What Is A Constellation?

Any 88 areas into which the sky has been split forms the constellation and its boundaries were demarcated by Eugene Delporte in 1930. Constellations around the South Pole were not within the reach of Greeks. Some constellations like Ursa Major, Orion, Leo and Scorpius have striking patterns of bright stars. Based on mythology, constellations also form different cultures. Some of the 88 constellations are Andromeda, Antlia, Apus, Aquarius, Aquila, Ara, Aries, Auriga, Bootes etc. Many constellation names occur in Latin like Aries from arietis, Taurus from taui, Gemini from geminorum, Virgo from virginis, libra from librae, Pisces from piscium, and Lepus from Leporis. Chinese sky-watchers divided the night sky into 31 regions, namely three Enclosures, Twenty-eight Mansions. International Astronomical Union, which unites national astronomical societies from across the world, has created 88 constellations with their boundaries.

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