The Zodiac

Zodiac, imaginary belt in the celestial sphere, extending about 8° on either side of the ecliptic, the apparent path of the Sun among the stars. The width of the zodiac was determined originally so as to include the orbits of the Sun and Moon and of the five planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn) that were known to the people of ancient times.

The zodiac is divided into 12 sections of 30° each, which are called the signs of the zodiac. Starting with the vernal equinox and then proceeding eastward along the ecliptic, each of the divisions is named for the constellation situated within its limits in the 2nd century BC.

The names of the zodiacal signs are Aries, the Ram; Taurus, the Bull; Gemini, the Twins; Cancer, the Crab; Leo, the Lion; Virgo, the Virgin; Libra, the Balance; Scorpio, the Scorpion; Sagittarius, the Archer; Capricorn, the Goat; Aquarius, the Water Bearer; and Pisces, the Fishes

Scorpius

Legend has it that a scorpion killed the great hunter Orion by stinging him. The Gods then granted Orion’s dying wish that he never be in the sky at the same time as the scorpion. This is why, if you believe such things, that Orion is the dominant winter constellation while Scorpius the Scorpion dominates the summer nights. Scorpius is a Zodiac constellation, with those born between Oct. 22 and Nov. 21 falling under this astrological sign.

How to find the scorpius constellation:  

 

1.- Venture outside and look to the southwest horizon late on a summer’s evening. This is the optimum time to view Scorpius. Scorpius lies in the Milky Way, the part of our galaxy thick with stars. You will need to be able to get a clear look at the horizon to see all of Scorpius.

2.-Focus your attention on the reddish star Antares. This is the heart of Scorpius. It will be above the horizon and extremely obvious. Antares is what is called a red giant star and is many times larger than our own sun. Antares dominates this area of the sky, with no other stars nearly as luminous anywhere close to it. It is 500 light years from Earth and shines with a steady red hue. Antares means “rival of Mars,” which is a reference to how red it appears in comparison to the red planet.

3.- Glance to the right of Antares to see the head of Scorpius. Five stars make up the head. The constellation Libra is beyond these stars and once was included as the “scorpion’s claws.” The top of Scorpius is like a small curve of stars, with the curve coming back toward Antares.

4.- Look to the southwest of Antares for the rest of the scorpion’s body. The whole of Scorpius has the appearance of a fish hook or a wavy letter “J.” From Antares and down, the stars complete this shape, culminating in the tail of the scorpion. There is a small triangle of stars that form the stinger.

5.-Use binoculars to see the many notable objects in Scorpius. There are several globular clusters, or groups of stars, many light years away held together by gravity. Train your binoculars to the northwest of Antares and you will see a myriad of stars that the naked eye does not see. This part of the Milky Way is rich in stars.

Aries

Is the first sign of the greek zodiac .  Features a line of three stars.2000 years ago, the Spring Equinox occured when the Sun was in this constellation. , marking the beginning of spring.

Aries - Latin for "the Ram"

Aries , the golden ram

The history of the Golden Ram begins when Athamas, king of Orchomenus, had left his wife, to marry Ino, who was a daughter of  the king of Thebes.

In order to secure that her own son would inherit the kingdom, Ino planned the destruction of Athamas'son, Phrixus and his daughter Helle.  Messengers were sent to the Delphic Oracle for guidance. Ino then bribed the returning messengers to change the oracle: Phrixus must be sacrificad. But just as he raised the knife over his son, a golden winged ram appeared, taking Phrixus and Helle on his back and carry them away.

While they were crossing Europe from Asia, Helle fell into the water and die. Phrixus came safely to the country of Colchis on the Black Sea. The people,were kind to Phrixus and their king, Aetes let him marry one of his daughters. In gratitude to god Zeus for having being saved, Phrixus sacrificed the ram and gave his golden fleece as a present, to king Aetes.

