In this section, we find constellations on sky maps.
The tables are also used in the section Observations.
- The instructor will give some intro to using the
TheSky
software if necessary.
There is a List of Tricks for TheSky for reference.
Click on the sky maps below and print out the pdf sky maps.
- Use the TheSky
software to locate the
constellations
listed in the tables below.
- Surround each constellation
with a contour line
and label the constellation
with its abbreviated name.
- North Polar Sky:
_______________________________________________________________________ Table of North Polar Sky Constellations _______________________________________________________________________ Constellation Observed Location in Sky (Observations section, see below) _______________________________________________________________________ Cameloparalis, CAM Cassiopeia, CAS Cepheus, CEP Draco, DRA Perseus, PER Ursa Major, UMA Ursa Minor, UMI _______________________________________________________________________
Caption: Sky map for the North Pole on the winter solstice at midnight.
The horizon is the circumscribing circle.
Since we are at the North Pole (90 degrees north latitude), the celestial equator coincides with the horizon.
Also since we are at the North Pole, we are in the middle of the 6-month night.
The equatorial coordinate right ascension (RA) increases going east along the celestial equator from its zero point vernal equinox. The vernal equinox is both the point where ecliptic crosses the celestial equator and also the event when the Sun traveling along the ecliptic crosses the celestial equator.
The vernal equinox happens on about March 21.
Right ascension is given in the funny angle units of hours: 1 hour = 15 degrees.
The equatorial coordinate declination (Dec) is measured from the celestial equator along great circles that pass through the north celestial pole (NCP) and south celestial pole (SCP).
Because we are the North Pole the NCP is at zenith
The ecliptic is the curve crossing the southern part of the sky map
The ecliptic coordinate system longitude is also measured from the vernal equinox going eastward, but in degrees.
Credit/Permission: John Walker, Your Sky, 2003 / Public domain.