NORTHERN SKY Cassiopeia Polaris The stars in the upper part of this map can be seen around the edges of the northern sky map on page 6 Cepheus Auriga Capella Perseus Algol Triangulum Aries Taurus Hyades Aldebaran Pegasus Deneb Cygnus Equuleus Aquarius Capricornus This line represents the route of the Sun across the sky Grus Pavo Pisces Cetus Phoenix SOUTHERN SKY Castor Pollux Gemini Canis Minor Lesser Dog Orion Procyon Betelgeuse Unicorn Sirius 8 Canis Major Greater Dog Celestial Equator Mira Rigel Lepus Caelum Puppis Eridanus THE EQUATORIAL MAP OF THE SKY This is another way to show a scientific map of the sky Imagine the sky around the Earth as if it were a cylinder This map shows how the cylinder would look if it was opened up The diagram in the top right hand corner of these pages might help you imagine this Find your way on the map by following the dashed line in the middle This is the celestial equator It is an imaginary line in the sky that is directly opposite the terrestrial equator that runs around the center of the Earth The stars in the lower part of the map can be seen around the edges of the southern sky map on page 7 Hydrus
Ursa Minor Little Bear Ursa Major Great Bear CYLINDER MAP The sky is shown on these pages as if it were an opened up cylinder North Celestial Pole Celestial Equator Terrestrial North Pole Draco Hercules Lyra Vega Terrestrial Equator South Pole Terrestrial South Celestial Pole Boötes Coma Berenices Leo Minor Serpens Caput Serpent’s Head Arcturus Leo Aquila Altair Ophiuchus Libra Serpens Cauda Serpent’s Tail Sagittarius Scorpius Antares Lupus Ara Beta Centauri Alpha Centauri ecliptic Regulus Cancer Antlia Pyxis Vela 9 Virgo Spica Corvus Hydra Centaurus Southern Cross Triangulum Australe Carina THE SUN’S ROUTE As the Earth rotates around the Sun the Sun appears to move in the sky The path that the Sun appears to take is called the ecliptic The constellations that are located along the ecliptic are known as the zodiacal constellations If you find these constellations in the sky it will help you find the other planets in our solar system They are also close to or on the ecliptic The points where the ecliptic and the celestial equator meet are called equinoxes This occurs twice a year when day and night are the same length across the Earth An equinox marks the passage from winter into spring and from summer into autumn
PEGASUS THE WINGED HORSE Can horses fly They can in Greek mythology Some myths say that Pegasus was born from Medusa’s blood after Perseus cut off her head northern sky Aquarius Pegasus Cetus Aries Mira Eridanus Taurus 10 Ursa Major Great Bear Boötes Canes Venatici Hunting Dogs Arcturus Leo Serpens Caput Serpent’s Head Libra Virgo Spica THE GREEK SKY The ancient Greeks named the constellations that they saw in the sky after mythological figures Among the stars they found Perseus the son of the king Zeus Pegasus the winged horse the strong Hercules and Medusa who was able to turn people to stone with just one look The International Astronomical Union decided to continue using these names so many are still recognized today They simply added other constellations that were not visible to the Greeks in order to complete the map as shown here Delphinus Aquila Altair Vulpecula Little Fox Serpens Cauda Serpent’s Tail Lyra Hercules Vega Ophiuchus Corona Borealis Cygnus Deneb Cassiopeia Algol Cepheus Perseus Triangulum Pleiades Hyades Aldebaran Draco Polaris Ursa Minor Little Bear Auriga Capella Gemini Castor Pollux Lynx Rigel Orion Betelgeuse Procyon Canis Minor Lesser Dog Regulus Hydra
southern sky Pegasus Aquarius Cetus Mira Taurus Eridanus Orion Rigel Lepus Betelgeuse Sirius Canis Major Greater Dog Canis Minor Lesser Dog Procyon Phoenix Achernar Fomalhaut Grus Tucana Capricornus Sagittarius Dorado Columba Canopus Hydrus Volans Pavo Apus Ara Altair Aquila Serpens Cauda Serpent’s Tail Puppis Musca Carina Triangulum Australe Vela Southern Cross Centaurus Hydra Alpha Centauri Beta Centauri Scorpius Antares Ophiuchus Lupus Libra 11 Corvus Spica Virgo Serpens Caput Serpent’s Head Regulus SEA SERPENT This mythological monster was a big sea snake with many heads If one of its heads was cut off two more would grow in its place Hydra’s breath and blood were said to be so poisonous that just smelling them could kill a person