How to find Aries in the night sky

Aries, a constellation in the northern hemisphere, is best visible in the winter and autumn skies.

Aries looks nothing like a ram. However, it is possible to identify Aries using some of its neighboring constellations as guides. Aries have one semi-bright star called Hamal. If you can find it, you have basically identified Aries. Hamal is west of of Pegasus and northeast of Taurus. When you spot Hamal, look to the southeast close by for the next star of Aries. After that, look downward from the second star and you will have seen all there is to see of this Aries constellation.

Taurus

Taurus - this constellation takes its name from the Greek Tauros, meaning the Bull.

Taurus, the bull

The constellation Taurus may also allude to the Greek story of Europa and the Bull. Europa was daughter of King Agenor. One fine spring day, Princess Europa went to the seashore to gather flowers. Zeus, who had fallen in love with Europa, seized the opportunity.

Zeus transformed himself into a magnificent white bull and Europa noticed the wonderful white beast, and his misterious eyes.

Europa wove wreathes of flowers for the beast, and wrapped them around his horns. She led him around the meadow, and he was as docile as a lamb. Then, as he trotted down to the seashore, she jumped onto his shoulders. Suddenly, to her surprise and fright, he plunged into the sea and carried the princess to Crete.

As they reached the Cretan shore, Zeus then turned into an eagle and ravaged Europa. She bore three sons, the first of which was Minos.

Minos is said to have introduced the bull cult to the Cretans. He had Daedalus build a labyrinth in the depths of his palace at Knossus, which became the home of the Minotaur Seven young men and seven maidens were ritually sacrificed to the Minotaur until Theseus killed it.

How to find Taurus in the night sky

During the winter months, the Constellation Taurus is located in the night sky of the northern hemisphere.. Taurus is one of the easiest constellations in the sky to identify. Is northeast of Orion the Hunter and appears to actually be charging Orion. It is easily recognized by its V shape. The brightest star found in Taurus is Aldebaran, which forms the eye of the bull when traced in profile, with the Hyades cluster of stars forming the line along the edge of the face. On the western side of the constellation, Beta Tauri and Zeta, two separate star systems both bright and easily visible with the naked eye, form the two horns of the bull.

Gemini

The Summer Solstice occurs when the Sun is in Gemini (21 to 22 June). A prominant constellation above Orion.

Gemini - "Gemini" is the Latin translation of the Greek Didymoi, "the Twins." 

Gemini, the Twins

Pollux and Castor were twin brothers. They were the twin sons of a mortal woman Leda –they had different fathers. Pollux was a son of the chief Olympian god Zeus, and was immortal. Castor, however, was the son of a mortal man, and so he could die.

Their love and devotion for one another was legendary, and they never separated from one another.
The story goes that one day in battle, Castor (the mortal brother) was about to die. So Pollux asked his father, Zeus, for the permission to die along side of Castor. It was Pollux's great desire that the brothers might remain united even in death.Instead of allowing Pollux to die, Zeus decided that the two brothers would now share in the immortality of Pollux and remain together forever.

How to find Gemini in the night sky

The Twins are best seen during the winter and spring in the Northern Hemisphere.If you live in the Southern Hemisphere, look for Gemini in the summer. 

Gemini is very easy to find because is one of the few constellations that actually looks like the figure it represents. Just look for the two bright stars that are almost side by side called Castor and Pollux.They represent the heads of the twins.Gemini is right between Cancer and Taurus.
Remember that Gemini is more than these two stars. Depending on your point of view, you can perceive Gemini as two somewhat straight lines connected at the top. The rest of the stars in Gemini flow down in two lines towards the hunter Orion.

Cancer

Is one of the twelve constellations of the zodiac. Its name is Latin for crab and it is commonly represented as such. Its symbol is  (Unicode ♋). Cancer is small and its stars are faint. It lies between Gemini to the west and Leo to the east, Lynx to the north and Canis Minor and Hydra to the south.


