# data[].attributes.headline
Interesting Facts about the Constellations

# data[].attributes.subject
Interesting Facts about the Constellations

# data[].attributes.body
The largest constellation by area is Hydra which is 3.16% of the sky.
The smallest is Crux which only takes up 0.17% of the sky.
Small patterns of stars within a constellation are called asterisms. These include the Big Dipper and Little Dipper.
The word "constellation" comes from a Latin term meaning "set with stars."
Twenty two different constellation names start with the latter "C."

# data[].attributes.body
Constellations are useful because they can help people to recognize stars in the sky. B looking for patterns, the stars and locations can be much easier to spot.
The constellations had uses in ancient times. They were used to help keep track of the calendar. This was very important so that people knew when to plant and harvest crops.
Another important use for constellations was navigation. By finding Ursa Minor it is fairly easy to spot the North Star (Polaris). Using the height of the North Star in the sky, navigators could figure out their latitude helping ships to travel across the oceans.

# data[].attributes.body
The zodiac constellations are the constellations that are located within a band this about 20 degress wide in the sky. This band is considered special because it is the band where the Sun, the Moon, and the planets all move.
There are 13 zodiac constellations. Twelve of these are also used as signs for the zodiac calendar and astrology.
They are Capricornus Aquarius Pisces Aries Taurus Gemini Cancer Leo Virgo LIbra Scorpius Sagittarius Ophicuchus

# data[].attributes.body
The Draco constellation can be viewed in the nortern hemispnere. It means "dragon" in Latin and was one of the 48 ancient constellations.
The Pegasus constellation is named after the flying horse b the same name from Greek mythology. It can be seen in the northern sky.

# data[].attributes.body
Ursa Major is visible in the northern Hemisphere. It means Larger Bear" in Latin. The Big Dipper is part of the Ursa Major constellation. The Big Dipper is often used as a way to find the direction north.
Ursa Minor means "Smaller Bear" in Latin. It is located near Ursa Major and also has the pattern of a small ladle called the Little Dipper as part of its larger pattern

# data[].attributes.body
Here are a few of the more famous constellations: Orion is one of the most visible constellations. Because of its location, it can be seen throughout the world. Orion is named after a hunter from Greek mythology. Its brightest stars are Betelgeuse and Rigel

# data[].attributes.body
Not all of the constellations are visible from any one point on Earth. THe star maps are typically divided into maps for the northern hemisphere and maps for the southern hemisphere.
The seasons of the year can also affect what constellations are visible from where are visible from where you are located on Earth.

# data[].attributes.body
The 88 different constellations divide up the entire night sky as seen from all around the Earth.
Star maps are made of the brightest stars and the patterns tat they make which give rise to the names of the constellations. The maps of the stars represent the position of the stars as we see them from Earth.
The stars in each constellation may not be close to each other at all. Some of them are bright because they are close to Earth while others are bright because they are very large stars.

# data[].attributes.body
The sky was divided into 88 different constellations in 1922.
This includedd 48 ancient constellations listed by the Greek astronomer Ptolemy as well as 40 new constellations

# data[].attributes.body
A constellation is a group of visible stars that form a patter when viewed from Earth.
The pattern they form may take the shape of a animal, a mythological creature, a man, a woman, or an inanimate object such as a microscope, a compass, or a crown

# data[].attributes.body
For centuries the skies have been viewed through the lenses of our ancestors who have passed down important observations about the night sky. Many of which we still use today.
From these people and cultures we know some of the fundamental astronomical information about our planet earth.
The earth rotates as it progresses around the sun.
This progression around the sun is called a revolution

# data[].attributes.body
The altitude is the distance an object appears to be above the horizon
The azimuth of an object is the angular distance along the horizon to the location of the object. By convention, azimuth is measures from north towards the east along the horizon

# data[].attributes.body
The night sky is rarely "fixed" because of the movement of objects in the universe
We use altitude and azimuth to describe the location of an object in the sky as viewed from a particular location at a particular time
The angles is measured up from the closest point on horizon

# data[].attributes.body
In the Celestial Sphere there are important visual markers:
North and South Celestial Poles (+90 and -90 degrees)
Celestial Equator (0 degrees)
Horizon: any point above the Celestial Equator within your hemisphere
Earth's Tilt (23.5 degrees)
Ecliptic: An imaginary line on the sky that marks the annual path of the sun. The highest declination marks summer and the lowest declination marks winter. Declinations of zero mark spring (Vernal) and fall (Autumn)

# data[].attributes.body
To navigate the celestial sphere we need a navigation system.
On earth we use latitude and longitude
In the celestial sphere we use Declination (like latitude) and Right Ascension (like longitude).
Declination is measure in degrees North or South.
Right Ascension is measure in hours and minutes

# data[].attributes.headline
From our position, we view the North Celestial hemisphere

# data[].attributes.subject
From our position, we view the North Celestial hemisphere

# data[].attributes.headline
We call both sides of this domes, when they are together, the celestial sphere

# data[].attributes.subject
We call both sides of this domes, when they are together, the celestial sphere

# data[].attributes.headline
There are North Celestial and South Celestial hemispheres

# data[].attributes.subject
There are North Celestial and South Celestial hemispheres

# data[].attributes.headline
The dome has north and south hemispheres much like earth does

# data[].attributes.subject
The dome has north and south hemispheres much like earth does

# data[].attributes.headline
We view the night-time sky as a giant dome

# data[].attributes.subject
We view the night-time sky as a giant dome