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Science project idea on recognizing constellations around the north pole.
Recognizing Constellations Around the North Pole Science Project Idea
The thousands of stars which we see in the heavens are light-giving bodies, and correspond to our sun. Many or all of them may be the centers of solar systems. These stars have a fixed position with reference to one another and are accordingly called fixed stars. From the earliest times the stars have been grouped and named according to objects to which they seemed to bear a fanciful resemblance. The ability to recognize a few of the more easily located groups or "constellations" adds much to our enjoyment of a starry night How to recognize the constellations around the north pole. The easiest way to begin the study of the constellations is to locate the Great Dipper, which is known by almost everyone. While the Great Dipper is always in the  northern part of the sky, it does not appear at all times in the same position, as the stars seem to revolve around a fixed point in the sky. The bright star located at this point is called the Pole or North Star. Explain why these terms are appropriate. The Pole Star can be located by looking along a line which is a continuation of the line connecting the two stars forming the front of the bowl of the Great Dipper. These stars are called the Pointers. The Pole Star is along the line a distance of about five times the distance between the Pointers, or about twenty-five degrees, since the distance between the pointers is approximately five degrees. It will be well to keep these figures in mind, as they will serve as standards for measuring distances between stars.
The Pole Star is part of a constellation called the Little Dipper. It also has seven stars, the number that you have seen in the Great Dipper. The outline of the Little Dipper, however, is not so distinct as that of its big namesake. The Pole Star is at the end of the handle of the Little Dipper. The bowl is composed of a cluster of four stars, the two of the outer rim being the brightest, located about fifteen degrees from the Pole Star and facing the open bowl of the Great Dipper. If you have found the stars of the bowl, the other two stars of the handle may be easily  located between the bowl and the Pole Star. It will be noticed that the end of the handle of the Little Dipper is bent in a different direction from that of . The handle of the Great Dipper. The ancients imagined the stars of the Great Dipper to represent the form of a great bear, and this constellation was accordingly called Ursa Major or the Great Bear. Likewise the Little Dipper was called Ursa Minor or the Little Bear. The ability to see a small star in the handle of the Great Dipper is frequently used as a test for good sight. Look at the second star counting from the end of the handle. This is called Mizar. Directly above it at a distance of about one degree is the faint star Alcor. The Arabs call these two stars "the horse and the rider." The constellation Cassiopeia's Chan is located about the same distance from the Pole Star as the Great Dipper, but on the opposite side. It is very easily recognized because its five bright stars form a W-shaped figure.
 Auriga, or the Charioteer, contains one of the brightest stars, Capella, in the northern part of the heavens. Capella is about forty-five degrees from the Pole Star; that is, almost twice as far away as the Great Dipper or Cassiopeia's Chair, and on a line drawn at right angles to a line connecting the Pointers with the Pole Star. Another way to find Capella is to follow a line drawn from the star at the bottom of the Great Dipper that is nearest to the handle, and passing halfway between the Pointers. At a distance of about fifty degrees along this line, Capella will be seen as a very bright star. Capella with the four other brightest stars of the constellation form a pentagon or five sided figure.
The brightest stars of the constellation Perseus lie in an arc extending from Capella to Cassiopeia's Chair. You will be able to see along this arc six or seven stars that belong to the constellation. Other rather conspicuous constellations which may be seen within a radius of about forty or forty-five degrees of the Pole Star are the Dragon, and Cepheus.
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