Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Constellation

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This article is about the star grouping. For other uses, see Constellation (disambiguation).
Orion is a remarkable constellation, visible from all points on the globe at one time or another during the year. In colloquial usage, Orion is the recognisable pattern (commonly called "The Hunter") formed by the brightest stars. For astronomers, Orion is the entire area of sky outlined in the dashed yellow line.
Photo of the familiar constellation Orion.

A constellation is a group of stars that appear to have a physical proximity in the sky. The stars in a constellation are often vastly distant from each other, but they appear close to each other from the perspective of Earth. The word is used colloquially to refer to asterisms: groups of stars that appear to form patterns in the sky; different world cultures have divided the stars into different constellations. However, in modern astronomy the word refers instead to a method of dividing the sky into 88 areas with exact boundaries.

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[edit] Definitions

In common usage, a constellation is what astronomers call an 'asterism': a group of celestial bodies (usually stars) that appear to form a pattern in the sky or appear visibly related to each other. Examples are Orion (which appears like a human figure with a belt, often referred to as "The Hunter"), Leo (which contains bright stars that outline the form of a lion), Scorpius (which can seem reminiscent of a scorpion), and Crux (a cross).

In astronomy, however, a constellation is an area of the sky, and contains all the stars and other celestial objects within that area. The International Astronomical Union (IAU) divides the sky into 88 official constellations[1] with exact boundaries, so that every direction or place in the sky belongs within one constellation. Most of these constellations are centred on the traditional constellations of Western culture.

[edit] Human perception versus reality

Constellations are normally the product of human perception rather than astronomical realities. The stars in a constellation or asterism rarely have any astrophysical relationship to each other; they just happen to appear close together in the sky as viewed from Earth and typically lie many light years apart in space. However, there are some exceptions. The famous star pattern known as the Big Dipper in North America or the Plough in the UK is almost entirely created by stars that are genuinely close together in astronomical terms; they are known as the Ursa Major moving group.

The grouping of stars into constellations is essentially arbitrary, as different cultures have seen different patterns in the sky, although a few of the more obvious ones tend to recur frequently, e.g., Orion and Scorpius.

[edit] Official constellations

The 88 official constellations defined by the IAU (International Astronomical Union) are mostly based upon those of the ancient Greek tradition, passed down through the Middle Ages, which includes the 'signs of the zodiac,' twelve constellations through which the sun passes and which thus have had special cultural significance. The rest consist of constellations which were defined in the early modern era by astronomers who studied the southern hemisphere's skies, which were invisible to the Greeks.

[edit] Boundaries

The constellation boundaries now used by the International Astronomical Union were drawn up in 1930 by Eugène Delporte. He drew them along vertical and horizontal lines of right ascension and declination. However, he did so for the epoch B1875.0, the era when Benjamin A. Gould made the proposal on which Delporte based his work. The consequence of this early date is that due to precession of the equinoxes, the borders on a modern star map (e.g., for epoch J2000) are already somewhat skewed and no longer perfectly vertical or horizontal. This skew will increase over the years and centuries to come.

A star pattern may be widely known but may not be used by the International Astronomical Union. One famous example is the asterism known as the Big Dipper in North America or the Plough in the UK; this term is not used by the IAU as the stars are considered part of the larger constellation of Ursa Major.

[edit] Names and star designations

All modern constellation names are Latin proper names or words, and some stars are named using the genitive, or sometimes the ablative[specify] of the constellation in which they are found. These are formed by using the usual rules of Latin grammar. Some examples include: Aries → Arietis; Taurus → Tauri; Gemini → Geminorum; Virgo → Virginis; Libra → Librae; Pisces → Piscium; Lepus → Leporis. In addition, all constellation names have a standard three-letter abbreviation assigned by the International Astronomical Union; for example, Aries becomes Ari, Pisces becomes Psc, Sagittarius becomes Sgr and Ursa Major becomes UMa [1].

