mandag 27. august 2012
tirsdag 15. desember 2009
Night Sky Obsrvation 9 and 10
This is my 9th and my final night sky observation. Because it was snowing, I couldn't observe the stars or anything, so again I'm going to write about something else: for the 9th observation I'll write about the constellations' history , and for the 10th observation I'll write about how the constellations "move" (it's actually the Earth moving).
Constellations' History (Western Constellations) : Constellations in the western world was first described and made by the Greeks (they might not be the exact first ones in Europe to think up constellations, but the oldest evidence of constellations exisiting comes from Greece). They made up the constellations based on the stories of their gods and goddesses and wrote them in books. These constellations were passed on to the Romans, and the books also survived over time so that people later discovered it (if they haven't already learnt about it from the Romans), and used these constellations themselves. Most of the familiar constellations, such as the constellations of the zodiac, Cassiopeia, Orion, Big Dipper, Ursa major etc. are greek. There are also 2 other major types of constellations, the Indian and the Chinese.
Moving Constellations: If you observe a constellation, say, Orion for a whole night, you'll notice that it doesn't stay at the same place all the time. It goes from the east side of the sky to the west side, when it dissapears (because it is now dawn, too light to see them). This is because the Earth rotates- not because the stars themselves move, that's just an illusion. It is also an illusion that those stars we see as a constellation in the sky are actually close to each other: most of the time, they are many many light years apart from each other- it just looks close from Earth. However, the Big Dipper is a constellation in which its stars really are close together. Also, the types of constellations you can see depends on the season too, as the Earth orbits around the sun and thus the "scenery changes".
Well, this is the end to my Night Sky observation diary. I am dissapointed that there has been so many days with bad weather, because I couldn't observe then. I learned a lot about constellations and how to spot them, though, and now can easily find the Big Dipper and the North Star aka. Polaris (very handy when I get lost!). I wasn't that intrested in constellations so much, but I think this changed my attitude. Watching stars can be fun!
Marie
Constellations' History (Western Constellations) : Constellations in the western world was first described and made by the Greeks (they might not be the exact first ones in Europe to think up constellations, but the oldest evidence of constellations exisiting comes from Greece). They made up the constellations based on the stories of their gods and goddesses and wrote them in books. These constellations were passed on to the Romans, and the books also survived over time so that people later discovered it (if they haven't already learnt about it from the Romans), and used these constellations themselves. Most of the familiar constellations, such as the constellations of the zodiac, Cassiopeia, Orion, Big Dipper, Ursa major etc. are greek. There are also 2 other major types of constellations, the Indian and the Chinese.
Moving Constellations: If you observe a constellation, say, Orion for a whole night, you'll notice that it doesn't stay at the same place all the time. It goes from the east side of the sky to the west side, when it dissapears (because it is now dawn, too light to see them). This is because the Earth rotates- not because the stars themselves move, that's just an illusion. It is also an illusion that those stars we see as a constellation in the sky are actually close to each other: most of the time, they are many many light years apart from each other- it just looks close from Earth. However, the Big Dipper is a constellation in which its stars really are close together. Also, the types of constellations you can see depends on the season too, as the Earth orbits around the sun and thus the "scenery changes".
Well, this is the end to my Night Sky observation diary. I am dissapointed that there has been so many days with bad weather, because I couldn't observe then. I learned a lot about constellations and how to spot them, though, and now can easily find the Big Dipper and the North Star aka. Polaris (very handy when I get lost!). I wasn't that intrested in constellations so much, but I think this changed my attitude. Watching stars can be fun!
Marie
mandag 14. desember 2009
Night Sky Observation 8- Astrological Signs
OK, so today it was snowing and there was a lot of clouds in general, so I couldn't observe any stars or the moon- well, the moon is supposed to be the new moon tomorrow, so it wouldn't have been visible anyway. Again, I don't have enough days to make up for this, so today I'm going to write about the 12 astrological signs instead.
They are the 12 segments of the Zodiac, and is supposed to influence people born under their time of rule (one month each), when they are rising at the eastern horizon of the Earth. They are associated with constellations (in western astrology), and is named after them and carry their traits. They each have a symbol, a ruling planet, a house (the characteristics of the ruling planets), and a classical element: Earth, Water, Air and Fire. Here are the 12 star signs:
Aries (The Ram)- the first star sign, from March 21- April 20th. Ruled by Mars, has the 1st house, and its element is fire. Based on the constellation Aries, and people born under Aries is supposed to be very energetic and spirited.
