Ever since humans walked the Earth, great significance has been given to the celestial objects in the sky.
For the Greeks, stars were a way of preserving folklore andmythology.
Here are 10 famous constellations you should know.
Photo:Stock Photosfrom Pavel Malitskyi/Shutterstock
Its also one of the biggest, spreading out over 980 square degrees.
The name Aquarius means cupbearer or water bearer in Latin.
InGreek mythology, the constellation represents Ganymede, a handsome young man who was the object of Zeus affection.
Aquarius (Photo:Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)
Aquarius can be seen in the spring in the Southern Hemisphere and the fall in the Northern Hemisphere.
Aries has three major stars that form an asterism, or pattern of starsHamal, Sheratan, and Mesarthim.
Hamal is the brightest star and the 48th brightest in the sky.
Aries (Photo:Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)
Its name is taken from the Arabic word meaning lamb or head of the ram.
The constellation is visible in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres.
The Cancer constellation occupies an area of 506 square degrees and lies between Leo and Gemini.
Cancer (Photo:Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)
Cancer is visible in the Northern Hemisphere in the early spring.
It can be seen in the Southern Hemisphere during autumn.
As the legend goes, Cassiopeia boasted that she was more beautiful than the sea nymphs called the Nereids.
Cassiopeia (Photo:Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)
Cassiopeia, Cepheus, and Princess Andromeda were all elevated to the sky as stars.
Gemini is the 30th largest constellation in the sky, occupying an area of 514 square degrees.
Gemini means the twins in Latin.
Gemini (Photo:Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)
The constellation represents the twins Castor and Polydeuces (or Pollux) in Greek Mythology.
She became pregnant with the immortal Polydeuces and Helen (who later became the legendary Helen of Troy).
Leda later also became pregnant with Castor and Clytemnestra.
Sagittarius (Photo:Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)
These siblings were fathered by Tyndareus and, unlike Zeus children, they were mortal.
Despite having different fathers, Castor and Polydeuces grew up together and were very close.
Lynceus killed Castor by stabbing him with a sword.
Taurus (Photo:Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)
The Gemini constellation is best viewed is during February.
Alongside them are a couple of star lines forming their bodies, giving the constellation a rough U shape.
Latin for the word archer, Sagittarius is usually depicted as a centaur with a bow and arrow.
Ursa Major (Photo:Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)
The story behind this famous constellation is based on Sumerian mythology, and there are different interpretations.
Winter is the best time to view the constellation in the Southern Hemisphere.
Covering over 797 square degrees, it is most famous for its giant red star called Aldebaran.
Ursa Minor (Photo:Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)
In Greek Mythology, there are several stories involving the bull.
He used the disguise to carry Europa away to Crete on his back.
Always visible in the Northern Hemisphere, its one of the most recognized star patterns.
Canis major (Photo:Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)
Its name in Latin means greater bear or she bear.
As the Greek myth goes, Zeus fell in love with a young nymph named Callisto.
Hera, Zeuss wife, was jealous and transformed Callisto into a bear.
Pegasus (Photo:Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)
Zeus intervened and turned Acras into a bear too.
He placed Callisto (Ursa Major) and her son (Ursa Minor) permanently in the night sky.
Ursa Major, or the Great Bear, is best viewed during April.
Virgo (Photo:Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)
Ursa Minor, also known as the Little Dipper, is famous for containing Polaris, the North Star.
The constellation is visualized as a baby bear with an unusually long tail.
Like Ursa Major, this constellation is visible all year round.
Orion (Photo:Wikimedia Commons,CC BY-SA 4.0)
Along with Canis Minor, it’s typically seen as a dog following the hunter Orion.
This constellation contains the brightest star in the night sky, Sirius.
Canis Major is often shown chasing a hare, which represents the Lepus constellation next to Orion.
Eventually it found its way into the hands of Procris, an Athenian princess.
Her husband Cephalus took the dog out to hunt down a fox that no one could catch.
Thanks to Sirius, it’s fairly easy to spot.
Just look at Orion’s belt and draw an imaginary diagonal line down to the left.
This will lead you to Sirius, which is the dog’s chest.
The brightest star in the constellation is Epsilon Pegasi, which forms the creature’s nose.
Pegasus belonged to Poseidon, the god of the sea, earthquakes, and storms.
In a battle between Perseus and Medusa, Perseus decapitated her and the winged horse sprang from her blood.
Pegasus was stolen by the Greek heroBellerophonwith the help of Athena and Poseidon.
Pegasus allowed Bellerophon to ride him to make it defeat the monstrous Chimera.
However, Bellerophon later fell from the creatures back while trying to reach Mount Olympus.
After some time, the riderless Pegasus reached Olympus and Zeus transformed him into the famous constellation.
Pegasus was also known for bringing thunder and lightning to Zeus whenever he needed it.
If you are below the equator, look for Pegasus from late winter until spring.
The Virgo name is Latin for virgin.
The constellation Virgo is often said to personifyPersephone, the daughter of Demeter, the harvest goddess.
Demeter was so saddened by the loss that she abandoned her role as the goddess of fruitfulness and fertility.
He also ordered that Persephone abstain from food until her return.
However, by March and April the constellation is visible all night.
Virgo can easily be spotted thanks to its bright blue-white star, Spica.
In mythology, Orion was a supernaturally gifted hunter who was the son of Poseidon.
He proclaimed himself as the greatest hunter in the world.
Out of compassion, Zeus put Orion into the sky.
Orions Belt includes the three most prominent stars in the constellation: Alnilam, Mintaka, and Alnitak.
The Orion Nebula acts as the middle star in Orions sword, which hangs off Orion’s Belt.
In the sky, Orion is posed fighting against Taurus the bull with a shield and club.
Orion is clearly visible in the night sky from November to February.
The article has been edited and updated.