Identification of stars within a given constellation includes use of Bayer designations such as Alpha Centauri, Flamsteed designations such as 61 Cygni, and variable star designations such as RR Lyrae. However, many fainter stars will just be given a catalog number designation (in each of various star catalogs) that does not incorporate the constellation name. Frequently, the abbreviated form of the constellation name is used in the star designation, e.g., Alpha Cen, 61 Cyg, RR Lyr.

For more information about star names, see star designations and the list of stars by constellation.

[edit] Constellation systems across the world

[edit] Western

In the Western world, the constellation of the northern hemisphere is traditionally divided into constellations based on those described by the Ancient Greeks. The first ancient Greek works which dealt with the constellations were books of star myths. The oldest of these was a poem composed by Hesiod in or around the eighth century BCE, of which only fragments survive. The most complete existing works dealing with the mythical origins of the constellations are by the Hellenistic writer termed pseudo-Eratosthenes and an early Roman writer styled pseudo-Hyginus.

In the 2nd century CE, the Greek astronomer Ptolemy described the constellations in great detail in his influential work the Almagest. The 48 constellations he described are still used by modern astronomers today.

[edit] Chinese

Main article: Chinese constellation

Chinese constellations are different from the Western constellations due to the independent development of ancient Chinese astronomy, although there are also similarities. One difference is that the Chinese counterpart of the 12 western zodiac constellations is the 28 "Xiu" (宿) or "mansions" (a literal translation).

[edit] Indian constellations

See also: Jyotiṣa

In Hindu/Vedic astronomy, constellations are called raasi's. The twelve raasi's along the ecliptic correspond directly to the twelve western star signs. These are however divided into 27 Nakshatras, or lunar houses.

[edit] Dark cloud constellations

The "Emu in the sky", a 'constellation' defined by dark clouds rather than the stars. A western interpretation would recognise the Crux or Southern Cross, on the left Scorpius. The head of the emu is the Coalsack.

In the southern hemisphere, it is possible to discern dark patches in the Milky Way; and some cultures have discerned shapes in these patches and have given names to these 'dark cloud constellations'. Members of the Inca civilization identified various dark areas or dark nebulae in the Milky Way as animals, and associated their appearance with the seasonal rains. [2] . Australian Aboriginal astronomy also describes dark cloud constellations, the most famous being the "emu in the sky" whose head is formed by the coalsack.

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Ian Ridpath. "Constellation names, abbreviations and sizes". http://www.ianridpath.com/constellations1.htm. Retrieved on 2007-10-05.
  2. ^ The Incan View of the Night Sky

[edit] References

As to constellations generally and their celestial objects:

[edit] Overall

Current and comprehensive guidebooks and atlas:

  • Chartrand, Mark R. (1991) National Audubon Society Field Guide to the Night Sky, Alfred Knopf, Inc., New York, New York, U.S.A., ISBN 978-0679408529 softcover. 1st printing 1991, 16th printing 2005. Also notes Messier, NGC, and IC objects.
  • Ridpath, Ian; and Tirion, Wil. (2007) Stars & Planets, 4th Edition, as part of the "Collins Guide" series, Collins, London, ISBN 978-0007248131 hardcover - U.K., ISBN 978-0007251209 softcover - U.K.; as part of the "Princeton Field Guides" series, Princeton University Press, Princeton, ISBN 978-0691135564 softcover - U.S.A. Subtitle: "The Most Complete Guide to the Stars, Planets, Galaxies and the Solar System". 1st Edition 1984 as Collins Pocket Guide - Stars and Planets; 2nd Edition 1993, 3rd Edition 2000.
  • Sinnott, Roger W. (2006) Pocket Sky Atlas, Sky Publishing Corporation, Cambridge, U.S.A., ISBN 978-1931559317 softcover. Pretitle: "Sky & Telescope's". 1st & 2nd printings 2006.