Taurus ( The Bull) - Based on Tausrus the constellation. The 2nd sign, with the 2nd house, ruled by Venus and has Earth as its element. From April 21st- May 20th. People who are Tauruses are known to be very stubborn.
Gemini (The Twins) - From May 21st- June 20th. Based on the constellation of the same name, who is supposed to represent the twins Castor and Pollux. It has air as its element, has the 3rd house, and is ruled by Mercury.They are imaginatice and a good talker.
Cancer (The Crab)- Its element is water, has the 4th house, and is ruled by the Moon. From June 21st- July 22nd. Based on constellation of the same name, people born under this sign are sensitive with their emotions.
Leo (The Lion)- From Leo the constellation. It has the 5th house, ruled by the Sun, and its element is Fire. From July 23rd- August 22nd. Leos are natural leaders and crave the spotlight.
Virgo (The Virgin) - From August 23rd- September 22nd. It is based on Virgo the constellation. Ruled by Mercury (although they plan to change it to one of the dwarf planets Chrion, Pallas, Vesta or Ceres), has the element Earth and the 6th house. Virgos pay attention to small details.
Libra (The Scales)- Has air was its element, is ruled by Venus and has the 7th house. From September 23rd - October 22nd. Based on the constellation of the same name, which is a scale that Virgo carries around. Libras are very cooperative and a people-pleaser.
Scorpio (The Scorpion)- Based on Scorpio, the constellation representing the scorpion that kills Orion. From October 23rd to November 21st. Has the element water, rules the 8th house, and Pluto is its ruling planet. Scorpios are often possesive and jealous.
Saggitarius (The Archer)- From November 22nd- December 21st. Has fire as its element, ruled by Jupiter , and has the 9th house. Based on the constellation of the same name. People under the influence of this sign are impulsive and loves to travel.
Capricorn (The Sea Goat)- Has earth as its element, ruled by Saturn, and has the 10th house. From December 22nd- January 19th. Based on Capricorn the constellation, about a goat who became half fish when he went into the Nile. Capricorns works well with rules and are high acheivers.
Aquarius (The Water Carrier) - From January 2oth to February 18th. Has air as its element, ruled by Saturn and Uranus, and has the 11th house. Based on the constellation of the same name, of a beautiful boy who served and cleaned after the gods. Aquarians love freedom but can also be stubborn.
Pisces (The Fish) - Has water as its element, ruled by Neptune and Jupiter, and has the final, 12th house. Based on the constellation Pisces. From February 19th to March 20th. Pisces-people are mild and introverted.
I hope you liked it, and I hope this makes up for the observation!
Marie
They are the 12 segments of the Zodiac, and is supposed to influence people born under their time of rule (one month each), when they are rising at the eastern horizon of the Earth. They are associated with constellations (in western astrology), and is named after them and carry their traits. They each have a symbol, a ruling planet, a house (the characteristics of the ruling planets), and a classical element: Earth, Water, Air and Fire. Here are the 12 star signs:
Aries (The Ram)- the first star sign, from March 21- April 20th. Ruled by Mars, has the 1st house, and its element is fire. Based on the constellation Aries, and people born under Aries is supposed to be very energetic and spirited.
Taurus ( The Bull) - Based on Tausrus the constellation. The 2nd sign, with the 2nd house, ruled by Venus and has Earth as its element. From April 21st- May 20th. People who are Tauruses are known to be very stubborn.
Gemini (The Twins) - From May 21st- June 20th. Based on the constellation of the same name, who is supposed to represent the twins Castor and Pollux. It has air as its element, has the 3rd house, and is ruled by Mercury.They are imaginatice and a good talker.
Cancer (The Crab)- Its element is water, has the 4th house, and is ruled by the Moon. From June 21st- July 22nd. Based on constellation of the same name, people born under this sign are sensitive with their emotions.
Leo (The Lion)- From Leo the constellation. It has the 5th house, ruled by the Sun, and its element is Fire. From July 23rd- August 22nd. Leos are natural leaders and crave the spotlight.
Virgo (The Virgin) - From August 23rd- September 22nd. It is based on Virgo the constellation. Ruled by Mercury (although they plan to change it to one of the dwarf planets Chrion, Pallas, Vesta or Ceres), has the element Earth and the 6th house. Virgos pay attention to small details.
