle and the lion’s rear end. At one point Zeus morphed into a swan to seduce Leda, mother of both Gemini and Helen of Troy. There are a few origin stories, but the common theme is that he was so fast he was elevated to the skies by Zeus. Latin for “eagle” This represents the head and wings of the eagle. Orion’s belt of three stars is the easiest asterism to find, with Rigel (bottom right) and Betelgeuse (top left) being the brightest two individual stars. No Latin meaning, it’s the name of a queen in Greek mythology If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Latin for “twins” Ursa Major constellation is in the northern celestial hemisphere and part of the 2nd century constellations listed by Ptolemy. The lion’s head being held by Orion is also sometimes visualized as a shield. Orion once boasted that he could kill all the animals on the earth. It is mostly visible in the evening sky between January and March. You can see the Big Dipper sitting prominently below Ursa Minor. Want to start taking action on the content you read on AoM? Orion was a massive, supernaturally gifted hunter who was the son of Poseidon. Orion is a prominent and identifiable constellation in the night sky. The Golden Fleece is a symbol of kingship and authority, and plays a significant role in the tale of Jason and the Argonauts. Best viewed in: February. Perseus The Northern Cross is really just an asterism (recognizable pattern of stars) within Cygnus the swan. You won’t see this one in the city; you’ll need a dark sky to find the cupbearer. Because Leo actually looks somewhat like its namesake, it is the easiest constellation in the zodiac to find. 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However, in the northern hemisphere the Big Dipper is usually the most identifiable pattern of stars in the sky, so it makes an excellent starting point to begin our orientation. Hydra – Water serpent. Table Mountain, South Africa; a modern constellation introduced by Lacaille in … They form part of the backside and tail of the large bear. Wandering the land in depression after his wife died, he was killed and his lyre (harp) was thrown into a river. The two other corners form a rough quadrangle, with his head and bow also sometimes visible. I use Greek mythology because it was Ptolemy in the 2nd century who identified and listed 48 constellations. By John Misachi on January 26 2018 in Environment. Latin for “water carrier” or “cup carrier” Regulus is Leo’s brightest star, and sits in the bottom right of the constellation, representing the lion’s front right leg. This constellation is one of 12 constellations that form the zodiac — the constellations that straddle the sun’s path across the sky (known in scienctific terms as the ecliptic). While not the entire constellation, what’s drawn above is what you’re most likely to see in the night sky. Orpheus was given the harp by Apollo, and it’s said that his music was more beautiful than that of any mortal man. And because of that, the vain queen is one of the most oft-mentioned in pop culture and one of the earliest constellations that young children come to recognize in the sky. Look towards the southern sky in the late summer, near the Milky Way band, for Aquila. Taurus is a large and prominent fixture in the winter sky. 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