Lesson 14.

Position of Constellations
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 People have long
used the different
constellations
observed at different
times of the year for
various purposes.
Constellations have
also been observed
to change position
An astronomical observatory and move slowly.
 Some have used these
observations for
direction. Others have
used it as predictions
of what is to come.
Why are different
constellations seen at
different times of the
year? Why do stars
An astronomical observatory seem to move?
 Learning Competency

At the end of this lesson, the given DepEd learning

competency should be met by the students.

Show which constellations may be observed at different

times of the year using models (S9ES-IIIi-34).
 Learning Objectives

At the end of this lesson, the learner should be able to

do the following:

● Recognize that different constellations can be seen

throughout the year.
● Determine how stars can be located in the night
sky.
 Try it!
Warm-Up

Rotating Sky Explorer Simulation

In this activity, students will

play with a “rotating sky”
simulation in order to
appreciate how star patterns
are viewed from Earth, with
respect to how it moves in
space.
Sample simulation
 Learn about It

Position of Constellations
● Celestial objects in our local
sky can be described
according to imaginary lines
and points of reference with
respect to the ground.

○ zenith
○ meridian
Star trail and our North Star
○ altitude
○ direction
 Learn about It

Position of Constellations
● Altitude refers to the
angle between the star’s
position and the horizon.

● Direction is found along

the horizon.

○ Four cardinal points:

north, south, east, and Zenith, median, altitude, and
west. direction are points used to locate
stars.
 Learn about It

Position of Constellations
● Zenith is the point directly
overhead.

○ The horizon describes

all points that are 90°
away from the zenith.

● Median is the great circle

passing through the Zenith, median, altitude, and
zenith. direction are points used to locate
stars.
 Learn about It

Position of Constellations
● A great circle is an imaginary
circle on the celestial sphere
which uses the center of Earth as
its center.

○ The equator and the lines of

longitude are all great circles.

● Small circles are those lines of

latitude, except equator. The great and small circles
 Learn about It

The Rotation of Earth and Daily Motion of Stars

● Earth’s rotation gives us day
and night.

○ Stars on the dark side can

be seen in the night sky.

○ Stars behind the sun are

overpowered by its light
and therefore cannot be Earth rotates from west to east,
making celestial bodies appear to
seen. rise in the east and set in the west.
 Learn about It

The Rotation of Earth and Daily Motion of Stars

● Stars, like the sun, rise and
set in Earth’s horizon.

○ Circumpolar stars do
not set in the horizon.

○ All the other stars that

are affected by Earth’s Circumpolar stars are near the
motion are called the north celestial pole. They never
non-circumpolar stars. set and thus, can always be seen.
 Learn about It

The Rotation of Earth and Daily Motion of Stars

● The axis of Earth is in line
with a star named Polaris.

○ Polaris does not seem to

move because it is directly
above Earth’s axis.

○ The rest of the stars move

around Polaris. Stars around Polaris
 Learn about It

The Rotation of Earth and Daily Motion of Stars

● Polaris can only be
seen in the Northern
hemisphere, and this
star belongs to the
asterism Little Dipper.

○ Little Dipper is a
part of the Ursa Polaris is located directly above Earth’s
Minor constellation. axis and is the brightest star in Ursa
Minor.
 Learn about It

The Rotation of Earth and Daily Motion of Stars

● Considering the coordinates of Earth, the constellations
are seen depending on the latitude.

○ Constellations depend on latitude because one’s

position on Earth specifies the constellations that
remain above or below the horizon.

○ Longitudes do not affect the positions of the

constellations seen from Earth.
 Learn about It

The Revolution of Earth and the Constellations

● Earth completes its revolution
around the sun in 365.24 days.

● The changing positions of

Earth results to the varying
constellations in the sky at
different times of the year.
Earth’s revolution causes
● Non-circumpolar stars are changing seasons and positions
affected by Earth’s revolution. of constellations throughout the
year.
 Learn about It

The Revolution of Earth and the Constellations

● Non-circumpolar constellations
can be classified based on
seasons of the year.

