Answers to Readers' Questions on Constellations - Astronomy. Also refer to physical science, Big Dipper, North Star, Orion, Southern Cross, space, stars, planets, moon, telescopes, universe, Ron Kurtus, School for Champions. Copyright © Restrictions
Answers to Readers' Questions on Constellations
The following 20 questions have been answered. They are listed according to date.
List of next 10 items
- kk
- Can you see the southern cross in the north?
- Is the Big Dipper/Little Dipper part of Orion
- You can see both the Dipper and Southern Cross
- If Souithern Cross closer at times?
- Has the Big Dipper moved?
- Can you see the Dipper from Australia?
- Anything interesting about the North Star?
- Constellation pictures
- Info on Southern Cross
kk
Question
November 23, 2004
Hello
I've had a query for a long time regarding Constellation unanswered by all its definitions as group of STARS formining recognisable patterns, etc.
My question is : Are all stars in a given contellation within our galaxy and do not include distant galaxies that may appear as stars to the bare eye?
This question has never been answered in any definition unless I should understand the term Star as a true STAR therefore it has to be in the Milky Way.
thanks
George
George - UK
5138
Answer
Sorry for not answering your letter. We get overwhelmed.
Most stars in constellations are in our galaxy. A few are actually other galaxies. I updated the page to make that distinction.
Thanks for the feedback.
Can you see the southern cross in the north?
Question
July 12, 2004
Is the big dipper seen only in the northern hemisphere and the southern cross seen only in the southern hemisphere? I live in northern California and I swear I've seen the southern cross but friends told me that the southern cross is only visible in the southern hemisphere? I've even seen it in the Philippines which is north of the equator. I thought you can see most of the constellations at various times of the year but not necessarily at the same time in different parts of the year.
Leon - USA
3729
Answer
Yes, you can see the Southern Cross from the northern hemisphere and the Dipper from the southern. The reason is that they are both about 30 degrees from the poles.
Is the Big Dipper/Little Dipper part of Orion
Question
July 1, 2004
Is the Big Dipper/Little Dipper part of Orion in any way?Are alot of the constellations intertwined with each other or not?
Heather - USA
3670
Answer
Constellations are groups of stars that when viewed from Earth take on certain figures. The Big Dipper, Little Dipper and Orion are all separate configurations.
You can see both the Dipper and Southern Cross
Question
October 20, 2002
I disagree when you say you can't see both the Big Dipper and the Southern Cross at the same time. Actually, since the Big Dipper and the southern cross are both about 30 degrees from the poles, they can be seen from the southern and northern hemispheres respectively.
If you were on the equator, both the big dipper and the southern cross would be 30 degrees above the horizon! (in opposite directions, of course!) Therefor, if you were 10 degrees north of the equator, you would see the southern cross about 20 degrees from the horizon. Etc.
I work in a planetarium- I tried it!
Carrie -
1688
Answer
Thanks for the information.
If Souithern Cross closer at times?
Question
October 2, 2002
I would like to know if the Southern Cross is closer to Earth at certain times of the year. What are these times or months and why?
Jennie - Australia
1687
Answer
The stars in the Southern Cross are in a line approximately above the South Pole. Since the Earth is tilted as it goes around the Sun and the axis of rotation around the Sun is also tilted, the Earth is slightly closer to the Southern Cross in the winter months in Australia. The distance closer is reliable compared to the distance of the stars from Earth.
The stars in the Southern Cross are very far apart. They only look close together because the way they line up from our view.
Has the Big Dipper moved?
Question
March 15, 2002
Is the big dipper moving away from the North Star? I have been watching this for 50 years. When I was young, the North Star was about double the thickness of dipper distance from the top of the dipper.
Now today the North Star looks like it is 4, 5, even 6 times the distance from the Big Dipper. Is that true?
Chicago farmer - USA
1685
Answer
It depends if you were looking at it from the same area as 50 years ago. Further north or south would change the relative position.
I've never heard of it shifting, but it is possible. I also noticed it seemed different than years before--but then again, everything does. 50 years is not much time when talking about changes in position of the stars, so it probably is not any different.
Can you see the Dipper from Australia?
Question
March 12, 2002
Is it possible to see the "big dipper" and "small dipper" from Australia and if so where do I look to find them? Thank you.
Ken - Australia
1684
Answer
They are not easy to see, since they would be close to the horizon, when viewed from northern Australia
Anything interesting about the North Star?
Question
May 16, 2002
I was wondering if you knew anything interesting about the north star and if their was anything peculiar had been seen thru telescopes. Do we have any idea of planets in the solar system of the north star? I have an interesting theory from the bible.
Steve -
1683
Answer
The North Star is to far away for present-day telescopes to tell anything about its solar system or if it even has planets revolving around it. The star just happens to be one visible star that is approximately above the North Pole. They probably are other similar stars that are too dim or far away to see. There is a constellation of stars called the Southern Cross that are below the South Pole.
Constellation pictures
Question
May 15, 2002
Do you have any pictures of the constellations Taurus, Signus, Bootes, or Virgo?
Stacy -
1682
Answer
Try the Constellation pictures site at:
http://www.fcps.k12.va.us/DIS/OHSICS/planet/constell/constell.htm
Info on Southern Cross
Question
May 10, 2002
The Southern cross is not at the south celestial pole - but it can be used to get the SCP by two methods approx - 3.5 lengths of the long axis in the direction of the long axis, or at the intersection of the long axis and the bisection of the two pointers.
Graham - New Zealand
1681
Answer
Thanks for the information.
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Answers to Readers' Questions on Constellations