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Constellations & Why They Still Matter
- Joy Marcotte
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
Our night sky is filled with stars, planets, and other space phenomena, and they have been there since the beginning of time. These stars often align to form recognizable shapes, also known as constellations. Constellations are fun to learn about, and they carry great historical significance. But with significant advancements in space science and technology, why do we still care about constellations?
Origin of Constellations
The earliest record of constellations was the Phainomena of Eudoxus of Cnidus (c. 395–337 BCE), an astronomer and mathematician of ancient Greece. Later on, similar star mappings were found in Alexandrian Astronomer Ptolemy’s Uranometria. This version was labelled the “accepted” version, and most constellations are still identical in pattern and name today (Britannica, 2018).
Significant Constellations
Most have heard of the iconic “Big Dipper”, an asterism (or part) of Ursa Major, and “Little Dipper”, also known as Ursa Minor. These titles come from the constellations’ ladle-like shapes.
(Sea and Sky, n.d.)
The twelve zodiacs used in astrology are also constellations. In fact, astrology is heavily related to these constellations in relation to the planets.
(Star Name Registry, n.d.)
Why Constellations Still Matter
In pre-scientific eras, people relied on the sky for many things, from fortune telling to navigation. However, with major technological advancements today, these purposes no longer seem relevant.
There is indeed no significant scientific purpose of constellations. Despite this, constellations still hold significant historical and cultural value. In many agricultural cultures, farmers still use the positions of the stars to determine the optimal timings for planting and harvest (Royal Museums Greenwich, n.d.). Many polynesian cultures also preserve their art of navigating using the stars while sailing.
Apart from cultural uses, constellations can simply be an easier way to refer to stars in conversation, as they are good visual reference points in the sky. Instead of having to give geometrical coordinates of a star, one can simply state the constellation it is part of (Royal Museums Greenwich, n.d.).
Reference List
Royal Museums Greenwich (n.d.). Constellations. [online] www.rmg.co.uk. Available at: https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/constellations [Accessed 31 Mar. 2025].
star-name-registry.com. (n.d.). Star Name Registry. [online] Available at: https://star-name-registry.com/constellations/gemini# [Accessed 31 Mar. 2025].
The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica (2018). Constellation | astronomy. In: Encyclopædia Britannica. [online] Available at: https://www.britannica.com/science/constellation [Accessed 31 Mar. 2025].
www.seasky.org. (n.d.). Constellation Ursa Major - The Constellations on Sea and Sky. [online] Available at: http://www.seasky.org/constellations/constellation-ursa-major.html [Accessed 31 Mar. 2025].