Bootes
Bootes, the herdsman, rides through the sky during the late Spring and early Summer. While he may have appeared as a shepherd to the ancients, modern star-gazers like us can easily recognize the shape of a kite, with the bright star Arcturus at the point of the kite where the tail is attached. Arcturus is a bright red supergiant star with a diameter nearly 20 times that of the Sun and a brightness more than 100 times that of our Sun. Since it is only 36 light-years away (close for a star!), it appears as the brightest star in Bootes, and, in fact, the fourth brightest star in the sky.
Bootes was identified with a farmer who plows the land during spring. The Romans called Bootes the Herdsman of the Septemtriones, that is, of the seven oxen represented by the seven stars of the Big Dipper, which was seen as the cart or the plow.
Bootes was identified with a farmer who plows the land during spring. The Romans called Bootes the Herdsman of the Septemtriones, that is, of the seven oxen represented by the seven stars of the Big Dipper, which was seen as the cart or the plow.
Cancer
Cancer, the Crab is best seen during the month of March, but is visible from December through June. Although the Crab is one of the more famous constellations, it is mostly made of dim stars.
Fortunately, Cancer is surrounded by much brighter figures, like Gemini and Leo. If you use your imagination, a figure that looks like a crab appears. Looking at the picture, one can see a body with two "claws" coming out of it.
The constellation itself came from Greek myth. In the story of Heracles and the Twelve Labors, the warrior had a great battle with the monster Hydra. The giant crab tried to help Hydra, but Heracles smashed it with his foot. Hera put the crab in the sky because it was so brave.
Right next to the head is a star cluster known as Praesepe, or the Beehive. To the naked eye, it looks like a fuzzy cloud. Galileo later discovered that it was really a cluster of stars. It was named the Beehive because astronomers think the cluster looks like a swarm of bees.
Fortunately, Cancer is surrounded by much brighter figures, like Gemini and Leo. If you use your imagination, a figure that looks like a crab appears. Looking at the picture, one can see a body with two "claws" coming out of it.
The constellation itself came from Greek myth. In the story of Heracles and the Twelve Labors, the warrior had a great battle with the monster Hydra. The giant crab tried to help Hydra, but Heracles smashed it with his foot. Hera put the crab in the sky because it was so brave.
Right next to the head is a star cluster known as Praesepe, or the Beehive. To the naked eye, it looks like a fuzzy cloud. Galileo later discovered that it was really a cluster of stars. It was named the Beehive because astronomers think the cluster looks like a swarm of bees.
crater
The constellation Crater is known as the Cup. Crater is a small constellation located between Hydra and Leo and next to Corvus. Crater is best seen sometime between March and June. You'll have to scan the sky closely because it is made mostly of dim stars.
The stories about Crater come from Greek myth. It is said that Corvus, the crow, was sent by Apollo to get some spring water. He took the cup to fill, and came across a fig that wasn't quite ripe. He waited for it to turn ripe, which made him late on his return. He brought a serpent with him and told Apollo that it attacked him and that was why he was late.
Of course, Apollo knew everything, so he was very angry that Corvus lied. He sent the crow, the cup and the serpent all into the sky. Another story says the cup is actually the sacred goblet used by the Olympian Gods. At one time, the constellation was seen as the young boy, Ganymede, who used to serve the gods nectar in the goblet. It was changed to represent the cup.
The stories about Crater come from Greek myth. It is said that Corvus, the crow, was sent by Apollo to get some spring water. He took the cup to fill, and came across a fig that wasn't quite ripe. He waited for it to turn ripe, which made him late on his return. He brought a serpent with him and told Apollo that it attacked him and that was why he was late.
Of course, Apollo knew everything, so he was very angry that Corvus lied. He sent the crow, the cup and the serpent all into the sky. Another story says the cup is actually the sacred goblet used by the Olympian Gods. At one time, the constellation was seen as the young boy, Ganymede, who used to serve the gods nectar in the goblet. It was changed to represent the cup.
Hydra
Hydra is the longest constellation in the sky and is also the largest in terms of area. It is so long that it takes more than six hours to rise completely.
The stars in the serpent's head appear to be at the same distance but they are really very far away from each other. The northernmost of the six stars in the head of the serpent, Epsilon Hydrae, is a quintuple star - a system of five stars. Alphard (Arabic for "the solitary one") is Hydra's brightest star.
The stars in the serpent's head appear to be at the same distance but they are really very far away from each other. The northernmost of the six stars in the head of the serpent, Epsilon Hydrae, is a quintuple star - a system of five stars. Alphard (Arabic for "the solitary one") is Hydra's brightest star.
leo
he constellation Leo is known as the Lion. Leo's head and mane make up an upside-down question mark called the Sickle. One of the brightest spring stars, Regulus (Latin for "little king"), is at the base of the question mark. The rest of Leo's body, legs, and tail extend to the east.During the dry season in ancient Egypt, the lions of the desert came close to the valley of the Nile when the river flooded, which used to happen when the Sun was in Leo. Some have interpreted this as the origin of the name of the constellation. The ancient Sumerians, Babylonians, Persians, Syrians, Greeks, and Romans, all recognized this constellation as a lion.
Leo is visible from February through June.
Leo is visible from February through June.
virgo
The constellation Virgo is known as The Maiden. The constellation represents almost every famous and powerful female in mythology, including Athena, Artemis, Persephone and Demeter. She is usually carrying a grain of wheat and a staff.
The brightest star in the constellation is Spica, which happens to be the grain of wheat. Its name is Latin for "ear of wheat". In the image, Spica is the large, white sphere in the lower left. At first the constellation doesn't look like a person, until you realize she is lying down! Her head is towards the east.
There is a large cluster of galaxies to the east of her left arm. It contains over 3,000 galaxies!
The brightest star in the constellation is Spica, which happens to be the grain of wheat. Its name is Latin for "ear of wheat". In the image, Spica is the large, white sphere in the lower left. At first the constellation doesn't look like a person, until you realize she is lying down! Her head is towards the east.
There is a large cluster of galaxies to the east of her left arm. It contains over 3,000 galaxies!