Libra (The Scales)- Has air was its element, is ruled by Venus and has the 7th house. From September 23rd - October 22nd. Based on the constellation of the same name, which is a scale that Virgo carries around. Libras are very cooperative and a people-pleaser.
Scorpio (The Scorpion)- Based on Scorpio, the constellation representing the scorpion that kills Orion. From October 23rd to November 21st. Has the element water, rules the 8th house, and Pluto is its ruling planet. Scorpios are often possesive and jealous.
Saggitarius (The Archer)- From November 22nd- December 21st. Has fire as its element, ruled by Jupiter , and has the 9th house. Based on the constellation of the same name. People under the influence of this sign are impulsive and loves to travel.
Capricorn (The Sea Goat)- Has earth as its element, ruled by Saturn, and has the 10th house. From December 22nd- January 19th. Based on Capricorn the constellation, about a goat who became half fish when he went into the Nile. Capricorns works well with rules and are high acheivers.
Aquarius (The Water Carrier) - From January 2oth to February 18th. Has air as its element, ruled by Saturn and Uranus, and has the 11th house. Based on the constellation of the same name, of a beautiful boy who served and cleaned after the gods. Aquarians love freedom but can also be stubborn.
Pisces (The Fish) - Has water as its element, ruled by Neptune and Jupiter, and has the final, 12th house. Based on the constellation Pisces. From February 19th to March 20th. Pisces-people are mild and introverted.
I hope you liked it, and I hope this makes up for the observation!
Marie
søndag 13. desember 2009
Night Sky Observation Day 6 and 7
I forgot to write my night sky observation for yesterday, so I'm going to write for 2 observations.
Yesterday (12/12/09) , for observation 6, I walked up the hill near my house that leads to near Tysendammen, so that I'd get to see more stars. It's further up the direction of my backyard, so I saw the whole constellation of Pegasus, the constellation Triangulum ( a triangle), Aries (the ram) and Pisces (the fish). Aries and Pisces are astrological signs, Aries for April and Pisces for March. I also found the Big Dipper and the North Star, which is very easy for me to find now. It was a little har dot observe, becuase there were so many clouds.
The 7th observation, which was on today (13/12/09), couldn't be done because it was raining, so I couldn't see any stars. Because there isn't enough time to do 10 observations in the time left, I'll just write about some of the most famous constellations.
Ursa Major is also known as the Big Bear, and is made up of a group of stars and another constellation called the Big Dipper (also famous). There are many myths behind this constellation; one of them is that Zeus, the head of the roman gods, had an affair with a goddess named Callisto. Zeus's head wife, Hera, turned her into a bear and put her up in the night sky, and then Zeus also transformed her son into a bear (the "Ursa Minor" constellation) so that they could be together.
Orion is a hunter in greek and roman myths. He was a very good hunter but was very boastful, and in one story says that no animal could ever escape him. Hera then sent a scorpion to him and he killed it, but before he did that he got poisoned, and died. Another story of his end is that his lover, Artemis, mistakenly shot him with her arrow and killed him. Orion is very easy to find in the night sky, thanks to his belt (a chain of three stars in a line).
Cassiopeia is a constellation which has a distinct shape, like an M or a W. She was the very beautiful wife of Cepheus, a king, and often bragged about her and her daughter's beauty. This upset some se nymphs, and they complained to the Sea god Poseidon who sent a monster to her country. To get rid of it, she and the king had to sacrifice their daughter Andromeda, but she is saved before that's done. Poseidon punishes Cassiopeia for her rude behavior by putting her up in the sky so that she's be upside down half the time (the constellation is W for half a year and then M the rest, to make it simple).
I hope this made up for the observation!
Marie
Yesterday (12/12/09) , for observation 6, I walked up the hill near my house that leads to near Tysendammen, so that I'd get to see more stars. It's further up the direction of my backyard, so I saw the whole constellation of Pegasus, the constellation Triangulum ( a triangle), Aries (the ram) and Pisces (the fish). Aries and Pisces are astrological signs, Aries for April and Pisces for March. I also found the Big Dipper and the North Star, which is very easy for me to find now. It was a little har dot observe, becuase there were so many clouds.
The 7th observation, which was on today (13/12/09), couldn't be done because it was raining, so I couldn't see any stars. Because there isn't enough time to do 10 observations in the time left, I'll just write about some of the most famous constellations.