[edit] Monthly Publications

Magazines with phenomena in the constellations and specific constellation articles:

  • Astronomy, ISSN 0091-6358, Kalmbach Publishing, Waukesha, Wisconsin, U.S.A. Since 1973. General astronomy; not as technical as Sky & Telescope. Began with significant increase in astronomical photographs.
  • Sky & Telescope, ISSN 0037-6604, Sky Publishing Corporation, Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.A. Since 1941, as the result of the collective merger of the publications The Amateur Astronomer (1929-1935 bulletin, Amateur Astronomers Association, New York, New York, U.S.A.), which then merged into The Sky (1935-1941 monthly bulletin and then magazine, Hayden Planetarium of the American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York, U.S.A.; independently published in New York 1939), and The Telescope (1931-1941 quarterly magazine, Perkins Observatory, Ohio; then bimonthly in 1934, Harvard College Observatory, Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.A.). Publishes various editions in other countries and in other languages. Became primary general and technical astronomy magazine in the United States after Popular Astronomy (c. 1891-1951).
  • Astronomy Now, ISSN 0951-9726, Pole Star Publications, England, U.K. Since 1987.
  • Sky News, SkyNews Inc.[sic], Ontario, Canada. Since 1995. Published bimonthly.

[edit] Annual Publications

For annual phenomena in the constellations:

  • Observer's Handbook, ISSN 0080-4193, Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. Since 1907.
  • Astronomical Phenomena, ISSN 0083-2421, U.S. Naval Observatory & Royal Greenwich Observatory: Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office (U.S.A.) & Her Majesty's Nautical Almanac Office, England (U.K.). Advance publication of astronomical phenomena section prior to appearing in the main volume The Astronomical Almanac.
  • The Astronomical Almanac, ISSN 0737-6421, U.S. Naval Observatory & Royal Greenwich Observatory: Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office (U.S.A.) & Her Majesty's Nautical Almanac Office, England (U.K.), various ISBN's for each year. Since 1852. Originally published as The American Ephemeris and Nautical Almanac.
  • The Nautical Almanac, ISSN 0077-619X, Royal Greenwich Observatory, Her Majesty's Nautical Almanac Office, England (U.K.) [with orange boards and black tape spine]. Since 1767.
  • Time Almanac, ISSN 0073-7860, Time Inc., New York, New York, U.S.A., and Encyclopedia Brittanica, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A., various ISBN's each year, hardcover and softcover.
  • Skywatch, Sky Publishing Corporation, Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.A. Annual observation and astronomical phenomena guide for the forthcoming year.

[edit] Mythology, Star Lore, History, & Archaeoastronomy

  • Allen, Richard Hinckley. (1899) Star-Names And Their Meanings, G. E. Stechert, New York, New York, U.S.A., hardcover; reprint 1963 as Star Names: Their Lore and Meaning, Dover Publications, Inc., Mineola, New York, U.S.A., ISBN 978-0486210797 softcover.
  • Olcott, William Tyler. (1911); Star Lore of All Ages, G. P. Putnam's Sons, New York, New York, U.S.A., hardcover; reprint 2004 as Star Lore: Myths, Legends, and Facts, Dover Publications, Inc., Mineola, New York, U.S.A., ISBN 978-0486435817 softcover.
  • Kelley, David H. and Milone, Eugene F. (2004) Exploring Ancient Skies: An Encyclopedic Survey of Archaeoastronomy, Springer, ISBN 978-0-387-95310-6 hardcover.
  • Ripdath, Ian. (1989) Star Tales, Lutterworth Press, ISBN 0718826957 hardcover.
  • Staal, Julius D. W. (1988) The New Patterns in the Sky: Myths and Legends of the Stars, McDonald & Woodward Publishing Co., ISBN 0939923106 hardcover, ISBN 0939923041 softcover.

