in the Celestial Sphere

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Constellations - Our sky cultural heritage

Science Ambassadors: Stuart, Anton and Rory with the help of Laura

In these activities we looked at sky lore from three perspectives SA, UK and International. We selected a constellation exclusive to the Southern Hemisphere and one exclusive to the Northern Hemisphere, together with a constellation we share.

We showed learners that there's lots to see just with our eyes but for SA schools in the Cape and UK schools in Norfolk we have telescopes that you can borrow so learners can travel further into space.

Learners at Langa High School get to grips with a North and South telescope

Learners found out how to make a star tube and use it to learn to recognise a constellation in the sky. We showed themhow to make a planisphere so that that they can navigate the night sky.

We also found out what today's scientists know about objects in the constellations and how they plan to use telescopes like SALT to find out more.

Our advisor on African astronomical heritage was Astrophysicist Dr Thebe Medupe:

"The Southern Cross is my selection for the southern constellation. It is in the ancient stories of the worlds oldest people, the San. The story relates to the creation of fire and meteors. It is also regarded as the giraffe by many South African people. It has a large nebula within it.

We should also look at the two Magellanic Clouds. The Southern African Large Telescope has been designed specifically to be able to access these two galaxies, which can only be seen in the Southern Hemisphere. South Africans regard the Large Magellanic Cloud as "drought" because it is the only one of the two visible during drought. We think of the small Magellanic Cloud as "plenty" because it is clearest during the rainy season."

Find out about Thebe's own amazing journey at the new scientist magazine

 

Above is North and South Science Ambassador, Marcus' image of the most widely known shape in the stars in the UK. So we have chosen it as our Northern constellation. Know as 'the plough', this part of the constellation Ursa Major was also called 'Arthur's chariot' by the ancient Britons. It can be used to find the North Star and lots of exciting things like colliding galaxies. The Hubble Space Telescope's 'Deep field' image of distant, ancient galaxies was of the part of the sky.

Our shared constellation is the area of the sky that contains the three stars known known internationally as the 'belt of Orion'. Most cultures have these three stars, which are bright and in a straight line, as a part of their sky lore. Scientists know that there is a massive cloud of gas and dust in this area of the sky. In some parts, this cloud is producing nurseries of new born stars. Many scientists and their telescopes study this area of the sky. Who knows what new discoveries in this region of space await the massive eye of SALT.

Send us details of your favourite star shape and it's story.