MT astronomy

Polaris

The North Star which indicates true north in the northern hemisphere.

Celestial North Pole

An imaginary point directly above Earth’s geometric north pole around which stars appear to rotate.

Circumpolar Constellations

Constellations that are visible all year round, clustered near the poles.

Light Pollution

Excess artificial light which makes it hard to observe stars at night.

Big Dipper

A grouping of stars in the constellation Ursa Major that helps locate Polaris.

Regulus

The brightest star in the constellation Leo.

Latitude

The angle between Polaris and the horizon indicates a person's latitude.

Mythology in Constellations

Cultural stories tied to groups of stars to explain aspects of the world.

Star Charts

Tools used to identify constellations in the night sky, calibrated for time and location.

48.5 degrees N

Approximate latitude of Snoqualmie where Polaris is located 47.5 degrees above the horizon.

Compasses and Navigation

Innocuous devices used to determine direction based on constellations.

Ecliptic

The apparent path of the Sun across the sky which constellations align with.

Southern Cross

A prominent constellation used to find the southern direction.

Aldebaran

The brightest star in Taurus, also known as Alpha Tauri.

Pleiades

A star cluster also known as the Seven Sisters, visually prominent in the sky.

Summer Triangle

A prominent asterism formed by three bright stars in different constellations.

Winter Hexagon

An asterism connecting the brightest stars in six different winter constellations.

Constellation

A group of stars forming a recognizable pattern traditionally named after its apparent form.

Observation Conditions

The required conditions, like minimal light pollution, to effectively view celestial bodies.

Stars Rotation

The apparent movement of stars in the night sky caused by Earth's rotation.

Cultural Imagery in Stars

The practice of associating stars and constellations with figures from mythology or daily life.

Brightness of Stars

A star's visibility influenced by its distance from Earth and light pollution.

Geographic North Pole

The northernmost point on Earth where the axis of rotation meets the surface.

Tool for Navigating Stars

A device or method used to determine directions based on constellations.

Identifying Stars

The act of recognizing stars and their patterns within their respective constellations.

Myths related to Constellations

Stories that explain why certain star patterns exist in various cultures.

Arcturus

A bright star in the constellation Boötes, located using the handle of the Big Dipper.

Finding Polaris

Locating Polaris by using the two pointer stars at the end of the Big Dipper.

Star Orientation Change

The alteration in visibility and positioning of constellations throughout the year.

Constellations in Winter

Refers to constellations that are particularly visible during the winter months.

Constellations' Seasonal Visibility

Constellations that can only be seen at specific times of the year.

88 Official Constellations

There are officially recognized constellations that can be viewed from Earth.

Cultural Differences in Constellations

Various civilizations have their own unique interpretations of the stars.”},{