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constellation
one of the stellar patterns identified by name, usually of mythological gods, people, animals, or objects. Also, the region of the smy contatining that star pattern
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asterism
a named grouping of stars that is not one of the recognized constellations.
EX: The Big Dipper and the Pleiades
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magnitude scale
the astonomical brightness scale. The larger the number, the fainter the star.
*if the star is a negative denomination then it is considered a brighter star
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apparent visual magnitude
the brightness of a star are seen by the human eyes on earth
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precession
the slow change in the direction of earth's axsis of rotation. One cycle takes nearly 26,000 years
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celestial sphere
an imaginary sphere of very large radius surrounding earth and to which the planets; stars, sun, and moon seem to be attached.
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Horizon
the circular boundary between the sky and earth
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zenith
the point on the celestial sphere directly above the observer
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nadir
the point on the celestial sphere directly below the observer
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angular diameter
the angle formed by lines extending from the observer to opposite sides of an object; for example, the angular diameter of the sun, moon, or Andromeda Galaxy
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circumpolar constellation
a constellation so close to one of the celestial poles that it never sets or never rises as seen from a particular latitude
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north celestial pole
the point on the celestrial sphere directly above Earth's north pole
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south celestial pole
the point on the celestrial sphere directy above the Earth's south pole
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celestial equator
the imaginary line around the sky directly above Earth's equator. The line divides the sky into two hemispheres
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