Constellations
I am a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and currently sit on the council. I presented a series of astronomy talks on YouTube called ‘The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Cosmos. I also present lectures on cruise ships all over the world, and to various clubs and societies at home. I have a monthly astronomy feature on BBC Radio York and my own weekly Astronomy Show on a community radio station called Drystone Radio, which can be heard on line. I also write a monthly ‘What’s in the night sky?’ feature for the Craven Herald newspaper which covers the Yorkshire Dales.
- Update frequency
- every day
- Average duration
- 5 minutes
- Episodes
- 89
- Years Active
- 2021
Vulpecula the Fox
Introduced by the Polish astronomer Johannes Hevelius in the 1680s this faint constellation was orginally called Vulpecula cum Anser, the Fox and Goose. Since then however the goose is no more!!
00:03:29 |
Mon 22 Mar 2021
Volans the Flying Fish
This constellation on the bordres with Carina was introduced on the Uranometria star map by Johann Bayer in 1603.
00:02:13 |
Mon 22 Mar 2021
Virgo the Virgin
The 2nd largest constellation in the sky. many myths are associated with this constellation, which has usually been seen as a beautiful and virtuous maiden.
00:07:40 |
Sun 21 Mar 2021
Vela the Sails
Formerly a part of the ancient constellation of Argo Navis, representing the ship of Jason and the Argonauts, until that vessel was broken up by the French astronomer Lacaille in the 1750s.
00:04:01 |
Sat 20 Mar 2021
Ursa Minor the Lesser Bear
Ursa Minor contains the present North Pole Star which lies within one degree of the North Celestial Pole, this star is called Polaris.
00:05:31 |
Fri 19 Mar 2021
Ursa Major the Great Bear
The 3rd largest constellation in the sky. Its central feature is the seven stars that make up the shape variously called the Plough or Big Dipper, this is probably the best known of all the star patt…
00:12:59 |
Fri 19 Mar 2021
Tucana the Toucan
A constellation near the South Pole of the sky, introduced by Johann Bayer on his uranometria star chart of 1603.
00:04:04 |
Fri 19 Mar 2021
Triangulum Australe the Southern Triangle
A small but readily distinguishable constellation introduced in 1603 by the German astronomer Johann Bayer as a southern equivalent of the northern triangle, Triangulum.
00:02:18 |
Thu 18 Mar 2021
Triangulum the Triangle
A small but distictive constellation lying between Andromeda and Aries, consisiting of three main stars that form a thin delta shape; the Greek referred to it as Deltoton.
00:04:23 |
Thu 18 Mar 2021
Telescopium the Telescope
A constellation invented by the Frenchman Lacaille to honour the most important of astronomical instruments. As with so many of Lacaille's constellations it is faint and contrived.
00:01:56 |
Thu 18 Mar 2021
Taurus the Bull
One of the most ancient constellations, Taurus has been known to peoples throughout the world since the dawn of civilization, for the bull's strength and fertility mean it has always held an honoured…
00:08:10 |
Wed 17 Mar 2021
Sextant the Sextant
A barren constellation south of Leo, introduced in the 1680s by the Polish astronomer Hevelius. It commemorates the instrument he used for observing star positions.
00:01:59 |
Tue 16 Mar 2021
Serpens the Serpent
An ancient constellation, representing a serpent wound around the body of the serpent bearer, Ophiuchus. In fact Serpens is split into two halves, one either side of Ophiuchus, Serpens Caput, the Hea…
00:03:54 |
Tue 16 Mar 2021
Scutum the Shield
A faint constellation between Aquila and Serpens, introduced in the 1680s by the Polish astronomer Johannes Hevelius in honour of his patron, King John Sobieski III.
00:02:49 |
Mon 15 Mar 2021
Sculptor the Sculptor
One of the faint and half forgotten constellations introduced in the 1750s by Lacaille to fill in the southern hemisphere. This constellation represents a sculptor's workshop, for reasons that remain…
00:02:02 |
Mon 15 Mar 2021
Scorpius the Scorpion
A resplendent constellation lying ina rich area of the Milky Way, and packed with excitingobjects for people to see either with the naked eye or small telescopes.
00:10:35 |
Sun 14 Mar 2021
Sagittarius the Archer
An ancient constellation depicting a centaur, half man, half beast, with a raised bow and arrow. Sagittarius has been visualised this way since at least the times of ancient Greece.
00:15:56 |
Sat 13 Mar 2021
Sagitta the Arrow
Despite its small size, it is the 3rd smallest constellation in the sky, this distinctive arrow shaped group was known to the ancient Greeks.
00:04:20 |
Fri 12 Mar 2021
Reticulum the Net
A small faint constellation introduced in the 1750s by Lacaille to commemorate an instrument known as the reticule which he used for measuring the positions on his survey of the southern sky.
00:02:39 |
Fri 12 Mar 2021
Pyxis the Compass
The smallest and least impressive of the four parts into which the constellation of Argo Navis was divided in the 1750s by Nicolas Louis de Lacaille.
00:02:16 |
Thu 11 Mar 2021
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