[edit] Atlases & Celestial Maps

General & Nonspecialized - Entire Celestial Heavens:

  • Becvar, Antonin. Atlas Coeli. Published as Atlas of the Heavens, Sky Publishing Corporation, Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.A.; with coordinate grid transparency overlay.
  • Norton, Arthur Philip. (1910) Norton's Star Atlas, 20th Edition 2003 as Norton's Star Atlas and Reference Handbook, edited by Ridpath, Ian, Pi Press, ISBN 978-0-13-145164-3, hardcover.
  • National Geographic Society. (1957, 1970, 2001, 2007) The Heavens (1970), Cartographic Division of the National Geographic Society (NGS), Washington, D.C., U.S.A., two sided large map chart depicting the constellations of the heavens; as special supplement to the August 1970 issue of National Geographic. Forerunner map as A Map of The Heavens, as special supplement to the December 1957 issue. Current version 2001 (Tirion), with 2007 reprint.
  • Sinnott, Roger W. and Perryman, Michael A.C. (1997) Millennium Star Atlas, Epoch 2000.0, Sky Publishing Corporation, Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.A., and European Space Agency (ESA), ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands. Subtitle: "An All-Sky Atlas Comprising One Million Stars to Visual Magnitude Eleven from the Hipparcos and Tycho Catalogues and Ten Thousand Nonstellar Objects". 3 volumes, hardcover, in hardcover slipcase, set ISBN 0-933346-84-0. Vol. 1, 0-8 Hours (Right Ascension), ISBN 0-933346-81-6 hardcover; Vol. 2, 8-16 Hours, ISBN 0-933346-82-4 hardcover; Vol. 3, 16-24 Hours, ISBN 0-933346-83-2 hardcover. Softcover version available. Supplemental separate purchasable coordinate grid transparent overlays.
  • Tirion, Wil; et al. (1987) Uranometria 2000.0, Willmann-Bell, Inc., Richmond, Virginia, U.S.A., 3 volumes, hardcover. Vol. 1 (1987): "The Northern Hemisphere to −6o", by Wil Tirion, Barry Rappaport, and George Lovi, ISBN 0-943396-14-X hardcover, printed boards (blue). Vol. 2 (1988): "The Southern Hemisphere to +6o", by Wil Tirion, Barry Rappaport, and George Lovi, ISBN 0-943396-15-8 hardcover, printed boards (red). Vol. 3 (1993) as a separate added work: The Deep Sky Field Guide to Uranometria 2000.0, by Murray Cragin, James Lucyk, and Barry Rappaport, ISBN 0-943396-38-7 hardcover, printed boards (gray). 2nd Edition 2001 (black or dark background) as collective set of 3 volumes - Vol. 1: Uranometria 2000.0 Deep Sky Atlas, by Wil Tirion, Barry Rappaport, and Will Remaklus, ISBN 978-0-943396-71-2 hardcover, printed boards (blue edging); Vol. 2: Uranometria 2000.0 Deep Sky Atlas, by Wil Tirion, Barry Rappaport, and Will Remaklus, ISBN 978-0-943396-72-9 hardcover, printed boards (green edging); Vol. 3: Uranometria 2000.0 Deep Sky Field Guide by Murray Cragin and Emil Bonanno, ISBN 978-0-943396-73-6, hardcover, printed boards (teal green).
  • Tirion, Wil and Sinnott, Roger W. (1998) Sky Atlas 2000.0, various editions. 2nd Deluxe Edition, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, England (U.K.).

Northern Celestial Hemisphere & North Circumpolar Region:

  • Becvar, Antonin. (1962) Atlas Borealis 1950.0, Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences (Ceskoslovenske Akademie Ved), Praha, Czeckoslovakia, 1st Edition, elephant folio hardcover, with small transparency overlay coordinate grid square and separate paper magnitude legend ruler. 2nd Edition 1972 and 1978 reprint, Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences (Ceskoslovenske Akademie Ved), Prague, Czeckoslovakia, and Sky Publishing Corporation, Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.A., ISBN 0-933346-01-8 oversize folio softcover spiral bound, with transparency overlay coordinate grid ruler.