Mythology
Cancer the giant crab, plays a minor role in the Twelve Labors of Hercules. While Hercules was busy fighting the multi-headed monster, Lernaean Hydra, the goddess Hera, who hated her step-son Hercules, sent the Crab to distract him. Cancer tried to kill Hercules, but Hercules kicked Cancer so hard that the crab was sent into the sky.
By other accounts, Cancer grabbed onto the hero's toe with its claws, but barely breaking the rhythm of his great battle with Hydra, Hercules crushed the crab with his foot. Hera, grateful for the little crustacean's heroic but pitiful effort, gave it a place in the sky; but none of its stars were bright because the crab had failed to accomplish its given task. Some scholars have suggested that Cancer was a late add-on to the myth of Hercules to make the Twelve Labors correspond to the twelve signs of the Zodiac.

How to find Cancer in the night sky

Cancer (the Crab)- This is the single hardest constellation to find in the night sky. It requires a completely dark sky. The constellation itself looks like an upside-down "Y". The best way to find Cancer is to find Taurus and Gemini, draw a line through them and continue on to the left until you come to a big empty spot in the sky (it won't take long). The big empty spot is Cancer!

Leo

 Is one of the constellations of the zodiac. Its name is Latin for lion. Its symbol is  ( ♌). Leo lies between dim Cancer to the west and Virgo to the east.


Mithology
The Persians called Leo Ser or Shir; the Turks, Artan; the Syrians, Aryo; the Jewish, Arye; the Indians, Simha, all meaning "lion". In Babylonian astronomy the constellation was called UR.GU.LA - the 'Great Lion'; the bright star, Regulus, that stands at the Lion's breast also had distinctly regal associations as it was known as the King Star.

In Greek mythology, Leo was identified as the Nemean Lion which was killed by Hercules during one of his twelve labours, and subsequently put into the sky.

The Roman poet Ovid called it Herculeus Leo and Violentus Leo. Bacchi Sidus (star of Bacchus) was another of its titles, the god Bacchus always being identified with this animal. However, Manilius called it Jovis et Junonis Sidus (Star of Jupiter and Juno).

Early Hindu astronomers knew it as Asleha and as Sinha, the Tamil Simham.

How to find Leo in the night sky
Leo (the Lion)- Using the same method you just used to find Cancer, keep tracing that line until you hit a backward question mark followed by a triangle. This is the stately Leo. The bright star at the end of Leo's tail is Denebola, which means "the tail". If you cannot find Taurus and Gemini, use the Big Dipper to help you find Leo. Use the two pointer stars that help you find the Little Dipper, only this time trace them away from the North Star. These two stars will lead you to the triangle part of Leo.

virgo

This constellation is also known as the virgin, symbol, Unicode♍,is the second largest constellation in the sky; only Hydra the long dragon is bigger in area.

Virgo is often represented as a "maiden" (as its name indicates). In antiquity, she may have been Isis, the Egyptian protectress of the living and the dead and the principal mother goddess.
She was also Ishtar of the Sumerian-Chaldean civilisations, or "Inanna", meaning Queen of Heaven. Inanna is described by Kramer (The Sumerians) as an ambitious, aggressive, and demanding goddess of love.
In Roman times the goddess Ceres was depicted: the goddess of the growth of food plants and harvests, and particularly corn. Her festival was in the second week of April, the same time that the constellation appears in the Spring skies.
The Romans had simply adopted an earlier Greek goddess, Demeter. This goddess of agriculture was of the highest birth: born to Cronus and Rhea, she was the sister of Zeus. As evidence of her antiquity in Greek lore, her name has been found on a tablet from Pylos dating to the thirteenth century B.C. 

If you want to locate this constellatio follow these instructions:


1.Search for Virgo in the springtime. Wait until about 11:00 p.m. as the weather gets warmer to search for Virgo. In the northern hemisphere, it can best be seen at this time.


