alsayda
Mar 6 2007, 04:54 PM
برج الحمل:
Aries is one of the constellations of the zodiac, the ram. It lies between Pisces to the west and Taurus to the east.
Notable features
Aries' stars are rather faint except for Hamal (α Arietis) and Sharatan (β). Other important stars are Mesarthim (γ1) and Botein (δ).
Notable deep sky objects
The few deep sky objects in Aries are very dim. They include the galaxies NGC 697 (northwest of β), NGC 772 (southeast of (β), NGC 972 (in the constellation's northern corner), and NGC 1156 (northwest of δ).
Mythology
In Greek mythology, this is believed to represent the ram who carried Athamas's son Phrixus and daughter Helle to Colchis to escape their stepmother Ino. Helle fell off into the sea which later became the Hellespont. On reaching safety, Phrixis (rather ungratefully) sacrificed the ram and hung its fleece in the Grove of Ares, where it turned to gold and later became the quest of Jason and the Argonauts. It appears that Babylonians, Greeks, Persians and Egyptians all agreed on the name of the Ram for this constellation.
Astrology
The astrological sign Aries (March 21 - April 19) is associated with the constellation. In some cosmologies, Aries is associated with the classical element Fire, and thus called a fire sign (with Sagittarius and Leo). Its polar opposite is Libra.
برج الثور:
The Taurus was a 14-cylinder two-row radial aircraft engine, produced by the Bristol Engine Company starting in 1936. The Taurus was developed by adding cylinders to the existing Aqulia design, creating a design that produced just over 1,000 horsepower with very low weight.
Bristol had originally intended to use the Aquila and Perseus as two of its major designs in the 1930s, but the rapid increase in size and speed of aircraft in the 1930s demanded much larger engines than either of these. The mechanicals from both of these designs were then put into two-row configuations to develop much larger engines, the Aquila becoming the Taurus, and the Perseus becoming the Hercules.
Unlike the earlier engines, where the sleeve valve was a new and untried design, the Taurus was fairly well understood and was delivered running at almost the same power it ended with, at 1,015hp. After several years of development, this improved only to 1,130hp, a tesimonial to how good the first versions were.
The first Taurus engines were delivered just before World War II opened, and found some use primarily in Bristol's own Beaufort torpedo bomber. When the same plane was fitted with the famous Pratt and Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp, its performance actually fell even though the Twin Wasp was both lighter and more powerful.
Nevertheless by the time the engine was in widespread production, designs had already demanded even higher power settings. The Hercules went on to see fairly widespread use, while the Taurus ended with the Beaufort after only a few years.
Specifications
For Taurus XII:
Layout: fourteen-cylinder, two-row, radial
Bore/Stroke/Displacement: 5"/5.4"/1550 cu in (25.4l)
Compression ratio: (unknown)
Power: 1,130hp at 3100 RPM
Weight: 1300 lbs (591 kg)
برج الجوزاء:
Gemini (the twins) is one of the constellations of the zodiac. It is part of the winter sky, lying between Taurus to the west and the dim Cancer to the east, with Auriga and the near-invisible Lynx to the north and Monoceros and Canis Minor to the south. The Gemini program is named for it.
Notable features
Gemini includes two bright stars, named after the two twins, who correspond to the Dioscuri in Greek mythology - Castor (α), a pretty telescopic binary (actually sextuple), and Pollux (β), which is brighter and more southwesterly. The other stars are relatively dim - only one, Alhena (γ) is ever seen from a large city - and trace out a rectangle to the southeast.
The planet Pluto was discovered in this constellation in 1930, near the star Wasat (δ Geminorum).
Notable deep sky objects
The brightest deep sky object of Gemini is M35, an open cluster of 5th magnitude, 2 800 light-years from earth. It is northwest of η Geminorum, near the western edge of the constellation.
Mythology
This constellation is identified with the Dioscuri, Castor and Pollux (or Polydeuces), for whom its brightest stars are also named. These twin brothers were the brothers of Helen of Troy and Clytemnestra, by Leda.
Astrology
The astrological sign Gemini (May 21 - June 20) is associated with the constellation. In some cosmologies, Gemini is associated with the classical element Air, and thus called an Air Sign (with Libra and Aquarius). Its polar opposite is Sagittarius.
برج السرطان:
In astronomy and astrology, Cancer, the crab, is one of the twelve constellations of the zodiac. Cancer is small and dim, and to many it does not resemble a crab. It lies between Gemini to the west and Leo to the east, Lynx to the north and Canis Minor and Hydra to the south.
