this article, you will learn about what the constellations and where were their names.
As you know, there are so many patterns of stars in the sky, which has always been the object of attention of people in different periods of human existence.The ancients sought to know the interesting world, and all that goes beyond it.They studied the night sky, and in the Neolithic period were formed the first group of stars that got their names.Many of them are long forgotten.And about some known only to historians of astronomy.
Previously called star clusters, constellations
So, about 5000 years ago, people began to devote in the night sky the brightest night light and combine them into groups.Now mankind to explore the use of modern technologies that did not exist before.Constellation called configurations, which are formed of the brightest stars.They served primarily for navigation, as well as to determine the time of year, time of day, for divination and astrological purposes.
What is a constellation?
In that sense, which is taken now, this concept emerged in ancient Greece a couple of centuries ago.Then the visible sky mentally divided into groups of the stars.To make it easier to navigate in space, each site was given the name, based on the fact what it is like this or that was the figure.Between the constellations are located sites which the Greeks called "empty spaces".However, there are also the stars, but they were not assigned to any group.About them, for example, said, "the area between Cygnus and Lyra."
modern concept
And if earlier constellations is any cluster of stars in the world today is the notation a little specific.Now it is defined as large areas of the sky, each of which is a few bright stars visible to the naked eye.These sites often add up to a certain pattern that is easy to remember.
also important to know that those territories are called constellations, which are without intersections and the empty spaces divided the sky.This area has defined borders.Therefore, do not confuse a simple cluster of stars with constellations.
At the moment, the celestial sphere is divided into 88 constellations, the names and boundaries of which in 1922 were approved at the first congress of the International Astronomical Union.
Where does the name
As you know, the constellations are named after the Greek mythological characters, animals and even objects by name, the form of which they resemble.For example, in the starry sky "live" legendary characters such as Pegasus, Cepheus, Perseus, Cassiopeia, Andromeda and others.All of them are connected with the myths of ancient Greece, where there is a great variety.
also a night of celestial sphere can be found Eagle, Dolphin, Blue, Lion, foxes, peacocks and many other animals.
other constellations are named on the form of articles: Pumps, Microscope, furnace, grid, arrow, compass, Bowl, Clock, and so on. D.
As we can see, there is a huge list of names assigned to the heavenly bodies.
Why was named the constellation Ursa Major
Each of us is a child interested in everything that is connected with the heavenly bodies.Why did this or that star is just such a name?Why are they called the figure of the Great Bear bucket?How and who gives the name of the constellations?
seven bright stars that are clearly visible to the naked eye in the night sky, it is not like the shape of a bear.Why is it called this constellation?Maybe someone imagination and sense of the term and is only available to people with a good imagination?
try to sort out this issue.
As we already know, star clusters, constellations anoint earlier.Call them, guided by the shape formed by the figures.Graphic designers who created the old atlases stars, trying to fit the contour of the animal to the contour of the figure in the sky and often depicted a bear with a long tail.They had to do it so that people with no such imagination could "see" the sky is the beast, and not another.
name "Big Dipper" constellation received from the ancient Greeks.In Greek, it sounded like "Arktos megalith."Hence was born the name Arctic.
According to one legend, Zeus was captivated by the daughter of the king Lakiona accompanying goddess Artemis in the hunt, and seduced her.She became pregnant, and the goddess saw it when bathing and transformed into a bear.The girl in the form of the animal bore a son Arkady, who lived among the people.But one day, hunters, led by Arkady, a bear attacked and wanted to kill her.Then Zeus, thinking about his connection with the Lakiona daughter, saved her by putting the sky among the constellations.When in a hurry, he raised to heaven bear by the tail, he stretched out and became long.
