Sky and telescope vs astronomy12/10/2023 ![]() Are the stars in a constellation the same distance from us? Learn the constellations in your sky with our Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere star wheels. For example, the three points of the Summer Triangle asterism are Deneb, Altair, and Vega, which are the brightest stars in the constellations Cygnus, Aquila, and Lyra, respectively. Or the constellation might be made up of stars from different constellations. An asterism might form part of an official constellation, like the Big Dipper, which is composed of the seven brightest stars in the constellation Ursa Major. Starry Night Software / A.FazekasĪsterisms are recognizable patterns of stars that are not officially designated constellations. ![]() The Big Dipper asterism in the constellation Ursa Major. So when we say a star is “in” a particular constellation, we don’t mean it’s necessarily part of the recognizable pattern of stars rather, it simply lies within the IAU-defined boundaries of that constellation. Each constellation is defined by an imaginary boundary on the sky and named after a classical star pattern within those boundaries. In 1930, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) divided the sky into 88 constellations. But as the modern field of astronomy developed, discrepancies between different culturally nominated constellations made communication imprecise. ![]() These patterns were useful for astrological predictions, navigation, as well as for communication among astronomers. Since ancient times, civilizations have assigned constellations based on conspicuous patterns of stars in the night sky.
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