Notable features
The brightest star in Cancer is β Cancri, called Al Tarf ("the end" of the crab's leg). Other stars include Acubens (α), and the Aselli (the Asses), Asellus Borealis (γ) and Australis (δ), supposed to represent the asses that Dionysus and Silenus rode into battle.
55 Cancri has a planetary system with two confirmed planets, one 0.84 times the mass of Jupiter and one possibly 5 times that mass.
Notable deep sky objects
Cancer is best noted among stargazers as the home of Praesepe (M44), an open cluster also called the Beehive Cluster or the Gate of Men, which contains the star η Cancri.
Another deep sky object M67, near Acubens (α Cnc), is one of the oldest clusters in the sky, more than 10 billion years old. It is a large, faint open cluster of about 100 stars.
Mythology
In Greek mythology, Cancer was a brave little crab who tried to stop Heracles from defeating the Lernaean Hydra and was squashed for his efforts.
Astrology
The astrological sign Cancer (June 21 - July 22) is associated with the constellation. In some cosmologies, Cancer is associated with the classical element Water, and thus called a Water Sign (with Scorpio and Pisces). Its polar opposite is Capricorn.
In the 1970s there was a proposal to rename the zodiac sign, as some astrologers felt that an imagined association with the disease Cancer was off-putting. Some people with the sun sign of Cancer refer to themselves as moon children instead (the sign is associated with the Moon in astrology).
برج الأسد:
Leo (the lion) is a constellation of the zodiac. Leo lies between dim Cancer to the west and Virgo to the east.
Notable features
This constellation contains many bright stars, such as Regulus (α Leo), the lion's heart; Denebola (β Leo); and Algieba (γ1 Leo). Many other fainter stars have been named has well, such as Zosma (δ Leo), Chort (θ Leo), Al Minliar al Asad (κ Leo), Alterf (λ Leo), and Subra (ο Leo).
Regulus, η Leonis, and Algieba, together with the fainter stars Adhafera (ζ Leo), Ras Elased Borealis (μ Leo), and Ras Elased Australis (ε Leo), make up the asterism known as the Sickle. These stars represent the head and the mane of the lion.
A former asterism representing the tuft of the lion's tail has since become its own constellation, Coma Berenices.
The star Wolf 359, one of the nearest stars to Earth's solar system (7,7 light-years), is in Leo.
Notable deep sky objects
Leo contains many bright galaxies of which the twins M65, M66 and M95, M96 are the most famous.
Mythology
In Greek mythology, it corresponds to the Nemean Lion which was killed by Hercules during one of his quests. The Egyptians worshipped the lion because the sun was in this constellation at the time of the life-giving floods of the Nile.
Astrology
The astrological sign Leo (July 23 - August 22) is associated with the constellation. In some cosmologies, Leo is associated with the classical element Fire, and thus called a Fire Sign (with Aries and Sagittarius).
برج العذراء:
Virgo (the virgin) is a constellation of the zodiac. Lying between Leo to the west and the Libra to the east, it is one of the largest constellations in the sky. It can be easily found through its bright α star, Spica.
Notable features
The most prominent star in Virgo is Spica (α Vir), which represents an ear of wheat in the goddess's hand. Spica makes it easy to locate Virgo, as it can be found by following the curve of the Big Dipper to Arcturus in Boötes and continuing from there in the same curve ("follow the arc to Arcturus and speed on to Spica").
Other bright stars in Virgo include Zavijah (β Vir), Porrima (γ Vir), Auva (δ Vir) and Vindemiatrix (ε Vir). Other fainter stars which were also given a name are Heze (ζ Vir), Zaniah (η Vir), Syrma (ι Vir) and Rijl al Awwa (μ Vir).
The star 70 Virginis is an extrasolar planetary system with one confirmed planet 6.6 times the mass of Jupiter.
Notable deep sky objects
Because of the presence of a galaxy cluster (consequently called the Virgo cluster) within its borders 5° to 10° west of Vindemiatrix (ε Vir), this constellation is especially rich in galaxies.
Some examples are M49 (elliptical), M58 (spiral), M59 (elliptical), M60 (elliptical), M61 (spiral), M84 (elliptical), M86 (elliptical), M87 (elliptical and a famous radiosource), and M90 (spiral). A noted galaxy that is not part of the cluster is M104, an elliptical galaxy also called the Sombrero Galaxy. It is located about 10° due west of Spica.
Mythology
Who exactly Virgo is supposed to represent is uncertain; in history, it has been associated with nearly every prominent goddess, including Ishtar, Isis, Demeter, Cybele, Athena, and so forth.
