How constellations were named

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Today we're going to discuss about How constellations were named.

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Constellation names, like the names of stars, come from a variety of sources and each has a different story and meaning to it.

Old constellations’ names usually come from Greek mythology, while the constellations created more recently were mostly named after scientific instruments and exotic animals. However, there are no strict rules because the stories of the constellations differ from one constellation to the next.

Constellation names that come from Greek mythology or refer to figures from Greek and Roman myths, as zodiac constellations do, are probably the ones that are best known. They were created and documented by the Greek astronomer Ptolemy in the 2nd century A.D.

Constellations named after scientific instruments were mostly created by Nicolas Louis de Lacaille in the 18th century. They include Norma, Circinus, Telescopium, Microscopium, Octans, and Reticulum.

The constellations that carry names of exotic animals were for the most part introduced by the Dutch navigators Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick de Houtman in the 16th century, and mainly include members of the Johann Bayer family: Dorado, Grus, Tucana, Chamaeleon and Volans among others.

There are so many constellations and on that constellation's name has a meaning behind it.

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Reference:

http://www.constellation-guide.com/constellation-names/