NOVAS AND CONSTELLATIONS
Dec 13, 2015
NOVAS AND CONSTELLATIONS
Novas
Occurs in binary star system It is a star that suddenly increases in
brightness and slowly becomes dimmer
Gases from one of the stars occasionally strike the surface of the companion star and the result is nuclear explosion
Tremendous amount of heat, light and gases busts into space
Nova in a binary star system
Constellations
Star patterns shaped like people and animals
Unlike other star groups, they have stars that are usually not close together
Their stars appear close as viewed from the earth but they may actually be far apart
Rigel and Betelgeuse can be found in the Orion constellation yet they are separated by a huge distance of 600 light years
Constellations
They are important because they help form map of the sky
Any location in the sky can be described in relation to a constellation
Stars are also named according to the constellation in which they are located
Constellations
88 known constelations
Aquarius (the water bearer)
Aries (the Ram)
Cancer (the crab)
Gemini (the Twins)
Ursa Major
Orion (the Hunter)
Pegasus (the winged horse)
Cygnus