According to one version, the constellation depicts Astraea, the virgin daughter of the god Zeus and the goddess Themis. Astraea was known as the goddess of justice, hence the scales of justice Libra nearby, and supposedly ruled the world at one point with her wise ways until mankind became so callous that she returned to skies in disgust. Persephone is often mentioned as well, Virgo being visible mainly in the spring months when she was believed to have risen from the underworld.
Astrology
The astrological sign Virgo (August 23 - September 22) is associated with the constellation. In some cosmologies, Virgo is associated with the classical element Earth, and thus called an Earth Sign (with Taurus and Capricorn). Its polar opposite is Pisces
برج الميزان:
Libra (the scales) is a constellation of the zodiac. It is a fairly inconspicuous constellation and has no star of first magnitude, lying between Virgo to the west and Scorpius to the east. As the names of the brighter stars testify, it was at one point part of Scorpius' claws.
Notable features
The brightest stars in Libra form a rectangle:
α Librae, Zubenelgenubi ("southern claw"), a visual binary;
β Librae, Zubeneschamali ("northern claw");
γ Librae, Zubenelakrab ("scorpion's claw");
δ Librae, an eclipsing variable.
α and β Librae are the scales' balance beam, and γ and δ are the weighing pans.
Mythology
The constellation, which originally formed part of the scorpion's claws, is the youngest of the Zodiac and the only one not to represent a living being. In Greek mythology, the constellation depicts the scales held by Astraea (the Virgin), the goddess of justice.
Astrology
The astrological sign Libra (September 23 - October 22) is associated with the constellation.
In some cosmologies, Libra is associated with the classical element Air, and thus called an Air Sign (with Aquarius and Gemini). Its polar opposite is Aries.
برج العقرب:
Scorpius (the scorpion) is one of the constellations of the zodiac. In western astrology it is known as "Scorpio". It lies between Libra to the west and Sagittarius to the east. It is a large constellation located in the southern hemisphere near the center of the Milky Way.
Notable features
Scorpius contains many bright stars, including Antares (α Sco), Graffias (β1 Sco), Dschubba (δ Sco), Sargas (θ Sco), Shaula (λ Sco), Jabah (ν Sco), Grafias (ξ Sco), Alniyat (σ Sco), Alniyat (τ Sco) and Lesath (υ Sco).
Notable deep sky objects
Due to its location on the Milky Way, this constellation contains many deep sky objects such as the open clusters M6 (the Butterfly Cluster) and M7 (the Ptolemy Cluster); and the globular clusters M4 and M80.
Mythology
According to Greek mythology, it corresponds to the scorpion which was sent by Gaia (or possibly the goddess Juno) to kill the hunter Orion, the scorpion rising out of the ground at the goddess' command to attack. Although the scorpion and Orion appear together in this myth, the constellation of Orion is almost opposite to Scorpius in the night sky. It has been suggested that this was a divine precaution to forestall the heavenly continuation of the feud.
Scorpius also appears in one version of the fable of Phaethon, a foolish mortal who obtained permission to drive the Apollo's sun-chariot for a day. The horses, already out of control in their sky journey became scared when they encountered the great celestial scorpion with its sting raised to strike, and the inexperienced boy lost control of the chariot, as the sun wildly went about the sky. Finally, Jupiter struck him down with a thunderbolt to stop the rampage.
The Chinese included these stars in the Azure Dragon, a powerful but benevolent creature whose rising heralded spring.
Astrology
The astrological sign Scorpio (October 23 - November 21) is associated with the constellation. In some cosmologies, Scorpio is associated with the classical element Water, and thus called a Water Sign (with Cancer and Pisces). Its polar opposite is Taurus.
alsayda
Mar 6 2007, 05:20 PM
Ophiuchus (the serpent bearer) is one of the 88 modern constellations, and was also one of the 48 listed by Ptolemy. Of the 13 modern zodiac (constellations of the ecliptic), Ophiuchus is the only one which is not counted as an astrological sign.
Ophiuchus is depicted as a man supporting a snake, Serpens; the interposition of his body divides the snake into two parts, Serpens Caput and Serpens Cauda, which are nonetheless counted as one constellation.
Notable features
The brightest stars in Ophiuchus include α Ophiuchi, called Rasalhague, at the figure's head; and λ Ophiuchi, a triple star, at his elbow.
RS Ophiuchi, a star too faint to interest amateur skywatchers, is part of a strange class called recurrent novas, whose brightness increases at irregular intervals by hundreds of times in the space of a few days.