○ Winter constellations
○ Spring constellations
○ Summer constellations
○ Autumn constellations

Non-circumpolar constellations
 Learn about It

The Revolution of Earth and the Constellations

● Non-circumpolar constellations

○ Winter constellations are

best seen in December,
January, and February.

○ Examples:
■ Orion, Canis Major,
Gemini, Taurus, and
Eridanus
Winter constellations
 Learn about It

The Revolution of Earth and the Constellations

● Non-circumpolar constellations

○ Spring constellations are

seen during March, April,
and May.

○ Examples:
■ Leo, Cancer, Bootes, and
Aquarius
Spring constellations
 Learn about It

The Revolution of Earth and the Constellations

● Non-circumpolar constellations

○ Summer constellations are

best observed in the months
of June, July, and August.

○ Examples:
■ Scorpius, Sagittarius,
Cetus, and Eridanus
Summer constellations
 Learn about It

The Revolution of Earth and the Constellations

● Non-circumpolar constellations

○ Autumn constellations are

observed during September,
October, and November.

○ Examples:
■ Stars of Andromeda,
Perseus, and Pegasus
Autumn constellations
 Learn about It

The Revolution of Earth and the Constellations

● Circumpolar constellations are
not affected by Earth’s revolution.

○ They surround Polaris in the

Northern Hemisphere, and
can be seen the entire year.

○ Examples: Ursa Major, Ursa

Minor, Cassiopeia, Draco, and
Cepheus. Northern circumpolar
constellations
 Learn about It

The Revolution of Earth and the Constellations

● Circumpolar constellations

○ Southern hemisphere has

no bright pole star like Polaris,
but there still are southern
circumpolar constellations.

○ Examples: Carina, Centaurus,

and Southern Cross. Southern circumpolar
constellations
 Key Points

● Earth’s rotation affects how we perceive stars in the night sky.

Particularly, it affects the rising and setting of stars.

● Earth’s revolution also affects how we perceive stars. In

particular, Earth’s revolution around the sun makes it possible to
see constellations that cannot be seen on other days of the year.

● Depending on one’s location on Earth, an observer can only see

a specific set of stars and constellations.
 Check Your Understanding

Identify what is being described by each of the following items.

1.In the local sky, this is the point directly overhead an observer.
2.This great circle passes through the zenith and connects the north
and south points.
3.These are constellations that do not set and can be seen all year
round.
4.This motion of Earth results in different constellations seen at
different times of the year.
5.In the local sky, this describes all points that are 90° away from the
zenith.
 Bibliography

Bagnall, Phillip M. 2012. The Star Atlas Companion: What You Need to Know About the Constellations. New York:
Springer.

Cornell University. “Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram.” Accessed September 19, 2017.

https://web.archive.org/web/20190604212411/http://hosting.astro.cornell.edu/academics/courses/astro2
01/hr_diagram.htm
.

Cornell University Astronomy Department. “What are constellations used for?” Accessed September 22, 2017.
http://curious.astro.cornell.edu/about-us/117-the-universe/stars-and-star-clusters/constellations/375-wha
t-are-constellations-used-for-intermediate
.

Eastern Illinois University. “Connecting the Dots: Understanding the Constellations.” Accessed September 22,
 Bibliography

Institute for Astronomy University of Hawaii. “Constellations.” Accessed September 22, 2017.
https://www.ifa.hawaii.edu/~barnes/ASTR110L_F03/constellations.html.

NASA Space Place. “Do constellations ever break apart or change?” Accessed September 21, 2017.
https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/review/dr-marc-space/constellations.html.

PennState College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. “Colors, Temperatures, and Spectral Types of Stars.”
Accessed September 20, 2017. https://www.e-education.psu.edu/astro801/content/l4_p2.html.

Swinburne University of Technology. “Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram.” Accessed September 18, 2017.

http://astronomy.swin.edu.au/cosmos/H/Hertzsprung-Russell+Diagram.

University of Michigan. “Introduction to the Constellations.” Accessed September 22, 2017.

http://umich.edu/~lowbrows/guide/constellations.html.