24 Interesting Facts about Constellations

The word “constellation” often brings to mind the Big and Little Dippers for many people. However, there are many other constellations in the night sky, some of which will be discussed below.

Interesting Facts about Constellations

1. As of today, 88 constellations are known, some of which can be seen from either the Northern or Southern Hemisphere.
2. The star atlas by Ptolemy, written over 2,000 years ago, describes 48 of the 88 constellations.
3. Constellations named in modern times are often named after various inventions, such as Microscope, Sextant, and so on.
4. Certain constellations, including the Big Dipper, appear in the works of Homer, written in the 8th century BC.
5. Did you know that constellations are mentioned multiple times in the Bible?
6. The Incas were particularly interested in constellations located in the dark patches of the Milky Way.
7. Since both stars and galaxies are in constant motion, constellations can also change shape over time.
8. Different constellations can be observed at different times of the year because our planet moves around the Sun (see interesting facts about the Sun).
9. The constellation Orion appears frequently in various cultures around the world.
10. Interestingly, in the Ukrainian language, the Little Dipper is called “Maly Voz,” the Eagle is “Divchina z vedrami,” and the Dolphin is “Krynytsia,” among other names.
11. In one day, constellations in the night sky shift by approximately 1 degree.
12. Many constellations are part of larger groups. For example, Hercules contains 19 constellations, and the Big Dipper includes 10.
13. In 1922, the International Astronomical Union officially approved the list of 88 constellations that the night sky was divided into in Italy, and six years later, precise boundaries between these constellations were established.
14. The largest constellation is Hydra, occupying about 3% of the visible sky.
15. The star Regulus in the constellation Leo is 160 times brighter than the Sun.
16. The point of the autumnal equinox is located in the constellation Virgo.
17. The center of our galaxy is located in the constellation Sagittarius.
18. In ancient Greece (see interesting facts about Greece), the constellation Capricorn was known as the “Goat-Fish.”
19. The constellation Aquarius contains a massive star cluster, with about 150,000 stars!
20. The star Mesarthim in the constellation Aries was one of the first double stars discovered using a telescope.
21. The coldest star discovered by astronomers, with a temperature of 2700 degrees Celsius, is in the constellation Aquarius.
22. Did you know that thanks to the stars in the constellation Gemini, the scientist Herschel was able to discover Uranus? This happened in the 18th century.
23. Initially, the stars of the constellation Libra were part of Scorpio.
24. The Sun passes through the constellation Scorpio faster than any other constellation, taking only seven days.

Additionally, constellations have played a significant role in human history and culture. They have been used for navigation, helping sailors find their way across the oceans by identifying specific star patterns.

Many ancient civilizations, including the Egyptians, Greeks, and Chinese, created myths and legends based on the constellations, embedding these star patterns deeply into their cultural and religious practices. The stories associated with constellations have been passed down through generations, providing a rich tapestry of mythology and history that connects us to our ancestors’ understanding of the night sky.