Equatorial, Ecliptic, & Zodiacal Celestial Sky:

  • Becvar, Antonin. (1958) Atlas Eclipticalis 1950.0, Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences (Ceskoslovenske Akademie Ved), Praha, Czeckoslovakia, 1st Edition, elephant folio hardcover, with small transparency overlay coordinate grid square and separate paper magnitude legend ruler. 2nd Edition 1974, Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences (Ceskoslovenske Akademie Ved), Prague, Czeckoslovakia, and Sky Publishing Corporation, Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.A., oversize folio softcover spiral bound, with transparency overlay coordinate grid ruler.

Southern Celestial Hemisphere & South Circumpolar Region:

  • Becvar, Antonin. Atlas Australis 1950.0, Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences (Ceskoslovenske Akademie Ved), Praha, Czeckoslovakia, 1st Edition, elephant folio hardcover, with small transparency overlay coordinate grid square and separate paper magnitude legend ruler. 2nd Edition, Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences (Ceskoslovenske Akademie Ved), Prague, Czeckoslovakia, and Sky Publishing Corporation, Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.A., oversize folio softcover spiral bound, with transparency overlay coordinate grid ruler.

[edit] Celestial Globes

  • Several varieties from various manufacturers, Edmund Scientific, Tonawanda, New York, U.S.A.

[edit] Planispheres

The wheel degrees are for the observer's Earth latitude.

  • David H. Levy's Guide to the Stars. (2000) Ken Press.
  1. Northern Hemisphere +30o-60o: ISBN 978-1928771012 large yellow.
  • Night Sky Star Wheel. (2007) Sky Publishing Corporation, Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
  1. Northern Hemisphere - general with bright stars only; for city use: ISBN 978-1931559300 dark blue.
  2. Northern Hemisphere +50o: ISBN 978-1931559126 dark green.
  3. Northern Hemisphere +40o: ISBN 978-1931559119 dark green.
  4. Northern Hemisphere +30o: ISBN 978-1931559102 dark green.
  5. Southern Hemisphere -30o: ISBN 978-1931559133 dark green.
  • The Night Sky. (1998) David Chandler Co.
  1. Northern Hemisphere +50o: ISBN 1891938088 large blue, ISBN 1891938096 small blue.
  2. Northern Hemisphere +40o: ISBN 0961320745 large blue, ISBN 1891938010 small blue
  3. Northern Hemipshere +30o: ISBN 0961320753 large blue, ISBN 1891938029 small blue
  4. Northern Hemisphere +20o: ISBN 0961320761 large blue, ISBN 1891938037 small blue
  5. Southern Hemipshere -30o: ISBN 0961320737 large blue, ISBN 1891938002 small blue.
  • Philip's Planisphere. (2004) Philip's.
  1. Northern Hemisphere +35o: ISBN 978-0540063192 midnight blue.
  2. Southern Hemisphere -35o: ISBN 978-0540084791 sky blue.

