6C Winter Constellations Objectives List the six winter constellations we will discuss. List the six winter constellations we will discuss. Describe each in terms of: Describe each in terms of: Location Location How to locate each constellation using Orion How to locate each constellation using Orion Important stars or other deep space objects contained in each constellation Important stars or other deep space objects contained in each constellation Mythological Story Mythological Story

Winter Constellations

There are several constellations that can be classified as Winter constellations. There are several constellations that can be classified as Winter constellations. Seasonal constellations are any constellation that is far enough away from the pole star to rise and set Seasonal constellations are any constellation that is far enough away from the pole star to rise and set Because it can rise and set, it will also vary in its location in the sky relative to the seasons Because it can rise and set, it will also vary in its location in the sky relative to the seasons Because our axial tilt changes throughout the year, the location in the celestial sphere where we find a certain constellation will change too Because our axial tilt changes throughout the year, the location in the celestial sphere where we find a certain constellation will change too

Winter Constellations Winter constellations reach their highest points in the sky during the winter months Winter constellations reach their highest points in the sky during the winter months So the best time to view them is during the winter So the best time to view them is during the winter That’s why they are called “Winter Constellations” That’s why they are called “Winter Constellations”

Winter Constellations Orion Canis Major Canis Minor TaurusAurigaGemini Winter Triangle & Winter Hexagon Pleiades – Star Cluster

Orion Name : Orion (Ori) Translation The Hunter The Great Hunter Family : Orion One of the original 48 ancient constellations Part of Winter Triangle & Winter Hexagon Contains many notable stars Contains several nebulae including Orion’s nebula

Orion Orion, the Hunter, is by far the most famous seasonal constellation Orion, the Hunter, is by far the most famous seasonal constellation No other is more distinct or bright as this northern winter constellation No other is more distinct or bright as this northern winter constellation The famous Orion's Belt makes the hunter easy to find in the night sky The famous Orion's Belt makes the hunter easy to find in the night sky Orion looks very much like a person Orion looks very much like a person

Orion First, you should spot Orion's Belt, which is made of three bright stars in a straight line Mintaka Alnilam Alnitak

Orion One of Orion's legs is represented by the bright star Rigel (blue supergiant), one of the brightest stars in the night sky One of Orion's legs is represented by the bright star Rigel (blue supergiant), one of the brightest stars in the night sky His two shoulders are made of the stars Bellatrix (blue giant) and Betelgeuse (red supergiant) His two shoulders are made of the stars Bellatrix (blue giant) and Betelgeuse (red supergiant) Hanging from his belt is his sword. Near the sword you can find the Orion Nebula Hanging from his belt is his sword. Near the sword you can find the Orion Nebula

Orion Orion was a famed hunter, and in one story boasted that no creature could kill him. Hera then sent a scorpion (Scorpius) to sting the hunter. Orion smashed the animal with his club, but not before he was poisoned. Orion was a famed hunter, and in one story boasted that no creature could kill him. Hera then sent a scorpion (Scorpius) to sting the hunter. Orion smashed the animal with his club, but not before he was poisoned. Both are now constellations on opposite sides of the sky. Both are now constellations on opposite sides of the sky. Myths say that the gods put them on opposite sides of the skies so they could no longer harm each other Myths say that the gods put them on opposite sides of the skies so they could no longer harm each other Orion hunted Lepus and Taurus Orion hunted Lepus and Taurus

Orion

Orion

Canis Major Name : Canis Major (CMa) Translation The Dog The Great Dog Family : Orion Contains Sirius – The Dog Star Part of the Winter Triangle & Winter Hexagon

Canis Major In Greek myth, it is said that this constellation, along with Canis Minor, were Orion's hunting dogs In Greek myth, it is said that this constellation, along with Canis Minor, were Orion's hunting dogs Canis Major was one of the most important constellations in ancient times because the brightest star in the sky is part of it Canis Major was one of the most important constellations in ancient times because the brightest star in the sky is part of it

Canis Major Sirius, the Dog Star, is one of the brightest objects in the night sky Only the Moon, Venus, Jupiter and Mars are brighter

