|
|
Spring Constellations |
| Bootes |
| Bootes is known as the protector of the Bear (Ursa Major) because of being on the tracks of the Great Bear, accompanied by two dogs (the Canes Venatici).
The constellation includes a major star of Arcturus, alpha Bootis. The star is easily found out by following the sweep of the Big Dipper's handle, and the curve takes you to an another bright star of Spica in south sky, alpha Virginis. The curve across the night sky in spring from the Big Dipper to Spica called "The Spring's Great Curve".
Arcturus is the brightest star in the Northern Hemisphere and the third brightest in all of the heavens with a magnitude of -0.1 and a color of orange. Arcturus means "Guardian of the Bear", and has a name of the wheat star in Japan because the star is seen at zenith when the wheat is harvested in late spring. |
| |
|
| Cancer (the crab) |
The Cancer is a compact constellation squeezed between Leo and Gemini, members of zodiac. The constellation is in the shape of a monster of crab crushed by Hercules.
The constellation of Cancer has a famous and splendid open cluster of Praesepe (M44) at the shell of the crab.
|
| |
|
| Hydra |
The Hydra is the largest constellation in the heavens. It occupies the southern sky in spring bordering Cancer, to as far as Libra and Centaurus, stretching out to around one hundred degrees in the process.
This hydra marks a gigantic beast with many heads. And Heracles killed the hydra by cutting off the all of head.
Alpha Hydrae, Alphard is very noticeable at the heart of hydra. The star is a bright red-giant, meaning of "Solitary". It came that there are no bright stars around Alphard. Besides, The star has an another name of "Col Hydrae" (The Hydra's Heart), a fitting name. |
| |
|
| Hercules |
The Hercules is a fairly large constellation in summer, but isn't very obvious. "Hercules" is a name of Greek hero, and the constellation is represented as a kneeling man with his head turning south.
Though the constellation is faint, a fairly strained shape of "H" that forms Hercules' body is a good mark to find that.
Alpha Herculis, Ras Algethi, is positioned at the kneeler's head has a magnitude of 3, ancient Chinese had regarded the star as the Emperor's seat, and they had observed this field very carefully whether there was any novae or comets. |
| |
|
| Leo |
 |
The Leo is one of the most recognizable constellations in spring skies, although almost all of them are formed out of faint stars and have complicated shapes. A curve of stars arranged like a mark of "?" being turned over, "The Lion's sickle" that represents Leo's head. One of famous meteor streams, Gamma Leonids, has a radiant point in the sickle, and it's expected that the meteor shower will be observed in November 1999.
Alpha Leonis is named "Regulus" meaning of the little king, the star was well known in antiquity as Cor Leonis, the Lion's Heart. |
| |
|
| Ursa Major |
| The Big Bear, Ursa Major, is the third largest constellation in the skies, seen at northern sky in evening of spring. The constellation has no first magnitude stars, but the Big Dipper that forms the bear's tail is a rough guide on the clarity of the evening's sky.
Though Ursa Major contains no bright celestial objects, it has plenty of galaxies in outer space. |
| |
|
|