[edit] Catalogs

  • Becvar, Antonin. (1959) Atlas Coeli II Katalog 1950.0, Praha, 1960 Prague. Published 1964 as Atlas of the Heavens - II Catalogue 1950.0, Sky Publishing Corporation, Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
  • Hirshfeld, Alan and Sinnott, Roger W. (1982) Sky Catalogue 2000.0, Cambridge University Press and Sky Publishing Corporation, 1st Edition, 2 volumes. LCCN 81017975 both vols., and LCCN 83240310 vol. 1. "Volume 1: Stars to Magnitude 8.0", ISBN 0-521-24710-1 (Cambridge) and 0-933346-35-2 (Sky) hardcover, ISBN 0-933346-34-4 (Sky) softcover. Vol. 2 (1985) - "Volume 2: Double Stars, Variable Stars, and Nonstellar Objects", ISBN 0-521-25818-9 (Cambridge) hardcover, ISBN 0-521-27721-3 (Cambridge) softcover. 2nd Edition (1991) with additional third author Frangois Ochsenbein, 2 volumes, LCCN 91026764. Vol. 1: ISBN 0-521-41743-0 (Cambridge) hardcover (black binding); ISBN 0-521-42736-3 (Cambridge) softcover (red lettering with Hans Vehrenberg astrophoto). Vol. 2 (1999): ISBN 0-521-27721-3 (Cambridge) softcover and 0-933346-38-7 (Sky) softcover - reprint of 1985 edition (blue lettering with Hans Vehrenberg astrophoto).
  • Yale University Observatory. (1908, et al.) Catalogue of Bright Stars , New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.A. Referred to commonly as "Bright Star Catalogue". Various editions with various authors historically, the longest term revising author as (Ellen) Dorrit Hoffleit. 1st Edition 1908. 2nd Edition 1940 by Frank Schlesinger and Louise F. Jenkins. 3rd Edition (1964), 4th Edition, 5th Edition (1991), and 6th Edition (pending posthumous) by Hoffleit. Hardcover or softcover.

[edit] Guidebooks

[edit] Limited or Selected Constellations & Beginning

  • Chartrand, Mark R. (1995) National Audubon Society Pocket Guide - Constellations, Knopf, ISBN 978-0679779988 softcover.
  • Chen, P. K. (2007) A Constellation Album: Stars and Mythology of the Night Sky, Sky Publishing Corporation, Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.A., 96 pages, ISBN 978-1931559386 hardcover.
  • Forey, Pamela and Fitzsimons, Cecilia. (1988) An Instant Guide to Stars & Planets, Malcolm Saunders Pub., London, U.K.; 1999 Edition, Gramercy Books, New York, New York, U.S.A., ISBN 978-0-517-63549-0, hardcover (small).
  • Heifetz, Milton D. (2004) A Walk through the Heavens: A Guide to Stars and Constellations and their Legends, Cambridge University Press, 96 pages, ISBN 978-0521544153 softcover.
  • Pasachoff, Jay M.; Tirion, Wil; and Brickman, Robin. (1988) Astronomy, as part of "Peterson First Guides Series", Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A., ISBN 978-0-395-93542-2 softcover (small). Spine Title: "Peterson First Guide to Astronomy". Updated 1997. Subtitle: "The concise field guide to the stars, planets, and the universe".
  • Rey, H. A. (Hans Augusto "H.A." Rey). (1952) The Stars: A New Way to See Them. 2008 printing, Houghton Mifflin, New York, New York, U.S.A., ISBN 978-0547132792 hardcover. 1976 Edition, ISBN 0-395-24830-2 softcover and ISBN 0-395-08121-1 reinforced. Editions 1952, 1962, 1967, 1970, 1975, 1976, 1977 (Chris Dolan update).
  • Rey, H. A. (Hans Augusto "H.A." Rey). (1954) Find the Constellations. 2008 printing, Houghton Mifflin, New York, New York, U.S.A., ISBN 978-0547131405 hardcover, ISBN 978-0395244180 softcover. 1976 Edition, ISBN 0-395-24509-5 softcover. Editions 1954, 1962, 1966, 1976 (35th printing), 1977 (Chris Dolan update).
  • Ridpath, Ian. (2007) Deck of Stars, "Based on Eyewitness Companions Astronomy", DK Publishing, Inc. (Dorling Kindersley), New York, New York, U.S.A., ISBN 978-0756635145 hard box with constellation card inserts. Pretitle: "Boy Scouts of America".
  • Sasaki, Chris. (2001) The Constellations: Stars & Stories, Sterling, ISBN 978-0806976358 hardcover, ISBN 978-1402708008 softcover.
  • Zim, Herbert S. and Baker, Robert H. (1951) Stars. A Golden Nature Guide, Golden Nature Guide Series, Simon & Shuster, New York, New York, U.S.A., softcover or hardcover. Subtitle: "A Guide to the Constellations, Sun, Moon, Planets, and Other Features of the Heavens". 1956, 1960, 1964, 1965, 1975, 1985 Editions, Golden Press, New York, New York, U.S.A., softcover; 1964 Edition, Golden Press, hardcover (printed boards). 1975 Edition, Goldencraft, U.S.A., softcover, ISBN 978-0307635075 hardcover. 2000 Edition, Golden Books Pub. Co., U.S.A., ISBN 0-307-24493-8 softcover. 2001 Edition, Golden Guides from St. Martin's Press, England (U.K.), ISBN 978-1582381572 softcover. Later editions can have illustrators James Gordon Irving or Mark R. Chartrand.