Ursa Major is also known as the Big Bear, and is made up of a group of stars and another constellation called the Big Dipper (also famous). There are many myths behind this constellation; one of them is that Zeus, the head of the roman gods, had an affair with a goddess named Callisto. Zeus's head wife, Hera, turned her into a bear and put her up in the night sky, and then Zeus also transformed her son into a bear (the "Ursa Minor" constellation) so that they could be together.
Orion is a hunter in greek and roman myths. He was a very good hunter but was very boastful, and in one story says that no animal could ever escape him. Hera then sent a scorpion to him and he killed it, but before he did that he got poisoned, and died. Another story of his end is that his lover, Artemis, mistakenly shot him with her arrow and killed him. Orion is very easy to find in the night sky, thanks to his belt (a chain of three stars in a line).
Cassiopeia is a constellation which has a distinct shape, like an M or a W. She was the very beautiful wife of Cepheus, a king, and often bragged about her and her daughter's beauty. This upset some se nymphs, and they complained to the Sea god Poseidon who sent a monster to her country. To get rid of it, she and the king had to sacrifice their daughter Andromeda, but she is saved before that's done. Poseidon punishes Cassiopeia for her rude behavior by putting her up in the sky so that she's be upside down half the time (the constellation is W for half a year and then M the rest, to make it simple).
I hope this made up for the observation!
Marie
fredag 11. desember 2009
Night Sky Observation 5
This is my 5th night ksy obervation, at around 10 at night on 11/12/09.
I've always been looking at the stars from just my balcony, but today I decided to look from the backyard as well. It was much darker there with so many more stars, I should've done that earlier!
From the balcony, I saw Mars, the Big Dipper, and the North Star.
From the backyard, I saw Cassiopea, and used that to find Cepheus and the legs of Pegasus ( trees were blocking the view so I couldn't see the rest). Cepheus is a constellation named Cepheus, the king of Aethiopia in greek mythology. Pegasus is a unicorn-like horse, except that it has wings and can fly instead of having a horn.
From today, I'm going to observe from my backyard too.
Marie
I've always been looking at the stars from just my balcony, but today I decided to look from the backyard as well. It was much darker there with so many more stars, I should've done that earlier!
From the balcony, I saw Mars, the Big Dipper, and the North Star.
From the backyard, I saw Cassiopea, and used that to find Cepheus and the legs of Pegasus ( trees were blocking the view so I couldn't see the rest). Cepheus is a constellation named Cepheus, the king of Aethiopia in greek mythology. Pegasus is a unicorn-like horse, except that it has wings and can fly instead of having a horn.
From today, I'm going to observe from my backyard too.
Marie
torsdag 10. desember 2009
Night Sky Observation Day 4... sort of.
I tried to watch the night sky today, but the clouds were blocking the stars (it was raining at the time) so I couldn't watch it. This also happened yesterday, and I can't really do much about this.
I know this doesn't really count as an observation ( I watched the clouds, though...) and I hope the weather recovers soon.
Marie
I know this doesn't really count as an observation ( I watched the clouds, though...) and I hope the weather recovers soon.
Marie
tirsdag 8. desember 2009
NIght Sky Observations Day 3!
This is my third night sky observation, for 8/12/09, at around 10 pm.
There was no moon again tonight, but Mars was out, spotted by my brother. There were a lot fo stars out tonight, perhaps even more than yesterday. I found Sirius, and I also found Orion and Perseus, which was near Auriga. I found the big dipper with easy, without the telescope, and found the North Star. It is actually quite a dim star, hard to see sometimes. Hard to believe that people used this star to navigate themselves! Because I'm observing the night sky alot, it is getting very easy for me to distinguish and find the constellations.
I hope the moon will be out tomorrow, and I plan to observe Venus.
Marie
There was no moon again tonight, but Mars was out, spotted by my brother. There were a lot fo stars out tonight, perhaps even more than yesterday. I found Sirius, and I also found Orion and Perseus, which was near Auriga. I found the big dipper with easy, without the telescope, and found the North Star. It is actually quite a dim star, hard to see sometimes. Hard to believe that people used this star to navigate themselves! Because I'm observing the night sky alot, it is getting very easy for me to distinguish and find the constellations.
I hope the moon will be out tomorrow, and I plan to observe Venus.
Marie
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