Revised by Ms. Pacheco 8/16/06

Ursa Major: a.k.a. Big Dipper Almost directly overhead Easy to find Helps you find other constellations and stars The second to last star in the handle is actually a visual double star, Alcor and Mizar. You can almost see them with your eyes, definitely with binoculars. 81 and 78 ly respectively.

This is the Big Dipper over 500 year old Hohenzoller Castle in Germany. Alcor and Mizar

Ursa Minor: a.k.a. Little Dipper Follow the first two stars of the cup of the Big Dipper to Polaris, The North Star, which makes up the end of the handle of the Little Dipper. Polaris is a supergiant, 2000 times brighter than our sun. It is only the 49 th brightest star in the sky! Polaris actually has a small, blue companion star. You need a large scope to see it. In summer, the Big Dipper is standing on its side, ladle down, with the Little Dipper to the right.

In addition to the Northern Lights here, you can see the Big and Little Dippers here. See If you can find Polaris.

These are star trails made by the Earth’s rotation, making these stars appear to rotate around Polaris. Really, the Earth is rotating around the North Pole.

Circumpolar Constellations Definition: constellations that are visible year round. They appear to closely orbit Polaris (the North Star) They include: –Ursa Major (Big Dipper) –Ursa Minor (Little Dipper) –Cassiopeia –Cepheus –Draco

Cygnus Cygnus Lyra Lyra Aquila Aquila Sagittarius Sagittarius Scorpius Scorpius These constellations can be found straight above you in the sky during the summer months at the midnight to 1 o'clock hour. The three brightest stars of these constellations form what is called the Summer Triangle. These constellations can be found straight above you in the sky during the summer months at the midnight to 1 o'clock hour. The three brightest stars of these constellations form what is called the Summer Triangle.

Cygnus Cygnus, The Swan, is one of the more obvious constellations in the summer skies, which -- because of its shape -- is sometimes called the Northern Cross. This constellation was known as "Ornis" (Bird) to the Greeks. It was the Romans who named it Cygnus and who adopted the Greek myths to explain its name. The Arabs (and other cultures since then) saw the constellation as a hen. This constellation was known as "Ornis" (Bird) to the Greeks. It was the Romans who named it Cygnus and who adopted the Greek myths to explain its name. The Arabs (and other cultures since then) saw the constellation as a hen.

The Swan in the Sky

Lyra In Greek mythology, the lyre was invented by Hermes. When only a child, he pulled a cow-gut across a tortoise shell, and thereby created the lyre. Hermes gave this lyre to his half-brother Apollo (both were fathered by Zeus). As the god of music, Apollo became associated with the instrument. The constellation is small and rather faint, but it is home to the fifth brightest star, Vega, which is the head of the constellation.

The instrument of the Gods

Aquila, the eagle This constellation dates from ancient times, representing the bird that in Mythology was the companion of Jupiter, and often carried his thunderbolts. Aquila lies in the Milky Way and contains rich star fields. Aquila straddles the celestial equator in the Milky Way and is easily recognized by the bright white star Altair with its two flanking yellow stars.

The Eagle

Sagittarius In ancient times the three bright stars in the curved line were seen as a bow to some, leading both Greek and Roman writers to confuse the constellation with Centaurus. Sagittarius is also half-man, half-beast, said by some to have been placed in the heavens to guide the Argonauts in their travels.

Sagittarius

Scorpius Scorpius is one of the oldest constellations known - possibly even one of the original six signs of the zodiac. While the sun still traverses Scorpius, it only takes nine days to do so. "The Sting" in Arabic traditionally forms the stinger, although some star maps currently show the nearby "G Scorpii" as one of the stingers. The constellation was once much larger, but the western portion representing the claws of the scorpion was given to Libra.

The Sting

Something to Appreciate “We look and see what we want, but what we don’t want to see are the things that are right before our eyes, and it is those things that are most beautiful.” –Anonymous

Works Cited Dec19, published by: Dept. of Physics and Astronomy copyright Iowa State University Copyright © Kathy Miles, Author, and Chuck Peters, 01/summer.sky.html 01/summer.sky.htmlhttp:// 01/summer.sky.html The Constellations Web Page © 2000 by Richard Dibon-Smith. Last Updated: January 19, 2005 by Dave Lane, System Administrator The Constellations Web Page© 2000 by Richard Dibon-Smith. ConstList/lyra.htmlwww.sciencenet.org.uk/.../ ConstList/lyra.html Last Modified 17 September ConstList/lyra.html Contributed by Paul Rodmell, Southland Astronomical Society borghetto.astrofili.org/ costellazioni/bordo.htmborghetto.astrofili.org/ costellazioni/bordo.htm 9 Novembre 1998 Damiano Trisciani and Filippo Cubattoli Damiano Trisciani Filippo Cubattoli borghetto.astrofili.org/ costellazioni/bordo.htmDamiano Trisciani Filippo Cubattoli The Constellations Web Page© 2000 by Richard Dibon- Smith. SEM248R1VED_sensations_1.htmlwww.esa.int/esaSC/ SEM248R1VED_sensations_1.html Copyright © European Space Agency. All rights reserved. SEM248R1VED_sensations_1.htmlhttp://