Barnard's Star, the fifth-nearest star to the Solar System, lies in Ophiuchus.
Notable deep-sky objects
Ophiuchus contains several star clusters, such as IC 4665, NGC 6633, M9, M10, M12, M14, M19, M62, and M107, as well as the nebula IC 4603-4604. The unusual double galaxy NGC 6240 is also in Ophiuchus.
Mythology
The figure is supposed to represent the legendary physician Asclepius, who learned the secrets of life and death from serpents. In order to avoid the human race becoming immortal under Asclepius's care, Zeus killed him with a bolt of lightning, but placed him in the heavens to honour his good works.
It is not, however, easy to find the figure of a man in these stars without some diligence.
History
This constellation, known from antiquity, is one of the 48 constellations described by Ptolemy. It has also been known as Serpentarius, a Latin form of its name.
The most important historical event in Ophiuchus was the supernova whose explosion appeared on October 10, 1604, near θ Ophiuchi. It was observed by Johannes Kepler, whence comes its name Kepler's Star. Kepler published his findings in a book entitled De stella nova in pede Serpentarii (On the New Star in Ophiuchus's Foot). Galileo used its brief appearance to counter the Aristotelian dogma that the heavens are changeless.
It occurred only 32 years after another supernova in Cassiopeia that had been observed by Tycho Brahe; the last supernova before then had occurred in 1054, and after Kepler's no further supernovae were observed until 1987 (see Supernova 1987a.)
Astrology
Although it is found on the plane of the ecliptic, Ophiuchus, unlike the other twelve constellations of the zodiac, did not give its name to one of the twelve equal-sized regions of sky through which astrologers reckon the planets, Sun, and Moon to travel. It is therefore not one of the twelve signs of the zodiac in modern astrology.
برج القوس:
Sagittarius (the archer) is a constellation of the zodiac, commonly depicted as a centaur drawing a bow. Sagittarius lies between Scorpius to the west and Capricornus to the east. Its brighter stars form an easily recognizable teapot shape.
Notable features
The constellation is easily recognizable through an asterism called the Teapot. The stars Kaus Media (δ), Kaus Australis (ε), Ascella (ζ), and φ Sagitarii form the body of the pot, Kaus Borealis (λ) is the point of th elid, Alnasl (γ) is the tip of the spout, and Nunki (σ) and τ Sagitarii are the handle.
The α star, Rukbat, is nowhere near the brightest star of the constellation, having a magnitude of only 4,0.
Notable deep-sky objects
The Milky Way is at its densest as it passes through Sagittarius, as this is where the galactic centre lies. Consequently, Sagittarius contains many star clusters and nebulae. One of the brightest of the star clusters is M55, about 7,5° west of δ Sgr.
The constellation contains nebulae such as the Lagoon Nebula (M8), near λ Sagitarii, beautiful in telescopes; the Omega, Swan, or Horseshoe Nebula (M17), near the border with Scutum; and the Trifid Nebula (M20), a large nebula containing some very young, hot stars.
The complex radio source Sagittarius A associated with the galactic centre is also here. Astronomers believe that Sagittarius A may contain a supermassive black hole.
Mythology
In Greek mythology, Sagittarius was the centaur Chiron, aiming his bow at the Scorpion.
Astrology
The astrological sign Sagittarius (November 22 - December 21) is associated with the constellation.
In some cosmologies, Sagittarius is associated with the classical element Fire, and thus called a Fire Sign (with Aries and Leo). Its polar opposite is Gemini.
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Capricornus is one of the constellations of the zodiac. It is commonly called Capricorn, especially in astrology. It represents a horned goat, although it is commonly called the sea-goat. Capricornus is one of the 88 modern constellations, and was also one of the 48 constellations listed by Ptolemy. Under its modern boundaries it is bordered by Aquila, Sagittarius, Microscopium, Piscis Austrinus and Aquarius.
Notable features
This constellation is the dimmest in the zodiac besides Cancer. Its brighter stars are found on a triangle whose vertices are Giedi (α), Deneb Algedi (δ), and ω Capricorni.
History
This constellation is one of the oldest to have been identified, possibly the oldest, despite its dimness. Depictions of a goat or goat-fish have been found on Babylonian tablets dating back three thousand years. The constellation may owe its antiquity to the fact that at that time, the northern hemisphere's Winter Solstice occurred while the sun was in Capricorn. The concern for the sun's rebirth might have rendered astronomical and astrological observation of this region of space very important.
