Constellations play an important role in astronomy; Astrology also uses the image of the zodiac, but astronomers regard astrology as pseudoscience without using real scientific methods.

Basically, it is a random process to group stars into constellations. There are different constellations composed of different stars in different civilizations-although some constellations composed of more conspicuous stars are roughly the same in different civilizations, such as Orion and Scorpio.

The International Astronomical Union divides the sky into 88 official constellations with precise boundaries, so that every star in the sky belongs to a specific constellation. Most of these official constellations are based on the ancient Greek traditional constellations handed down from the Middle Ages.

For the convenience of recognizing stars, people divide several areas according to the natural distribution of stars in the sky. Different sizes. Each region is called a constellation. Connect the bright stars in the same constellation with lines to form various figures. According to their shapes, they are similar to animals and utensils.

[ Edit this paragraph] Origin

The constellation originated in Babylon, one of the four ancient civilizations. About 5, years ago, a group of Babylonian shepherds lived a nomadic life in Mesopotamia. During their wandering life as shepherds, they still don't forget to observe the stars twinkling in the night sky every day. Over time, they can see the regular changes of time and season from the dynamics of the stars. Every night, they look at the sheep and observe all kinds of stars, connect the brighter stars with each other, and associate all kinds of animals, utensils or even gods they believe in from the connected shapes, and name them, creating the so-called constellation. It is said that there are always more than 2 constellation names, such as the so-called zodiac 12 constellation, which was already born at that time. Since then, the ancient Babylonians continued to divide the sky into many regions and put forward new constellations. However, at that time, constellations were of little use, and even less were discovered and named. At first, the 12 constellations on the zodiac were only used to measure time, not to represent people's character as they are now. Around 1 BC, 3 constellations have been proposed. There are the Tigris River and the Euphrates River flowing from northwest to southeast and pouring into the Persian Gulf, so it is also called the "two-river basin" area.

after the culture of the two river basins spread to ancient Greece, it promoted the cultural development of ancient Greece. Ancient Greek astronomers supplemented and developed the constellation of Babylon and compiled the ancient Greek constellation table. In the 2nd century A.D., Ptolemy, an ancient Greek astronomer, synthesized the astronomical achievements at that time and compiled 48 constellations. Connect the main bright stars in the constellation with imaginary lines, imagine them as images of animals or characters, and give them appropriate names in combination with fairy tales. This is the origin of the constellation name. Most of the 48 constellations in Greek fairy tales live in the northern sky and north and south of the equator.

After the Middle Ages, the rise of capitalism in Europe required outward expansion, and the maritime industry was greatly developed. Ships sailing on the sea need navigation at any time, and the stars are the best street lamps. Among the stars, the constellation has a special shape and is the easiest to observe. Therefore, the constellation has attracted widespread attention. When Magellan sailed around the world in the 16th century, he not only used constellations to navigate and orient, but also studied constellations.

In 1922, the General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union decided to divide the sky into 88 constellations, the names of which were basically in accordance with the historical names.

There are nearly 6, stars visible to the naked eye, each of which can be classified into a unique constellation. Each constellation can be identified by the shape of the bright stars in it.

in order to facilitate research, people divide the starry sky into several regions, which are called constellations. China has long divided the sky into three walls and twenty-eight nights. The Records of Historical Records and Official Records are quite detailed. Sanyuan is three areas around the North Celestial Pole, namely Ziweiyuan, Taiweiyuan and Tianshiyuan. Twenty-eight lodgings are located in 28 areas near the ecliptic and the white road, namely, seven lodgings in the east, seven lodgings in the south, seven lodgings in the west and seven lodgings in the north

The seven lodgings of Donggong Qinglong are: Jiao, Kang, Di, Fang, Xin, Wei and Ji;

The seven lodgings that Suzaku in Nangong belongs to are: well, ghost, willow, star, Zhang, wing and bird;

The seven lodgings of Xigong White Tiger are: Kui, Lou, Wei, Chang, Bi, Gou and Shen;

Bei Gong Xuanwu (tortoise and snake) belongs to seven lodgings: Dou, Niu, Female, Deficiency, Danger, Room and Wall.

China's achievements in stargazing are earlier than those in the west. People in China say that there are 28 places in the Three Walls, and the constellations in the sky are divided into three blocks and 28 categories, instead of only 12 constellations in the west. One of the most important is Ziweiyuan. China's astrology, now collectively referred to as the Purple Constellation, is different from the twelve constellations in the West. The Chinese constellation * * * has 14 main stars, namely Chinese, cat, sun, Wu Qu, Tiantong, Lian Zhen, Tianfu, Taiyin, Wolf-greedy, Giant Gate, Tianxiang, Tianliang, Seven Shas and Pojun. According to the Book of Changes, it can be divided into yin and yang, and the corresponding personality can be divided into four categories: pioneering, leading, supporting and cooperative.

In 1928, the International Astronomical Union officially announced the international 88-constellation scheme. At the same time, it is stipulated that vernal equinox and the equator in 1875 should be taken as the benchmark. According to the different positions of the 88 constellations on the celestial sphere and the appearance of the stars, they are divided into five major regions, namely, the North Celestial Constellation (5), the North Celestial Constellation (4 ~ 9, 19), the Zodiac Constellation (12 constellations near the ecliptic on the celestial sphere), the Zodiac Constellation (1) and the Southern Celestial Constellation (-3 ~-9). The 88 constellations in the whole day are:

North Sky Gongji Constellations (5 constellations): Ursa Major (closest to the north celestial pole), Ursa Major, Cassiopeia, Draco and Cepheus.

