AST 301 - Navigation & Constellations

Arcminute

60 per degree (abbreviated by ‘)

Arcsecond

60 per arcminute (abbreviated by “)

Constellation

A recognized group of stars typically named after mythological figures, people, or animals i.e. Ursa Major

Asterism

A recognizable star pattern within or across constellations i.e. Big Dipper

Sidereal Astrology

Based on the position of the stars as they appear in the night sky

Tropical/Seasonal Astrology

Based on the seasons of the Northern Hemisphere

Zodiac

A belt in the sky within about 8 degrees either side of the ecliptic and includes the apparent path of the Sun, Moon, stars, and many planets

Latitude

Our North-South position from the equator

Longitude

Our East-West position relative to Greenwich, England

What is the latitude of a star called?

Declination

What is the longitude of a star called?

Right Ascension

Ecliptic

The Sun’s apparent path through the atmosphere

Circumpolar Stars

Stars that never dip below the horizon from a specific location on Earth, instead appearing to circle around a celestial pole

Zenith

The point in the sky directly above the observer