Where do we get constellations?

Okay folks, let's go to the old mailbag -- or should I say email -- for a reader's question, "Where do we get constellations?"

There are 88 recognized and approved constellations in the night sky. I say approved because nobody can just go willy-nilly naming constellations and stars. There is a whole group of people who are responsible for naming things like that.

The constellations range anywhere from a small fox to a giraffe in the north, to a ship's compass, a telescope, and a furnace in the south.

Constellations in the north are usually based on known creatures or people from mythology, and are very ancient, while in the south, they were named by the scientists and explorers who first ventured there.

That is why in the south we have constellations like the Air Pump, the Chisel, and four parts of a ship; the sail, the stern, the compass, and the keel.

We probably have to thank all those people who spent all night under the stars and began to make patterns out of them and name them. After all the human brain tends to make patterns and designs out of what the eye sees.

Have you never looked at the pattern in the curtain or a linoleum tile floor and began to see faces and patterns, it was the same for our ancient stargazers.

Modern stargazers also have played a small hand in creating what are called asterisms, which are patterns using stars from other constellations making a new pattern. For example, the Summer Triangle, we looked at last week, is one such.

Others are the Great Square of Pegasus (which we also discussed recently), a pentagon (of sorts) from the constellation Auriga, the Charioteer, and perhaps the greatest of all, The Great Winter Hexagon (or Circle as some have called it).

We can see this circle (or hexagon if you will) any night the sky is clear. Be outside at a place with a clear, unobstructed, eastern horizon at about 10 pm MST and look for Orion which is now visible.

Let's start at Orion's left knee with the star called Rigel, then travel upwards from there to the reddish star called Aldebaran in Taurus, the Bull. Next travel to the right to the very bright star, Capella, in Auriga, the Charioteer, then downward to the two twin stars, Castor and Pollux in Gemini.

Now we have a long trip down and slightly right to Procyon in the very small constellation, Canis Minor--two stars actually--and then keep going right to the very bright star Sirius, which is just clearing the horizon.

Actually, it will be worth your time to spend some time with Sirius. It is the brightest star in the sky and, as with all stars, it twinkles. Only Sirius twinkles like it is on steroids. Watch it for a while with just your eyes, and then watch it with binoculars. It will knock your socks off.

To complete the circle or hexagon, if you will, return to Rigel.

SKY WATCH: New moon, Tuesday, Nov. 29. Remember a new moon means no moon is visible. This will be a good time to start another moon watch, observing the moon through all four of its phases. In the evening,

Venus is still showing brightly and if you have been watching carefully you will notice it has been moving to the east and will continue to do so until late January when it almost catches Mars -- having a meeting with the moon twice -- and Neptune along the way. In the morning, Jupiter is still the brightest thing in the early morning sky.

NEXT WEEK: Under the Christmas tree and more astronomical blathering.