In 1922, the International Astronomical Union (Mas) defined all visible constellations located in the celestial sphere. All star clusters were systematized , a catalog of the northern and southern hemispheres of the starry sky was created. In total, there are currently 88 constellations, and only 47 of them are the most ancient, the existence of which is determined by time spans of several millennia. A separate list marks 12 zodiac constellations through which the Sun passes through the year.
Almost all the constellations of the Southern Hemisphere, as well as asterisms, have their own names, the source of which is the mythology of Ancient Greece. For example, the myth of how the hunting goddess Artemis killed the young Orion and placed him among the stars in a fit of remorse. So the constellation Orion appeared. And the constellation Canis Major, located at the feet of Orion, is nothing more than a hunting dog, who followed his master to heaven.
The arrangement of stars in each constellation forms an approximately conditional outline of a mythological creature, Taurus or Scorpio, Virgo or Centaur.
The star map of the Southern Hemisphere contains many of the famous constellations. Among them are the so-called beneficial asterisms. Similarly to Ursa Major, located in the
Northern Hemisphere and pointing to the North Star, in the South there is the constellation Southern Cross, with which you can trace the direction to the south pole. Both constellations of the Southern Hemisphere are of great importance for navigational orientation, when the ship's captain must chart a course at night. Stars provide significant assistance in navigation and take ocean vessels on the right track.
Stars are bright and faint. The degree of luminescence depends on several factors. The constellations of the Southern Hemisphere include stars of both intense and subdued luminosity. The brightest star in the night sky is Sirius, which is part of the constellation Canis Major. Its age is about 235 million years, and its mass Sirius twice exceeds the Sun. The star has always been an idol in the night sky for people, it was worshiped, sacrificed, and expected from Sirius favorable conditions, a good harvest and help in worldly affairs. Many other stars of the Southern Hemisphere were marked with the halo of the deity, people believed in the wonderful abilities of night luminaries. And some constellations are even described in church books.
The zodiac constellation of the southern hemisphere of the sky, the
constellation Taurus, is located between Aries and Gemini. Taurus includes a bright star - Aldebaran, but the location of two star clusters in it - Pleiades and Hyades - is especially noteworthy. The Pleiade consists of more than 500 stars, and there are 130 in the Hyades. Taurus is one of the constellations rich in astrophysical processes throughout its history. In the 11th century A.D. Taurus constellation was shocked by a supernova explosion, resulting in the formation of the so-called Crab Nebula with a pulsar, which is a source of powerful x-ray radiation and sends radiomagnetic pulses. Many constellations of the Southern Hemisphere have the potential of stellar transformations. As a result, cosmic shocks are inevitable.
Another constellation of the Southern Hemisphere is Pisces, located between Aries and Aquarius. Pisces are notable for the fact that the
vernal equinox passes through them
. The constellation includes two major asterisms, the Northern Fish, consisting of three stars, and the Crown of seven stars.
The constellation Pisces also contains a story from ancient Greek mythology. When the mythical monster Typhon drove into Egypt the frightened gods from Olympus, then Aphrodite, fleeing from horror, turned into a fish, and then turned into a fish and her son, Eros.