[edit] General & Entire Celestial Heavens

  • Almeida, Guilherme de. (2004) Navigating the Night Sky: How to Identify the Stars and Constellations, Patrick Moore's Practical Astronomy Series, Springer, ISBN 978-1852337377 softcover.
  • Bakich, Michael E. (1995) The Cambridge Guide to the Constellations, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, England, U.K., ISBN 0521465206 hardcover, ISBN 0521449219 softcover.
  • Burnham, Robert, Jr. (1978) Burnham's Celestial Handbook, Dover Publications, Inc., Mineola, New York, U.S.A., 3 volumes, hardcover: Vol. 1 (Andromeda-Cetus) ISBN 0-486-24063-0, Vol. 2 (Chameleon-Orion) ISBN 0-486-24064-9, Vol. 3 (Pavo-Vulpecula) ISBN 0-486-24065-7; or softcover: Vol. 1 ISBN 0-486-23567-X, Vol. 2 ISBN 0-486-23568-8, Vol. 3 ISBN 0-486-23673-0. Original edition 1966, 1 volume looseleaf 3 ring binder, 930 pp. (comprising 4 Sections with constellations Ara-Leo), no ISBN, LCCN 66-21917, Celestial Handbook Publications, Flagstaff, Arizona.
  • Dyer, Alan; et al. (2001) Backyard Astronomy, Nature Company Guides, ISBN 978-0737000962 softcover.
  • Dyer, Alan; et al. (1997) Advanced Skywatching, Nature Company Guides, ISBN 978-0783549415 hardcover.
  • Henarejos, Philippe. (2005) Guide to the Night Sky, Konemann (Tandem Verlag GmbH), Germany, ISBN 978-3-8331-1585-1 softcover; ISBN 978-0-8416-0177-2 softcover U.S.A. Original edition France.
  • Kerrod, Robin. (1993) The Star Guide, Macmillan, New York, New York, U.S.A., ISBN 978-0-671-87467-4. With planisphere in attached envelope pocket at end of book. 1995 reprint.
  • Kerrod, Robin. (2002) The Book of Constellations: Discover the Secrets in the Stars, Barron's Educational Series, ISBN 978-0764154409 hardcover.
  • Luginbuhl, Christian B. and Skiff, Brian A.(1990) Observing Handbook and Catalogue of Deep-Sky Objects, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0-521-25665-8 hardcover, ISBN 0-521-62556-4 softcover 1998. Catalogs all constellations with galaxies, open clusters, globular clusters, planetary nebulae, galactic nebulae, and double stars.
  • Olcott, William Tyler. (1929) Field Book of the Skies, 1st Edition, G. P. Putnam, New York, New York, U.S.A., hardcover. 3rd Edition 1936 G. P. Putnam's Sons, 4th Edition 1954 G. P. Putnam's Sons.
  • Olcott, William Tyler. (1907) A Field Book of the Stars, 1st Edition. 2nd Edition 1914 G. P. Putnam's Sons, 3rd Edition 1935 G. P. Putnam's Sons.
  • Pasachoff, Jay M.; and Tirion, Wil. (2000) A Field Guide to the Stars and Planets, 4th Edition, as part of " The Peterson Field Guide Series", Houghton Mifflin Company, New York, New York, U.S.A., ISBN 978-0395934326 hardcover, ISBN 9780395934319 softcover. Spine Title: "Stars and Planets". 1st Edition 1992, 3rd Edition 1998.
  • Ridpath, Ian; Sparrow, Giles; and Stott, Carole. (2006) Astronomy, as part of the " DK Eyewitness Companions" series, DK Publishing, Inc. (Dorling Kindersley), New York, New York, U.S.A., ISBN 978-0756617332 softcover.
  • Ridpath, Ian. (2002) Stars and Planets, 2nd U.S. Edition, as part of the "DK Smithsonian Handbooks" series, DK Publishing, Inc. (Dorling Kindersley), New York, New York, U.S.A., ISBN 978-0789489880 softcover. 1st U.S. Edition 1998.

