How come there are constellations? During this discussion, we will delve into the fascinating origins of stars and constellations. We’ll explore the intricate process of their formation and shed light on the major constellations that grace our night sky. Additionally, we’ll uncover the mechanics of how stars come together to create captivating constellations, unraveling the mysteries of their celestial origins. Prepare to embark on a journey through the cosmic wonders that make up our universe.
When you look up to the vast night sky, sometimes you would see glittering stars on the night sky, if you go star gazing in the countryside, where there are less pollution and light, you will notice more star appears, and constellations appears in the night sky. With the right equipment, you can also gaze at the night sky and find out that there are hundreds of constellations up above the night sky.
How Come There Are Constellations? What About in Ancient Times?
In ancient times, constellations are used as an ancient guiding light, the starts that point to the way home, for many wayfarers, sailors, and travelers. Constellations aren’t only bright stars in the sky, but it also used for navigation, charting, and way-finding. This is called star way-finding, an ancient method of finding ways, and navigation for many sailors.
Since prehistoric times, humans have always been drawn to the interest of bright night sky, and observant people used the stars as the chart of the sky, remembering the position of each constellation that appears in the night sky every season and each month. However, what are the constellations though? How come there are constellations? And why it can be used as navigation.
So, how come there are constellations? What are they, and why there are more than hundreds of constellations that vary from time to time?
What Do Constellations Mean?
So, what exactly are constellations? how come there are constellations? Well, constellations are several groups of stars that appear at the same time in the night sky. Constellations are stars that form a unique pattern, and or particular shape that humans have assigned its significance. Some of the constellations have been named by ancient people, some have a modern names.
For example, Ursa Minor and Ursa Major are one of the oldest constellations that have been discovered. It has been discovered by ancient people as one of the major constellations for way-finding. Ursa Major points up north and can be seen mostly in the fall and winter seasons. The naming of each constellation is mostly of how our ancestors easily remembered and named each different constellation.
Typically, the pattern presented on constellations would represent animals, humans, mythological deities, or also inanimate objects. For ancient people, like Greece, and Mesopotamian, the starry night sky is filled with sacred star constellations. Priests and astronomers of ancient times often gaze at the night sky, trying to find more new constellations, finding meaning and omens behind it, as well as using it to determine time.
So, in conclusion, what do constellations mean?
With the advancement of knowledge, constellations can be used to determine the time of the year, knowing the time when spring season would come by looking at certain constellations, and when it is winter. This is quite important knowledge because knowing when the spring and winter season comes means that farmers can know when to sow their wheat, and when to harvest before winter come.
Constellations themselves are stars, a group of stars that forms a particular shape, pattern, and formation. There are numerous different named constellations, some constellations have been recognized and named by ancient people for more than thousands of years. Constellations can appear at a particular time and season in the night sky.
Constellations can also be used as a traditional way of finding because some constellations can be used to point out particular directions. For example, Ursa Major would point out north directions. Constellations didn’t move in the night sky, meaning that it will be a permanent reliable way of finding. Star navigation is also used by a sailor from ancient times, forming mental star maps on their head.
The History of Starry Constellations
To know about how come there are constellations? We need to know first about the history behind it, why we are starting to name the abstract shape and pattern on the night sky, naming them based on animals, and mythical beings, while also starting to understand that some constellations can be used as a way to tell different times of the year, and telling way to go.
The history behind starry constellations has extended far back even into prehistoric times. The earliest records of human understanding, and star gazing were in the famous Lascaux cave art in France, dating back to approximately 17.000 years ago. There is also Gobleki Tepe, an ancient observatory located in Turkey, dating back more than 12.000 years ago, an observatory with adorned carvings that depict stars.
When is the earliest recorded star constellations?
The earliest recorded star constellations, however, came with the Ancient Babylonian. It was approximately around the second millennium BC that ancient Sumerians started the tradition of star gazing, and named some of the star constellations to mark the time on their ancient calendar. Some first Chinese star catalogs also date back around 3000 BC, depicting ancient star constellations catalogs.
However, even before the modern navigational technology, long before ancient Greece astronomers listed their findings, there were Polynesian. Polynesians are masters of navigation, star way-finding, astronomer, and sailor.
They sail from modern-day Taiwan to the islands of Indonesia, to the far east of Easter Island, all before the invention of the steam engine, and modern navigation, and only used natural landmarks like the star constellation. It is quite a wonder, that people could sail wide Blue Ocean without the help of modern navigation, only relying on the star map on their head and knowledge of the sea.
The Modern Star Constellations
Most of the modern star constellations that we know today are derived from Ancient Greeks constellations. It is believed that ancient Greek first worked off the ancient Babylonian star chart while expanding it on their own, naming it based on their culture and religion while understanding how come there are constellations? They also manifest astronomical knowledge with local religion.
From Ancient Greek, there are two major astronomical works that we are still using; there are Aratus’ Phenomena, and the magnificent Ptolemy’s Almagest. Ptolemy was an ancient Greece mathematician, philosopher, and Astronomer that considered one of the genii of ancient times, in his book, he listed more than 48 traditional star constellations from the Northern night sky.
How Many Star Constellations Are There?
