Refers to the stars in the sky. In the three-dimensional universe, these stars are not actually related to each other, but their positions on the celestial sphere are similar. Since ancient times, people have been interested in the arrangement and shape of stars, and naturally linked some stars with similar positions to form constellations.
Constellations play an important role in astronomy; Astrology also uses images of the zodiac 12, but astronomers regard astrology as pseudoscience without using real scientific methods.
Basically, dividing stars into constellations is a random process. Different civilizations have different constellations made up of different stars-although some constellations made up of more conspicuous stars are roughly the same in different civilizations, such as Orion and Scorpio.
The International Astronomical Union divides the sky into 88 official constellations with precise boundaries, so that every star in the sky belongs to a specific constellation. Most of these official constellations are based on the ancient Greek traditional constellations handed down from the Middle Ages.
In order to identify the stars easily, people divided several regions according to their natural distribution in the sky. Different sizes. Each region is called a constellation. Connect the bright stars in the same constellation with lines to form various figures. According to their shapes, they are named after similar animals, vessels or mythical figures, such as Cygnus and Andromeda. The stars in each constellation are arranged in lowercase Greek letters according to brightness, such as Ursa Major α and Ursa Major β.
Constellation is the sum of celestial spaces in an area projected on the celestial sphere. So such a constellation is not accurate inside/outside the Milky Way.
[Edit this paragraph] The origin of the constellation
Constellation originated in Babylon, one of the four ancient civilizations. The Babylonians divided the sky into many regions and called them "constellations", but at that time constellations were of little use and were rarely found and named. The constellation 12 on the ecliptic was originally used to measure time, not to express people's character as it is now. Around 1000 BC, 30 constellations have been proposed. The Tigris River and the Euphrates River flow from northwest to southeast and flow into the Persian Gulf, so they are also called "two river basins".
After the culture of the two river basins spread to ancient Greece, it promoted the cultural development of ancient Greece. Ancient Greek astronomers supplemented and developed the Babylonian constellation and compiled the ancient Greek constellation table. In the 2nd century A.D., Ptolemy, an ancient Greek astronomer, synthesized the astronomical achievements at that time and sorted out 48 constellations. Connect the main bright stars in the constellation with imaginary lines, imagine them as images of animals or characters, and give them appropriate names in combination with fairy tales. This is the origin of the constellation name. Most of the 48 constellations in Greek mythology live in the northern sky and north and south of the equator.
After the Middle Ages, European capitalism rose and needed to expand outward, and the navigation industry was greatly developed. Ships sailing at sea need navigation at any time, and stars are the best street lamps. Among the stars, this constellation has a special shape and is the easiest to observe. Therefore, constellations have aroused widespread concern. When Magellan sailed around the world in the16th century, he not only used constellations to navigate and orient, but also studied constellations.
1922, the General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union decided to divide the sky into 88 constellations, and their names basically followed the historical names. 1928, the international astronomical union officially announced the names of 88 constellations. These 88 constellations are divided into three celestial regions, 29 in the northern hemisphere, 47 in the southern hemisphere, and near the equator and ecliptic 12.
There are nearly 6,000 stars visible to the naked eye, each of which can be classified as a unique constellation. Each constellation can be identified by the shape of the bright star inside.
In order to facilitate research, people divide the starry sky into several regions, which are called constellations. China has long divided the sky into three walls and twenty-eight nights. Historical records and official records are quite detailed. Sanyuan is the three areas around the north celestial pole, namely Ziweiyuan, Taiweiyuan and Tianshiyuan. Twenty-eight lodges are distributed in 28 areas near the ecliptic and the white road, that is, seven lodges in the east: corner, health, ground, room, heart, tail and dustpan; China's achievements in stargazing are earlier than those in the west. People in China say that there are 28 places on the three walls, and the constellations in the sky are divided into three 28 categories, not just the western 12 constellation. One of the most important is Ziwei Garden. China's astrology, now collectively referred to as the purple constellation, is different from the twelve constellations in the west. China's * * * constellation has 14 main stars, namely China, Secret, Sun, Tiantong, Tianfu, Taiyin, Wolverine, Giant Gate, Fairyland, Seven Killings and. According to the Book of Changes, it can be divided into yin and yang, and the corresponding personality can be divided into four categories: pioneering, leading, supporting and cooperative.