North Star (19 constellations): Scorpion, Andromeda, Deer Leopard, Auriga, Canis, Foxes, Cygnus, Little Lion, Perseus, Shepherd, Wuxian, Houbei, Corona Nordica, Tmall, Lyra, Dolphin, Pegasus, Triangle (small).

zodiac signs (12): Cancer, Aries, Gemini, Aquarius, Virgo, Leo, Taurus, Pisces, Capricorn, Scorpio, Libra and Sagittarius.

Zodiac constellations (1): Sagittarius, Canis minor, Eagle, Ophiuchus, Hydra, Sextant, Ophiuchus, Unicorn, Orion and Cetacea.

Southern Constellations (***42): Tiantan, Painting Frame, Fly, Mountain Case, India, Tianyan, Flying Fish, Rectangular Ruler, Swordfish, Clock, Rhododendron, Southern Triangle, Compass, Dragonfly, Telescope, Water Snake, etc.

[ edit this paragraph] naming of stars

In the west, most stars are named according to their constellations. Such as Alpha Centauri (Bayer designation), Cygnus 61 (Flamsteed designation), Lyra RR (Variable Designation) and so on. However, in Chinese, the ancient star names of China are often used. For example, Alpha Centauri is also called "Nanmen II" (Nanmen is actually one of the ancient star officials in China). For more information about star naming, please see star naming.

[ edit this paragraph] Comparison table of constellation names and Latin names

Latin abbreviations of Chinese names

Andromeda And Andromeda 722 1

Antlia Ant Pump 239 2

Apus Aps Celestial 26 2

Aquarius Aqr Aquarius 98 9

Aq. Uila Aql Aquarius 652 7

Ara Ara Aquarius 237 3

Aries Aries 441 5

Auriga Aur Auriga 657 9

Bootes Boo Shepherd 97 9

Caelum Cae Sculpture 125 1.

Camelopardalis Cam 757 5

Cancer Cnc cancer 56 6

Canes Venaticcvn Canis 465 3

Canis Major CMa Canis 38 8

Canis Minor CMi is small. Canine 183 2

Capricorn Cap Capricorn 414 5

Carina Car 494 11

Cassiopeia Cas Cassiopeia 598 9

Centaurus Cen 16 15

Cepheus Cep. Cepheus 588 6

Cetus Cet Whale 1231 1

Chamaeleon Cha Weir Dragonfly 132 2

Cirinus Cir Compass 93 2

Columba Col Pigeon 27 4

After Coma Berenices com. Hair stand 386 5

Corona Austrilis CrA Southern Corona 128 25

Corona Borealis CrB Northern Corona 179 2

Corvus Crv Ravine 184 15

Crater Crt Grand Master 282 2

Crux Cru. Southern Cross 68 3

Cygnus Cyg Cygnus 84 15

Delphinus Del Dolphin 189 3

Dorador Swordfish 179 2

Draco Dra Draco 183 8

Equus Equus 72 1.

Eridanus Eri Bojiang Tower 1138 1

Fornax For Heavenly Furnace Tower 398 35

Gemini Gem 514 7

Grus Gru Crane Tower 366 3

Hercules Her Wuxian Tower 1225 14

Horol. Ogium Hor clock stand 249 2

Hydra Hya hydra 133 2

Hydra Hyi hydra 243 2

Indus Indy 294 2

Lacerta Lac Scorpion 21 35

Leo Leo 947. 7

Leo Minor LMi Leo 232 2

Lepus Lep Celestial Rabbit 29 4

Libra 538 5

Lupus Lupus Jackal 334 7

Lynx Lyn Tmall 545 6

Lyra Lyr Day. Piano seat 286 15

Mensa Men mountain seat 153 15

Microseopium Mic microscope seat 21 2

Monoceros Mon unicorn seat 482 85

Musca Mus fly seat 138 3

Norma Nor rectangular ruler seat 165 2.

Octans Oct South Pole 291 35

Ophiuchus Ophiuchus 948 1

Orion Orion 594 12

Pavo Pav Peacock 378 45

Pegasus Pegasus 121 1

Perse. Us Per Perseus 615 9

Phoenix Phe Phoenix 469 4

Pictor Pic easel 247 3

Pisces Psc Pisces 889 75

Pisces austrinus PSA South Pisces 245 25

Puppis Pu. P stern seat 673 14

Pyxis Pyx compass seat 221 25

reticular seat 114 15

Sagittarius SGE Sagittarius 8 2

Sagittarius Sgr Sagittarius 867 115

Scorpio SCOPIUS. 497 1

Sculptor Scl Jade House 475 3

Scutum Sct Shield House 19 2

Serpens Serpent Serpent 637 6

Sextans Sextant House 314 25

Taurus Taurus 797 125 < P > telescope base 252 3

triangle base 132 15

triangle base 11 2

cuckoo base 295 25

Ursa Major UMa. Ursa minoumi Ursa 128 125

Ursa Minoumi 256 2

Vela Vel 5 11

Virgo Virgo 1294 95 (see "Virgo")