1. Astronomy
The Walker School

2. An area of the sky, and

contains all the stars and
other celestial objects
within that area.
The word is used

colloquially to refer to
asterisms: groups of stars
that appear to form
patterns in the sky.
Modern astronomy

Constellations of the Northern Sky
divides the sky into 88
constellations.

3. Earth is sits fixed at

the hub of the
celestial sphere
which contains all of
the stars.
 This is the simplest
model of the
universe, but
problematic.

4. The apparent path

of the Sun on the
celestial sphere
over the course of a
year.
 Incline to the
celestial equator at
an angle of 23.5
degrees

5. Declination (dec) is

measured in degrees
north or south of the
celestial equator.
Right Ascension (RA)

is measured in hours,
minutes and seconds
and it increases in the
eastward direction.

6. Denotes an annual

cycle of twelve
stations along the
ecliptic.
 The zodiac is
recognized as the first
known celestial
coordinate system.
 Babylonian
astronomers
developed the zodiac
of twelve signs

8. Includes a band of eight arc degrees above

and below the ecliptic, and therefore
encompasses the paths of the Moon and the
naked eye planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars,
Jupiter, and Saturn).

10. Specify their
1.
constellation.
2. Rank the stars in it in
order of brightness.
3. Determine the
celestial coordinates.

11. Where is your constellation located on the celestial
1.
sphere?
What other constellations border it?
2.
What are the brightest stars in your constellation? Make
3.
sure to identify the alpha and beta stars.
How many visible stars does the constellation have?
4.
Are these stars all the same distance from Earth?
5.
Explain.
What other celestial objects exist in your cluster? Give
6.
some interesting facts about these objects.
What role did this constellation play in mythology (i.e.
7.
ancient culture)?
Anything currently happening in this constellation (i.e.
8.
within the last month)?