[edit] Advanced & Specialized

  • Archinal, Brent A. and Hynes, Steven J. (2003) Star Clusters, Willmann-Bell, Inc., Richmond, Virginia, U.S.A., ISBN 0-943396-80-8 hardcover.
  • Arp, Halton C. (1966) The Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, U.S.A.
  • Haas, Sissy. (2007) Double Stars for Small Telescopes, Sky Publishing Corporation, Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.A., ISBN 978-1931559324 softcover.
  • Kanipe, Jeff and Webb, Dennis. (2006) The Arp Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies: A Chronicle and Observer's Guide, Willmann-Bell, Inc., Richmond, Virginia, U.S.A., ISBN 978-0-943396-76-7 hardcover.
  • Kepple, George Robert; et al. The Night Sky Observer's Guide, Willmann-Bell, Inc., Richmond, Virginia, U.S.A., 3 volumes, hardcover. Vol. 1: Autumn & Winter, by George Robert Kepple and Glen W. Sanner, 1998, ISBN 978-0-943396-58-3. Vol. 2: Spring & Summer, by George Robert Kepple and Glen W. Sanner, 1998, ISBN 978-0-943396-60-6. Vol. 3: The Southern Skies, by Ian Cooper, Jenni Kay, and George Robert Kepple, 2008, ISBN 978-0-943396-89-7.
  • Scovil, Charles E. (1980) AAVSO Variable Star Atlas (American Association of Variable Star Observers, Cambridge, Massachusetts), Sky Publishing Corporation, Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.A., 178 large unbound folio charts in hardcover box, ISBN 0-933346-28-X.
  • Webb Society; and Jones, Kenneth Glyn; Hogg, Helen S.; et al. Webb Society Deep-Sky Observer's Handbook, 8 volumes, softcover. Webb Deep-Sky Society. Vol. 1: Double Stars. Vol. 2: Planetary and Gaseous Nebulae. Vol. 3: Open and Globular Clusters. Vol 4.: Galaxies. Vol. 5: Clusters of Galaxies. Vol. 6: Anonymous Galaxies. Vol. 7 (green): The Southern Sky. Vol. 8: Variable Stars. Society honors Thomas William Webb.

[edit] Constellation & Celestial Computer Software

  • MegaStar5 Sky Atlas, Willmann-Bell, Inc., Richmond, Virginia, U.S.A.
  • Pocket Stars, Nomad Electronics, Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.; also has cell phone version.
  • Starry Night Pro Plus 6.2, Imaginova Corporation, New York, New York, U.S.A.
  • The Sky 6, Software Bisque, Golden, Colorado, U.S.A.; also has cell phone version.

[edit] Other

Masterful articles of note:

  • Steffey, Philip Cooper. (1992) "The Truth About Star Colors" in Sky and Telescope, September 1992 issue. Previous underlying letters in December 1986 issue as "Some Comments about Star Colors" and "Star Colors" in May 1981.
  • Roth, Joshua. (2005). "Spectacles for Spectacular Skies -- Special Report: Night Myopia Spectacles", in Sky and Telescope, September 2005 issue. Pertaining to constellation stargazing and eyesight vision problems during aging.
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