Canis Major Those that lived near the Nile River used the Dog Star to signal the flooding of the Nile This special occasion represented the return from the dead of the Sun god Osiris

Canis Major Canis Major is very easy to find during the months of November through March First locate Orion the Hunter, and imagine a straight line through his belt From Mintaka to Alnitak Follow the line and you will see Sirius perched right below the line Sirius is the nose of the dog. His body stretches to the southeast, and his front leg is to the west of Sirius

Canis Major Canis Minor

Name : Canis Minor (CMi) Translation The Lesser Dog Family : Orion Contains the star Procyon Contains the star Procyon Part of the Winter Triangle & Winter Hexagon Part of the Winter Triangle & Winter Hexagon

Canis Minor The second of Orion’s hunting dogs The second of Orion’s hunting dogs The brightest star in Canis Minor is Procyon. The brightest star in Canis Minor is Procyon.

Canis Minor To find the constellation Canis Minor, locate the two brightest stars at the top of Orion, Betelgeuse and Bellatrix. To find the constellation Canis Minor, locate the two brightest stars at the top of Orion, Betelgeuse and Bellatrix. Connect a line from Bellatrix through Betelgeuse. Connect a line from Bellatrix through Betelgeuse. Continuing this line will lead you to Canis Minor. Continuing this line will lead you to Canis Minor. Canis Minor is a small constellation. Its brightest star is Procyon. Canis Minor is a small constellation. Its brightest star is Procyon. Procyon is the eighth brightest star in the night sky. Procyon is the eighth brightest star in the night sky.

Canis Major Canis Minor

Taurus Name : Taurus (Tau) Translation The Bull Family : Zodiac It passes through the sky from November through March Notable Star: Aldebaran Part of Winter Hexagon Contains Hyades & Pleiades star clusters Contains Crab Nebula

Taurus Taurus is a distinctive constellation, with star-tipped horns and a head defined by a V- shaped group of stars Two Greek bull-myths were associated with Taurus.

Taurus Zeus disguised himself as a bull to get near to Europa. His bull form was very attractive being white as snow with horns that shone like polished metal Europa adorned his horns with flowers and was entranced with him. The bull lay on the golden sands and Europa ventured to sit on his back.

Taurus At first, she feared nothing when the bull went into the water. But she became alarmed when it began to swim strongly out to sea. Europa looked around in dismay at the receding shoreline and clung tightly to the bull’s horns as waves washed over the bull’s back. Craftily, Zeus the bull dipped more deeply into the water to make her hold him more tightly still. At first, she feared nothing when the bull went into the water. But she became alarmed when it began to swim strongly out to sea. Europa looked around in dismay at the receding shoreline and clung tightly to the bull’s horns as waves washed over the bull’s back. Craftily, Zeus the bull dipped more deeply into the water to make her hold him more tightly still.

Taurus By now, Europa had realized that this was no ordinary bull. Eventually, the bull waded ashore at Crete, where Zeus revealed his true identity and seduced Europa. He gave her presents that included a dog that later became the constellation Canis Major. The offspring of Zeus and Europa included Minos, king of Crete, who established the famous palace at Knossos where bull games were held.

Taurus Locating Taurus Use Orion’s belt Draw a line pointing the opposite direction from Canis Major From Alnitak to Mintaka Follow this line and Aldebaran will be just above it Taurus is The Bull Aldebaran is the Bull’s Eye

Auriga Name : Auriga (Aur) Translation The Charioteer Family : Perseus Notable Star : Capella Galactic Anticenter Part of Winter Hexagon

Auriga To locate Auriga: Draw a line from Saiph to Alnitak That line will point to Capella, the brightest star in Auriga

Capella The bright star Capella also has some legend about it. It is reputed to represent the goat that suckled Jupiter. At some point Jupiter accidentally broke off a horn. Jupiter made this piece of horn magical in that it could be filled with whatever the possessor wished for. It was given the name Cornucopia, or "horn of plenty."

