Constellations

A constellation is an area in the sky with precisely defined boundaries; it is a completely random form of stars, which are not physically linked together. It is about naming of different parts of the night sky for easier orientation and originally mainly for the provision of the calendar. The International Astronomical Union established the constellation boundaries in 1925. At that time, 88 constellations were established, of which 48 still bears the name from ancient times and relate to Greek myths.

Constellations names

The transformation of the supreme god Zeus (the swan as the constellation of the Cygnus, the eagle as the constellation of the Aquila, the bull as the constellation of the Taurus) deserves attention. In the sky, there is also the story of Perseus (Perseus with Medusa in hand, Andromeda, Cepheus, Cassiopeia, the whale as the constellation of the Cetus, Pegasus) or the mythical hunter Orion (Orion, the scorpio as the constellation of the Scorpius, the Pleiades, the lesser dog as the constellation of the Canis Minor and the greater dog as the constellation of the Canis Major, the hare as the constellation of the Lepus). We find Hercules here and images of some of his twelve works (Hydra, the Cancer, the lion as the constellation of the Leo, the dragon as the constellation of the Draco). The constellations of the Little Bear (the constellation of the Ursa Minor) and the Great Bear (the constellation of the Ursa Major) have their own story connected to the hunting dogs (the constellation of the Canes Venatici) and the charioteer (the constellation of the Auriga). Gemini are the Greek heroes of the Dioscuri, Castor and Pollux, who participated in the Argonauts expedition (which is depicted mainly by the Argo ship, which the International Astronomical Union divided into four constellations of the southern sky in the early 20th century – the compass as the constellation of the Pyxis, sails of a ship as the constellation of the Vela, keel of a ship as the constellation of the Carina and the poop deck as the constellation of the Puppis.

In the night sky, we can find even minor stories, associated, for example, with the hair of Queen Berenice of Egypt (the constellation of the Coma Berenices), the northern crown (the constellation of the Corona Borealis), the raven (the constellation of the Corvus) and type of cup used to water down wine (the constellation of the Crater), the arrow (the constellation of the Sagitta), the lyre (the constellation of the Lyra), the dolphin (the constellation of the Delphinus), the wolf (the constellation of the Lupus), Eridanus, the altar (the constellation of the Ara). In ancient history, Egyptian constellations of the Phoenix and the crane (the constellation of the Grus), the southern fish (the constellation of the Piscis Austrinus) and the Southern Crown (the constellation of Corona Australis) were known from the southern sky.

Constellations of Zodiac

These constellations are to be found mostly in the northern sky, located in that part of the sky, which was visible from 35° northern latitude. Among the constellations named the earliest belong, undoubtedly, the constellations of the Zodiac. The most important constellation of the Zodiac for the ancient nations was the constellation of the Taurus. This constellation was the first spring constellation to be seen at that time. The appearance of the Taurus or its part, the open cluster of the Pleiades, meant the coming of spring.

In the middle of the 18th century the French astronomer Lacaille measured and catalogued the stars of the southern sky. For this reason, he needed to name new constellations, by doing so he contributed to placement of astronomical and scientific instruments in the southern sky: the air pump as the constellation of the Antlia, the chisel as the constellation of the Caelum, the compass as the constellation of the Circinus, the furnace as the constellation of the Fornax, clock with pendulum and seconds hand as the constellation of the Horologium, the microscope as the constellation of the Microscopium, the normal as the constellation of the Norma, eighth part of a circle as the constellation of the Octans, the painter as the constellation of the Pictor, the small net as the constellation of the Reticulum, the table as the constellation of the Mensa and the mariner‘s compass as the constellation of the Pyxis. Some constellations, e.g. the unicorn as the constellation of the Monoceros, although modern, are named after the ancient myth in respect of ancient civilizations.The constellations of the southern sky were established later.