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Constelations Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the largest constellation by area?

A

Hydra (The Sea Serpent)

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2
Q

How much (%) of the sky does Hydra cover?

A

3.16%

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3
Q

What is the smallest constellation by area?

A

Crux (The Cross/Southern Cross)

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4
Q

How much (%) of the sky does Crux cover?

A

0.17%

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5
Q

Small patterns of stars within a constellation are called?

A

Asterisms
(This is what the Big and Little Dipper are + The False Cross and Pleiades)

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6
Q

How many constellations start with the letter “C”?

A

22

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7
Q

Constellation comes from the Latin term which means?

A

Set with Stars

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8
Q

How many constellations are there?

A

88

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9
Q

How many constellations were listed by Ptolemy?

A

48

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10
Q

What is the most visible constellation?

A

Orion (The Hunter)

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11
Q

Zodiac constellations are located?

A

With a band 20 degrees wide in the sky known as the ecliptic (where the Sun, the Moon and Planet all move)

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12
Q

What is the name of the zodiac constellation that is not on a zodiac calendar?

A

Ophiuchus (Serpent-Bearer)

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13
Q

What are the 3 groups (and the number of constellations in them) for ancient constellations? (The first 48)

A

Northern Constellations (21)
Southern Constellations (15)
Zodiacal Constellations (12)

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14
Q

The False Cross (an asterism) is composed of the brightest stars for which constellations?

A

Vela and Carina

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15
Q

What was the name of the book Ptolemy listed the first 48 constellations?

A

Almagest

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16
Q

What are circumpolar constellations?

A

Constellations viewable year round because they are located near Earths poles (and don’t dip near the horizon).

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17
Q

How many constellations depict Animals?

A

42

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18
Q

How many constellations depict Inanimate Objects?

A

29

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19
Q

How many constellations depict Humans or Mythos Characters?

A

17

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20
Q

What is the story of the Lyre constellation?

A

It was the Lyre made by Hermes and gifted to Orpheus by Apollo. When Orpheus died after his love Eurydice, Zeus placed his Lyre in the stars.

21
Q

What is the only Zodiac sign that is not a living creature?

A

Libra (The Scales)

22
Q

What is the story of the Sagitta constellation?

A

It was the arrow shot by Hercules at the eagle of Jove, Aquila, who had been gnawing of the liver of Prometheus.

23
Q

What is the story of the Capricorn?

A

Represents Pan who jumped into a lake away from Typhon, and changed into animal form with one half becoming goat and the other fish

24
Q

What is the story of the Aquarius?

A

Represents a man pouring a stream of water out of a jug due to the rising of Aquarius coinciding with a period of floods and rain in the Middle East

25
Q

What is the story of the Pisces?

A

Aphrodite and Eros escape into a river, away from Typhon, where they turn into fish or are carried away by two fish

26
Q

What is the story of the Aries?

A

The ram with the golden fleece that had been sacrificed by Phrixus, son of King Athamas, to Zeus and later recovered by Jason, leader of the Argonauts

27
Q

What is the story of the Taurus?

A

Represents the bull form Zeus assumed to abduct Europa

28
Q

What is the story of the Gemini?

A

Consider to be Castor and Pollux with two stars in the constellation being named as such

29
Q

What is the story of the Cancer?

A

Considered to be the crab that pinched Heracles while he fought the Lernaean Hydra from “The 12 Labors” and was rewarded with a spot in the heavens by Hera

30
Q

What is the story of the Leo?

A

Considered to be the Nemean Lion from “The 12 Labors of Heracles”

31
Q

What is the story of the Scorpio?

A

It is the representation of the Scorpion that stung Orion to death which is said to be why Orion sets when Scorpius rises and relates to the scorpion that caused the horses of the Sun to bolt when being driven by Phaeton

32
Q

In which constellation does the “Beehive Cluster” reside?

A

Cancer (The Crab)

33
Q

What is the largest of the Zodiac constellations? (And the second largest amongst all the constellations)

A

Virgo (The Virgin)

34
Q

What is the Northern counterpart of the constellation Corona Australis?

A

Corona Borealis (Northern Crown)

35
Q

What is the Southern counterpart of the constellation Corona Borealis?

A

Corona Australis (Southern Crown)

36
Q

Which constellation contains the brightest star in the night sky?

A

Canis Major (The Dog)

37
Q

What is the brightest star in the night sky?

A

Sirius

38
Q

What is the story of the Draco constellation?

A

The dragon Ladon slayed by Hercules

39
Q

Which constellations form the “Southern Birds”?

A

Pavo (Peacock). Grus (Crane), Phoenix and Tucana (Toucan)

40
Q

Which constellation is it said Canis Major and Minor follow as faithful pets?

A

Orion (The Hunter)

41
Q

Which constellation contains the closest galaxy to the Milky Way? (And what’s the galaxy’s name?)

A

Andromeda (The Andromeda Galaxy)

42
Q

What is the name of the “Dog Star”?

A

Sirius

43
Q

Which constellation contains the asterism named “The Sickle”?

A

Leo (The Lion)

44
Q

What is the smallest Zodiac constellation?

A

Capricorn (The Goat)

45
Q

Carina, Puppis and Vela represent the keel, the (poop)deck and the sails of what mythical ship?

A

Argo Navis

46
Q

What is the unique feature of the constellation Serpens?

A

Non-Contiguous

47
Q

What is the constellation from Ptolemy’s original list is no longer recognized?

A

Argo Navis (It was split into Carina, Puppis and Vella)

48
Q

What is the name of the “Seven Sisters” asterism?

A

The Pleiades

49
Q

What is Monoceros?

A

Unicorn

Trivia (2 decks)

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