Auriga In one Greek legend, Auriga represents Erichthonius, a King of Athens and the son of Vulcan and Minerva. Auriga was deformed and his difficulty in walking led him to invent the four horse chariot. This invention brought him a place of honor in the sky In another legend, Auriga was the son of Mercury. He trained chariot horses and his animals were said to be the fastest there were

Gemini Name : Gemini (Gem) Translation The Twins Castor & Pollux Sons of Zeus Family : Zodiac One of the original 48 ancient constellations

Gemini Zeus had yet another illicit affair Zeus seduced Leda, Queen of Sparta In form of a swan (Cygnus) That same night she slept with her husband too Both unions were fruitful Two sets of twins (one set of twins from her husband and one set of twins from Zeus)

Gemini Zeus being immortal Zeus being immortal His twins were immortal His twins were immortal Pollux & Helen (of Troy) Pollux & Helen (of Troy) Her Husband being mortal Her Husband being mortal His twins were mortal His twins were mortal Castor & Clyemnestra Castor & Clyemnestra Castor & Pollux were the best of friends Castor & Pollux were the best of friends They joined Jason and the Argonauts They joined Jason and the Argonauts Sailors Sailors

Gemini Pollux beat the son of Poseidon in a boxing match Pollux beat the son of Poseidon in a boxing match Castor & Pollux both saved the Argonauts crew many times while on their voyages at sea Castor & Pollux both saved the Argonauts crew many times while on their voyages at sea Myth says that they were given the power, by Poseidon, to save shipwrecked sailors Myth says that they were given the power, by Poseidon, to save shipwrecked sailors The twins have been the patron saints of sailors ever since The twins have been the patron saints of sailors ever since

Gemini To locate Gemini: To locate Gemini: Draw a line from Rigel through Betelgeuse (green) Draw a line from Rigel through Betelgeuse (green) This will point roughly to Castor and Pollux This will point roughly to Castor and Pollux

Winter Triangle Procyon Procyon Canis Minor Canis Minor Betelgeuse Betelgeuse Orion Orion Sirius Sirius Canis Major Canis Major

The Winter Hexagon Sirius Sirius Procyon Procyon Pollux Pollux Capella Capella Aldebaran Aldebaran Rigel Rigel

Star Clusters of Taurus Two main star clusters that are notable in the constellation Taurus Two main star clusters that are notable in the constellation Taurus Hyades Hyades Pleiades Pleiades Hyades were sisters of the Pleiades Hyades were sisters of the Pleiades Known as the Rainy stars Known as the Rainy stars Make up a V-shaped in the face of the bull Make up a V-shaped in the face of the bull Pleiades were another group of sisters Pleiades were another group of sisters Known as The Maidens or Sailing Stars Known as The Maidens or Sailing Stars

The Pleiades Star Cluster Located in constellation Taurus Located in constellation Taurus One of the nearest star clusters to Earth One of the nearest star clusters to Earth Approximately 8 ly away from the core Approximately 8 ly away from the core Can be seen with the naked eye Can be seen with the naked eye Contains over 1000 confirmed members Contains over 1000 confirmed members Does not include unresolved binarys Does not include unresolved binarys

The Pleiades Star Cluster Nine brightest stars are named for the Seven Sisters in Greek mythology Nine brightest stars are named for the Seven Sisters in Greek mythology Sterope, Merope, Electra, Maia, Taygete, Celaeno, Alcyone Sterope, Merope, Electra, Maia, Taygete, Celaeno, Alcyone And their parents And their parents Atlas and Pleione Atlas and Pleione

The Pleiades Star Cluster Atlas (father) was forced to carry the heavens on his shoulders Atlas (father) was forced to carry the heavens on his shoulders Orion began to pursue all the Pleiades Orion began to pursue all the Pleiades He turned them into doves He turned them into doves Then turned them into stars to comfort their father Then turned them into stars to comfort their father

Labeling Winter Constellations Label all 5 Winter Constellations & Stars Gemini (Pollux & Castor) Auriga (Capella) Taurus (Aldebaran) Orion (Betelgeuse, Bellatrix, Mintaka, Alnilam, Alnitak, Saiph & Rigel) Canis Major (Sirius) Canis Minor (Procyon) AND Plieades Star Cluster AND Winter Triangle AND Winter Hexagon