- 1 July 2016
Camelopardalis is the 18th largest constellation covering 757 square degrees in the second quadrant of the Northern hemisphere. It can be viewed specifically at latitudes between +90° and -10°. Camelopardalis represents the giraffe, which was once known as a camel-leopard (it has a long neck like a camel and the spots of a leopard). For this reason it actually gets its name from the Latin derivative of the Greek word for giraffe; camel (Greek kamēlos) and leopard (pardalis).
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- 30 June 2016
Alpha Herculis has been given an ‘Alpha’ designation; however, it’s not the brightest star in its home constellation, it’s actually 129th brightest in the night sky. Its traditional name of Rasalgethi is derived from an Arabic phrase meaning, ‘the head of the Kneeler’. The ‘head’ comes from ancient times when the constellation was shown upside down on star maps.
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- 24 June 2016
Alpha Crucis is made up of two stars and is part of the Southern Cross in its home constellation. Historically, Amerigo Vespucci charted the stars in 1501, then an Italian explorer by the name of Andrea Corsali made a more accurate chart in 1515. This star appeared on celestial globes by both Petrus Plancius in 1598 and also Jodocus Hondius in 1600.
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- 23 June 2016
Bode, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Caelum is the eighth smallest constellation in the sky, occupying only 125 square degrees. It is located in the first quadrant of the Southern hemisphere and can be viewed specifically at latitudes between +40° and -90°. The crooked line of Caelum represents “the chisel” and derives its name from the Latin language.
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- 17 June 2016
Alpha Crucis is made up of two stars and is part of the Southern Cross in its home constellation. Historically, Amerigo Vespucci charted the stars in 1501, then an Italian explorer by the name of Andrea Corsali made a more accurate chart in 1515. This star appeared on celestial globes by both Petrus Plancius in 1598 and also Jodocus Hondius in 1600.
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- 17 June 2016
Bootes is the 13th biggest constellation in size and covers 907 square degrees. It can be viewed in the third quadrant of the Northern hemisphere and lies specifically at latitudes between +90° and -50°. To correctly say, Bootes, each “o” is pronounced separately, putting emphasis on the “tes.”
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- 14 June 2016
It’s a sad truth, but according to a study done by Italian and American scientists, one-third of the world’s population and 80% of Americans cannot see the Milky Way.
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- 7 June 2016
For some of us it may have been a long time since we studied the Solar System in grade school. So here’s your chance to brush up on your cosmic IQ. Take our quiz to see where you rank among the “stars.”
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- 2 June 2016
Auriga is the 21st biggest constellation in size and covers 657 square degrees. It can be viewed in the first quadrant of the Northern hemisphere and lies specifically at latitudes between +90° and -40°. Like some of the other constellations, in the 2nd century Auriga was first catalogued by Ptolemy, who was a Greek astronomer.
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- 1 June 2016
Alpha Coronae Borealis is the brightest star of the seven that make up the semicircle of the “Northern Crown.” This is a binary star system with its companion star completing an orbit every 17.4 days. There could also be a planetary system in its orbit. In the 2nd century, Greek astronomer, Ptolemy, catalogued this star along with the 88 constellations.
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