2.  Find the Big Dipper. This asterism, a group of stars forming a shape, is like a road map to the other constellations and Virgo is no exception. The Big Dipper will be in the direction of north as it rotates around the northern celestial pole like the hands of a clock. Determine the seven stars that form the shape of a huge ladle in the sky and follow the "handle" of the dipper in an arc out into space until you come to the brilliant star Arcturas, in Bootes the Herdsman.

3. From Arcturus, continue the arc until you come to Spica. Spica is the 15th brightest star in the sky and by far the most luminous in all of the Vorgo constellation. Spica means "ear of wheat," a reference to Virgo being portrayed as the goddess of the harvest in some cultures.


4.  Imagine Virgo as a giant letter "A" laying on its side. It does not resemble a woman or a maiden in any way, shape, or form so if that's what you are expecting, you will be disappointed. Spica marks the bottom of the lower side of the "A," which is wavy in appearance.

libra

This constellation is also known as the balance, symbol, Unicode ♎), is the seventh constellation of the zodiac in the sky.

The Romans invented Libra and gave it importance as a constellation of the Zodiac. Libra was “the Scales of Justice” held by Julius Caesar. Later the scales became associated with Virgo, the Goddess of Justice. The Romans choose a scale because when the zodiac was still in its infancy, some four thousand years ago, the sun passed through this constellation at the autumnal equinox (September 21). That is, day and night were of equal length, and the day would begin to lengthen from that day on. However, the ancient Greeks did not recognize Libra. Instead, they saw it as part of Scorpio. Libra made up the two claws of the scorpion. As a symbol for equality, the constellation came to represent Justice in several middle Eastern cultures.

 If you want to locate this constellatio follow these instructions:

1. Pick a dark and crystal clear night in late spring or early summer in the northern hemisphere. There are no bright stars whatsoever in this constellation, making it hard to find and identify under the best of circumstances.

2.  Find the scorpion of the skies to locate Libra. The constellation Scorpius is used as a guide to find Libra. Containing the red giant star Antares, Scorpius hangs close to the horizon and resembles a scorpion. Libra was part of Scorpius until early Roman astronomers took the “scorpion’s claws” and grouped them into the scales instead. Once you find Scorpius, look to the right of it--this is the area where Libra is.

3.  Look for a triangle of dim stars. This is the upper part of the scales that connects the two balances. It is tilted on its side with the longest side of the triangle facing Scorpius, which would be to Libra's left. Remember, the scales aren’t hanging straight down but off to the left.
4.  Imagine the two scales hanging off the triangle at an angle. The rest of Libra’s stars are even fainter than the ones that make up the triangle. They extend outward from two of the stars on the triangle’s base. There are three stars that comprise one of the scales on the upper part and two that make up the scales on the lower one.

if you can not find it do not give up, after all  Libra the Scales is one of the hardest of the Zodiac constellations to find for the novice stargazer!

Sagittarius

Is a constellation of the zodiac, the one containing the galactic center. Its name is Latin for the archer, and its symbol is  , a stylized arrow. Sagittarius is commonly represented as a centaur drawing a bow. It lies between Ophiuchus to the west and Capricornus to the east.


Mithology

The Babylonians identified Sagittarius as the god Nerigal or Nergal, a strange centaur-like creature firing an arrow from a bow. It is generally depicted with wings, with two heads, one panther head and one human head, as well as a scorpion's stinger raised above its more conventional horse's tail. The Sumerian name Pabilsag is composed of two elements - Pabil, meaning 'elder paternal kinsman' and Sag, meaning 'chief, head'. The name may thus be translated as the 'Forefather' or 'Chief Ancestor'. The figure is reminiscent of modern depictions of Sagittarius.

In Greek mythology, Sagittarius is identified as a centaur: half human, half horse. In some legends, the Centaur Chiron was the son of Philyra and Saturn, who was said to have changed himself into a horse to escape his jealous wife, Rhea. Chiron was eventually immortalised in the constellation of Centaurus or in some version, Sagittarius.

