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The International Astronomical Union (IAU) designates 88 constellations. [1] In the table below, they are listed by geographical visibility according to latitude as seen from Earth, as well as the best months for viewing the constellations at 21:00 (9 p.m.).
Zenith stars (also "star on top", "overhead star", "latitude star") [8] are stars whose declination equals the latitude of the observers location, and hence at some time in the day or night pass culminate (pass) through the zenith. When at the zenith the right ascension of the star equals the local sidereal time at your location.
However, at locations north of 43°N the constellation either drags along the southern horizon, or it does not rise at all. By contrast, in most of the southern hemisphere Sagittarius can appear overhead or nearly so. It is hidden behind the Sun's glare from mid-November to mid-January and is the location of the Sun at the December solstice.
Sidereal time was defined such that the March equinox would transit the meridian of the observatory at 0 hours local sidereal time. [ 7 ] Beginning during the 1970s, the radio astronomy methods very-long-baseline interferometry (VLBI) and pulsar timing overtook optical instruments for the most precise astrometry .
The following lists of constellations are available: IAU designated constellations – a list of the current, or "modern", constellations; Former constellations – a list of former constellations; Chinese constellations – traditional Chinese astronomy constellations; List of Nakshatras – sectors along the Moon's ecliptic
A green comet is flying past Earth for the first time in 50,000 years, offering skygazers a one-off opportunity to witness the celestial spectacle before it disappears from our Solar System forever.
As a consequence, the constellation is no longer visible from subtropical northern latitudes, as it was in the time of the ancient Greeks. [18] Around 200 BC, the star Beta Hydri was the nearest bright star to the celestial south pole. [19] Around 2800 BC, Achernar was only 8 degrees from the south pole. Circle of southern stars, Chile, 2016
Zodiacal constellations of the northern sky are Pisces, Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, and Leo. In the southern sky are Virgo, Libra, Scorpius, Sagittarius, Capricornus, and Aquarius. [23] [a] The zodiac appears directly overhead from latitudes of 23.5° north to 23.5° south, depending on the time of year. In summer, the ecliptic appears ...