For the same region, the sun's most southerly position, which is attained at the northern hemisphere's winter solstice, is called the Tropic of Capricorn, a term which also applies to the line on earth where the sun is directly overhead at noon on that solstice.
Due to the precession of the equinoxes, the December solstice no longer takes place while the sun is in Capricorn, but the astrological period called Capricorn begins at approximately the same time as the solstice.
The planet Neptune was discovered in this constellation by German astronomer Johann Galle, near Deneb Algedi (δ Capricorni) on September 23, 1846.
Mythology
This constellation is sometimes identified as Amalthea, the goat that suckled the infant Zeus after his mother Rhea saved him from being devoured by his father Cronos in Greek mythology. The goat's broken horn was transformed into the cornucopia or horn of plenty. Some ancient sources claim that this derives from the sun "taking nourishment" while in the constellation, in preparation for its climb back northward.
However, the constellation is often depicted as a sea-goat, a goat with a fish's tail. One myth that deals with this says that when the goat-god Pan was attacked by the monster Typhon, he dove into the Nile; the parts above the water remained a goat, but those under the water transformed into a fish.
In Sumeria, the constellation was associated with the god Ea or Enki, who brought culture out of the sea to humankind.
The constellation is located in an area of sky called the Sea or Water, consisting of many watery constellations such as Aquarius, Pisces, and Eridanus.
Astrology
The astrological sign Capricorn (December 22-January 19) is associated with the constellation. In some cosmologies, Capricorn is associated with the classical element Earth, and thus called an Earth Sign (with Taurus and Virgo). Its polar opposite is Cancer.
برج الدلو:
Aquarius, the water bearer, is one of the oldest recognized constellations in the sky. It is found in a region often called the Sea due to its profusion of watery constellations such as Cetus, Pisces, Eridanus, etc. Sometimes, the river Eridanus is depicted spilling from Aquarius' watering pot.
Notable features
Some principal stars in Aquarius include:
α Aquarii, Sadalmelik ("lucky one of the king"), found nearly on the celestial equator;
β Aquarii, Sadalsud ("luckiest of the lucky");
γ Aquarii, Sadachbia ("lucky star of hidden things");
δ Aquarii, Skat or Scheat ("shin").
The stars γ, ζ, η, and π Aquarii compose an asterism called the Urn, representing Aquarius' watering pot.
Two meteor showers originate in Aquarius: the Eta Aquarids (near May 4) and the Delta Aquarids (near June 28), both providing about 20 meteorites per hour.
Notable deep sky objects
There are two deep sky objects which is on the Messier catalog, the globular cluster M72 and the open cluster M73.
Two planetary nebulae are found in Aquarius: NGC 7009, called the Saturn Nebula due to its resemblance to the planet, to the southeast of η Aquarii; and NGC 7293, the famous Helix Nebula, southwest of δ Aquarii.
History
The constellation was immortalized in the 1960s, proclaimed the Age of Aquarius. However, there is no standard definition for astrological ages, so the age of Aquarius could begin in 2150 or even 2660, depending on the preferred definition.
Mythology
Aquarius has been variously identified through the ages. The best-known myth identifies Aquarius with Ganymede, a beautiful boy with whom Zeus fell in love, and whom he carried off to Olympus to be cupbearer to the gods. Crater is sometimes identified as his cup.
Astrology
The astrological sign Aquarius (January 20 - February 18) is associated with the constellation. In some cosmologies, Aquarius is associated with the Classical Element Air, and thus called an Air Sign (with Libra and Gemini). Its polar opposite is Leo.
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Pisces (the fishes) is a zodiac constellation which lies between Aquarius to the west and Aries to the east.
Notable features
Pisces is quite a dim constellation; the brightest star, η Piscium, is only of magnitude 3,6. α Piscium is called Alrisha, "the knot," being the knot that ties the two fishes together.
The point at which the ecliptic crosses the celestial equator heading northward, the vernal equinox, is found about 8° south of the star ω Piscium.
Notable deep-sky objects
M74, an attractive but dim spiral galaxy, is found just northeast of η Piscium.
Mythology
According to one version in Greek mythology, this constellation represents fish that Aphrodite and Eros transformed into to escape the monstrous Typhon. The two fishes are often depicted tied together with a cord, to make sure they do not lose one another.
Astrology
The astrological sign Pisces (February 19 - March 20) is associated with the constellation. In some cosmologies, Pisces is associated with the Classical Element Water, and thus called a Water Sign (with Cancer and Scorpio). Its polar opposite is Virgo.