The arrow of this constellation points towards the star Antares, the "heart of the scorpion."

How to find Sagittarius in the night sky
Sagittarius (the Archer)- Beside Scorpio is a cute little constellation that looks like a teapot. This is Sagittarius. A great way to help people see this constellation is to sing the Teapot Song while tracing Sagittarius. When you get to the part that says, "Tip me over and pour me out," trace the "steam" that appears to go through the "spout" of Sagittarius. This is the Sagittarius arm of the Milky Way, and when you look at it, you are looking toward the center of the galaxy.

Capricorn

 Its name is Latin for "horned male goat" or "goat horn", and it is commonly represented in the form of a sea-goat: a mythical creature that is half goat, half fish. Its symbol is 


Mithology

The constellation is usually depicted as a goat with a fish's tail. One myth 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.

Capricorn is sometimes depicted as a sea-goat, and sometimes as a terrestrial goat. The reasons for this are unknown, but the image of a sea-goat goes back at least to Babylonian times. Furthermore, the Sumerian god Enki's symbols included a goat and a fish, which later combined into a single beast, the goat Capricorn, recognized as the Zodiacal constellation Capricornus.

"The symbol of the goat rising from the body of a fish represents with greatest propriety the mountainous buildings of Babylon rising out of its low and marshy situation; the two horns of the goat being emblematic of the two towns, Nineveh and Babylon, the former built on the Tigris, the latter on the Euphrates; but both subjected to one sovereignty."

On the other hand, the constellation of Capricornus 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. As such, it is a symbol of sovereignty.

How to find Capricorn in the night sky
Capricorn (the Goat)- Use that line-drawing method you have been mastering all year to get from Sagittarius to Capricorn. The best way to describe this constellation is to share its common nickname: the "Marilyn Monroe" smile. Capricorn literally looks like the outline of a big smile. Another way to find this constellation is to locate the triangle that the Milky Way goes through. This is the Summer Triangle, and it points right at Capricorn.

acuarius

Aquarius is a member of the Zodiac, a group of constellations that the Sun travels through each year. It is best viewed in the fall in the southern sky, although much of the northern hemisphere can see the Waterbearer in the spring. Aquarius is one of the oldest constellations in the sky

Mithology

Aquarius is sometimes identified with Ganymede, a beautiful youth in Greek mythology with whom Zeus fell in love and, in the disguise of an eagle (represented by the constellation Aquila), carried off to Olympus to be "cup-bearer" to the gods. Aquarius has also been identified as the pourer of the waters that flooded the Earth in the ancient Greek version of the Great Flood myth. As such, the constellation Eridanus the river is sometimes identified as a river being poured by Aquarius.

Aquarius may also, together with the constellation Pegasus, be part of the origin of the myth of the Mares of Diomedes, which forms one of The Twelve Labours of Heracles . Its association with pouring out rivers, and the nearby constellation of Capricornus, may be the source of the myth of the Augean stable, which forms another of the labours.

How to find Aquarius in the night sky 

1 Wait for a dark autumn evening. Aquarius is comprised of very dim stars and is hard to find on even the darkest of nights. If the moon is out or you go outside at dusk, you have little chance of identifying Aquarius.

2 Find the Great Square of Pegasus first. The Great Square is a staple of the autumn night sky. It rises in the east in northern latitudes and can be plainly seen. It comes up like a giant kite or baseball diamond and is, of course, in the shape of a huge square. Aquarius is to the east, or the right, of this shape.

3 Look at the area to the right of what would be first base if the Great Square were a baseball diamond. If you have a keen eye and a clear view of this space, you will see what looks like a small triangle with a star not quite in the center. This is the head and arms of Aquarius, which is supposed to be a man pouring water from a great jar. Other constellations that border Aquarius include Capricornus and Aquila the Eagle. Aquila contains the bright star Altair. If the Great Square is one corner of a triangle, with Altair as another, then Aquarius is in the vicinity of what would complete the triangle.