In the modern star chart, there are now 88 formally recognized star constellations. The stars are divided into Northern star sky constellations and Southern star sky constellations. The northern star sky constellations have been documented in ancient Greece, on Ptolemy’s Almagest, while the Southern Star Sky has been documented and charted during the age of explorations.
The formal modern star chart was established in 1922, it is now widely acceptable star constellations, developed by International Astronomical Union. This will answer about how come there are constellations? And the different star constellations out there. There are more than 88-star constellations, here, we are going to tell you about the most notable, and most popular ones:
- Andromeda Constellations
- Aquila Constellations
- Aquarius Constellations
- Aries Constellations
- Auriga Constellations
- Cancer Constellations
- Canis Major and Minor Constellations
- Capricornus Constellations
- Cassiopeia Constellations
- Cepheus Constellations
- Cetus Constellations
- Corvus Constellations
- Leo and Leo Minor Constellations
- Libra Constellations
- Hydra Constellations
- Perseus Constellations
- Ursa Major and Minor Constellations
- Sagittarius Constellations
- Scorpius Constellations
- Virgo Constellations
These aren’t complete 88 constellations from the formal modern star chart, other than the formally recognized 88-star constellations, there are also other various recognizable constellations from all around the world and culture, and these are known as asterisms. Asterisms are well-known star formations that are usually belonging to the larger constellations.
For Example, stars constellations like the Plough, Orion constellations, and the Big Dipper. These are asterisms, the star that is placed within the major constellations, like Ursa Major.
12 Most Important Major Constellations
You should know that with the 88 Constellations, other major constellations play a big part in the astronomical epicenter. Most of these major constellations are considered major because it includes a lot of important asterisms, and other constellations. As well as important stars and galaxies on them, like Andromeda, and the Milky Way.
While the importance of each constellation is mostly dependent on what you need the stars for, (For example navigation or calendar), dozens of constellations appear on the ecliptic solar system. The Ecliptic line of the solar system is an imaginary line where the sun goes or the perceived path of the Sun in our solar system.
These constellations are considered as low enough on the earth’s horizon, the star, sun and moon will also appear by moving through these major constellations. These major constellations have taken special significance in culture, astronomical knowledge, and astrology.
These 12 Major constellations are called Zodiac in western culture, and in ancient times. It is believed that these zodiacs contains the secrets of life on earth, governing lives on earth, from agricultural, religion, date, times, directions, and many more. Since ancient times, human has always been coveted by the dim light of the stars, guiding them in their life, finding a way home, and governing every aspect of their lives.
There is 12 Western Zodiac:
- Aries
- Aquarius
- Cancer
- Capricorn
- Gemini
- Taurus
- Leo
- Libra
- Scorpio
- Sagittarius
- Pisces
- Virgo
In the western world, we have 12 Zodiac constellations, but in other cultures, other zodiacs become major constellations and astronomical knowledge in that culture. For example, in China, they have 20 Jade Zodiac (for example Rabbit, Tiger, Ox, Dragon, Mice, etc). These 20 Jade Zodiacs are also accompanied by the 12 Heavenly Yearly zodiacs.
The Mythical Chinese Zodiac was based on Chinese culture and Chinese traditional folklore. Behind the mythical Chinese calendar, there is vast knowledge about the astronomical star constellations that have been developed by Chinese culture.
Other than the major constellations, and the 12 Zodiac, there are also minor asterisms, galaxies, and constellations that play an important role in the modern astronomical era. One of the most prominent, as well as important constellations is Orion Constellation. What is Orion Constellation? And why it is important constellations compared to other zodiacs.
What Is Orion Constellation?
Orion is one of the most prominent constellations in the Western star chart. The Orion constellation is located right on the Celestial star’s equator. They are visible throughout the world, both from the Northern hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere.
Orion was named a Greek Mythological hunter. Orion was the giant Huntsman in the Greek Mythology that Zeus placed among the stars, and become the constellations we see today. It has two brightest stars on the constellations. The Blue-white star Rigel and the Red Betelgeuse, or as we know as Alpha Orionis, and the Beta Orionis.
Its earliest known depiction of the Orion star constellations was recorded in prehistoric times. It was found in the Mammoth ivory carvings that have been found in the Ach Valley, located in West Germany. Then, it was found in 1979, by Archeologists, and it was approximately dated as old as 33.000 to 39.000 years old. It has a distinctive pattern of hunter and warrior, that appears in many myths and cultures associated with it.
So, What Is The Use of Constellations Today?
As of today, even though constellations haven’t been used for too much, and it isn’t as important knowledge as they used to be. Constellations are still used for astronomical knowledge. In ancient times, Constellations are used for sailor navigation, way-finding, determining dates and times, and even knowing when to sow seeds for every farmer.
As of today, astronomers still use Constellations and star maps to chart any astrological findings. Making it way easier to find more discoveries on the stars above. It makes astronomers and researchers identify, and catalog any discovery in space like new planets, stars, and galaxies.
So, do you understand now about how come there are constellations? The answer lies in the stars above, and how the stars could guide us in our life. Even though digital technology stars and constellations have become obsolete for navigation and data, there is still much use of its for astronomical knowledge.
