All Questions
Tagged with constellations star
22 questions
16
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Why are sometimes the brightest star of a constellation not named alpha?
From the Wikipedia page of Alpha Ursae Majoris:
Alpha Ursae Majoris, Latinised from α Ursae Majoris, formally named Dubhe /ˈdʌbiː/, is, despite being designated "α" (alpha), the second-...
- 1,147
4
votes
1
answer
92
views
Finding ones way around the sky
Thinking about this recent question Identify T-shaped constellation the first thing I have to say is that I applaud the poster for actually looking up and noticing the stars: something that becomes ...
2
votes
1
answer
244
views
What is this drawing about in "kitab al bulhan"?
Kitab al bulhan or "book of surprises" is medieval Persian manuscript written in Arabic.
According to Wikipedia:
The contents include subjects on astronomy, astrology and geomancy, ...
- 29
7
votes
1
answer
669
views
Locate stars in sky from list of (x, y) co-ordinates
Imagine we have a photographic plate that clearly shows a few stars, but we do not know where in the sky these stars are located.
We can digitize the location of stars on this plate and now have a set ...
- 288
0
votes
2
answers
335
views
What is use of Greek Letters in Astronomy? [closed]
We see letters such as $\epsilon$ or $\alpha$ or $\beta$ or $\eta$ etc... (possibly all Greek letters)
Can Somebody state the use of all Greek letters in astronomy?
- 11
18
votes
3
answers
5k
views
How are constellations intact if the stars are rotating around galactic nuclei?
From what I understood, the Milky Way (or stars in the Milky Way) doesn't rotate like a collection of points in a disc due to the presence of some invisible matter. In theory, the angular velocities ...
- 193
9
votes
3
answers
2k
views
What Constellation Is This? (Photo Included)
Observed on 9th of Jan 2021 in Newcastle Upon Tyne (UK) looking WSW at a little after Midnight.
- 201
1
vote
1
answer
142
views
Unable to detect stars and constellations in simulation of stars from the Hipparcos catalogue
I am creating a planetarium program using Unity3D and C# to plot out stars from the Hipparcos catalogue. Using the Plx, _RA.icrs and _DE.icrs columns of the dataset, I have managed to work the ...
- 225
1
vote
0
answers
62
views
Could you tell me this constellation name? [closed]
Hi Everyone please check this pictures could you tell me this constellation name ?
- 19
0
votes
1
answer
78
views
If the axis of the Earth was through Greenland, what would the north celestial pole be? [closed]
If the axis of the Earth was through Greenland, what would the north celestial pole be?
- 1
1
vote
1
answer
179
views
Why do most of the myths behind constellations originate from Greek? [closed]
Why do most of the myths regarding constellations happen to have begun from Greek civilization? Why not other civilizations?
Most people who lived in the past era probably observed star patterns in ...
- 27
5
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Exactly how does Canis Minor look like a dog?
Here's what Canis Minor looks like.
To me, all I see is two stars. Canis Minor is a constellation of the giant Orion's hunting dog. Two stars can give quite a meaning. Two stars can mean a stick, a ...
- 153
3
votes
1
answer
608
views
360 degree equirectangular projection of all naked eye stars with precessional motion for simulating
For many years now I've been using Voyager sky simulator by Carinasoft. The projection selections are great, but Equirectangular doesn't seem to one one of them. Is there a program out there that does ...
3
votes
5
answers
2k
views
Stars in constellation patterns by catalogue number?
I need a resource that can tell me the stars that make up a constellation (pattern), preferably by Henry Draper or some catalogue number? All i can find is lists of every star in a constellation (area)...
user16454
0
votes
1
answer
3k
views
How to explain that Polaris is a circumpolar star in the sky of any North America city?
Circumpolar star definition: the stars that remain perpetually above horizon.
My explanation: Latitude affects the constellation we see and Polaris(the North star) has altitude of approximately 89.4 ...
- 211
1
vote
1
answer
90
views
How to see other celestial things using stars for direction?
I have a simple question. I can see orion constellation clearly in the night sky. I read it somewhere on this website that gemini is on the left-hand side of orion constellation. I was able to spot ...
- 167
9
votes
2
answers
1k
views
How many stars are in the constellation Canis Minor?
I've read Wikipedia and found a list of stars in Canis Minor, and counted the number of stars in the list. I came up with 56 stars, a surprising number. I did some more research and found that Canis ...
5
votes
3
answers
293
views
What are the stars/constellations a beginner/enthusiast can easily identify?
I was just wondering what are some of the stars, constellations or any other things that one can just identify by looking up at the night sky.
For example, when ever i look up, I immediately see ...
- 153
1
vote
2
answers
4k
views
Find constellation over Earth coordinates on a specific date-time
I would like some help in finding the exact constellations, or some sort of visualization of the stars over an specific location an time. The idea is to find out the closest star or group of stars on ...
8
votes
5
answers
2k
views
Are the stars in constellation located in a plane or they are in different distances
Are the stars in constellation located in a plane or they are in different distances from each other and when we observe them from the Earth we think they are all in a plane?
- 83
2
votes
1
answer
81
views
Yellow object between δ Ori and η Ori
Can someone perhaps assist me in identifying the yellow object between δ Ori and η Ori? I took an image of this object, but I can't identify it.
It can be seen on the image below, hosted on the Eagle ...
- 149
15
votes
1
answer
207
views
How would the pocket cellular clock work?
In a museum in Lviv, I saw a pocket cellular clock. I don't have a photo, but it was a small disc that had 2 or 3 filaments in it which were pointed at the stars (one of them was Andromeda, I think). ...
user42