4 Glance downwards from this triangle and try to make out the "legs" of Aquarius. The Water Bearer is bowlegged for sure. The legs branch out underneath him like a pair of parenthesis. The stars that make them up are not bright by any means, but if you have the right conditions you will see them and be able to discern their shape.

5 The brightest star in Aquarius is just to the right of the triangle that forms his head and arms. It is estimated to be almost 100 times larger than our own sun. There are now more modern and alternative connections of the stars in Aquarius. In the modern version of the February Zodiac constellation, that particular star is located in the neck of the Water Bearer. The newer way astromomers connect the stars in this region does look like a man with a water jug, but the stars they connect are so faint it is difficult to jump to that conclusion.

Pisces

Pisces (constellation): Its brightest star is Piscium, magnitude 3.62. α Piscium (Alrisha) isa double star whose name comes from Arabic meaning "rope". About 54 PisciumPiscium and 109 extrasolar planets have been detected. Van Maanen's Star, the whiteterceraenana closest to the Earth, is in this constellation.

Pisces (Zodiac) is the twelfth sign of the zodiac. Your ruling planet is Neptune. Its elementis Water. Its quality is Mutable. Your representative animal is the Fish, Fish. Its color islavender. Your metal is tin. His gem is the Moonstone. Your numbers are 3 and 9. Yourlucky day is Sunday. Your Natural House is the 12th Astrological House.

History of the constellation Pisces

Pisces or the fish, there are several versions of why the two fish appear in the sky. Higiniospeaks of an egg that fell into the river Euphrates to the land being returned by fish. ThenAphrodite hatched and, thanks to the fish placed in the sky. In another version you talk about two fish rescue Eros Aphrodite and her son when their lives are in danger.

 Another version says that terrified by the giant Typhon, Venus and Cupid were thrown into the river Euphrates and became fishes. To commemorate this event, Minervaplaced the fish in the sky. The Babylonians knew this constellation as Kun, or tails, it is also known as the scraper, which were tied the two fish goddesses, and Simmah Anunitu.how to find the constellacion 

Zodiac constellation Pisces, Aquarius located between the west and Aries to the east                                                                       1-As with many autumn constellations, use the Great Square of Pegasus as a point of reference to locate Pisces. The Great Square looks just the way it sounds, and cannot be missed. It comes up over the horizon as the sun sets and the Earth's rotation brings it into view. Always picture the square as a baseball diamond, with second base rising first, followed by the rest of the constellation. Pegasus is a winged horse in mythology and the square is the main part of the horse's body.

2-Look for Pisces in what would be the first base box seats. If the Great Square is a baseball diamond, then the most recognizable part of Pisces is in back of the first base line. This would be what is called the "Circlet," a group of faint stars that form a circle. Pisces represents two fish held together by a cord on their tails. The Circlet is one of those fish.

3-Try to find the other fish of the Pisces duo on the opposite side of the Great Square. There is no circle of stars to form this fish; if anything, it would be an eel, because it is mostly a straight line of unremarkable and dim stars. However, if you have a small telescope, you can see the spiral galaxy known as M74, about halfway up the line of stars and to their left.

4-See if you can make out a "V." Both of these heavenly fish are connected at their tails. Pisces has a "V" shape, with the Circlet at the top of the upper right portion of the "V." The lack of bright stars in Pisces makes it, along with Aquarius and Aries, the hardest Zodiac constellation to locate in the sky. Pisces lies between these two in the Zodiac, but trying to find it based on that information is not of much help to the novice stargazer.

Read more: How to Identify the March Zodiac Constellation Pisces | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_4529970_identify-march-zodiac-constellation-pisces.html#ixzz1hHZIqyen