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== Observation == {{scalable image|Celestial chart (asterisms and areas) (esp).png|565px|{{center|Spanish-language [[star chart]] with dotted line indicating zodiac (ecliptic)}}}} Constellation positions change throughout the year due to [[night]] on Earth occurring at gradually different portions of [[Earth's orbit|its orbit]] around the Sun. As [[Earth's rotation|Earth rotates]] toward the east, the [[celestial sphere]] appears to rotate west, with stars circling counterclockwise around the northern [[pole star]] and clockwise around the southern pole star.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dyer |first=Alan |date=2016-08-19 |title=The Moving Stars of the Southern Hemisphere |url=https://amazingsky.net/2016/08/19/the-moving-stars-of-the-southern-hemisphere/ |access-date=2024-06-24 |website=The Amazing Sky |language=en}}</ref> Because of Earth's 23.5° [[axial tilt]], the zodiac is distributed equally across hemispheres (along the ecliptic), approximating a [[great circle]]. Zodiacal constellations of the northern sky are [[Pisces (constellation)|Pisces]], [[Aries (constellation)|Aries]], [[Taurus (constellation)|Taurus]], [[Gemini (constellation)|Gemini]], [[Cancer (constellation)|Cancer]], and [[Leo (constellation)|Leo]]. In the southern sky are [[Virgo (constellation)|Virgo]], [[Libra (constellation)|Libra]], [[Scorpius]], [[Sagittarius (constellation)|Sagittarius]], [[Capricornus]], and [[Aquarius (constellation)|Aquarius]].<ref name=":0" />{{efn|[[Astrological sign]]s correspond to the period of a constellation's ''invisibility'' due to the Sun's transit.}} The zodiac appears directly overhead from latitudes of 23.5° north to 23.5° south, depending on the time of year. In summer, the ecliptic appears higher up in the daytime and lower at night, while in winter the reverse is true, for both hemispheres. Due to the [[Solar System]]'s 60° tilt, the [[galactic plane]] of the [[Milky Way]] is inclined 60° from the ecliptic,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sutter |first=Paul M. |date=2020-10-09 |title=The Solar System has a second plane where objects orbit the Sun |url=https://www.universetoday.com/148178/the-solar-system-has-a-second-plane-where-objects-orbit-the-sun/ |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=Universe Today |language=en-US}}</ref> between Taurus and Gemini (north) and Scorpius and Sagittarius (south and near which the [[Galactic Center]] can be found).<ref name=":0" /> The galaxy appears to pass through [[Aquila (constellation)|Aquila]] (near the celestial equator) and northern constellations [[Cygnus (constellation)|Cygnus]], [[Cassiopeia (constellation)|Cassiopeia]], [[Perseus (constellation)|Perseus]], [[Auriga (constellation)|Auriga]], and [[Orion (constellation)|Orion]] (near [[Betelgeuse]]), as well as [[Monoceros]] (near the celestial equator), and southern constellations [[Puppis]], [[Vela (constellation)|Vela]], [[Carina (constellation)|Carina]], [[Crux]], [[Centaurus]], [[Triangulum Australe]], and [[Ara (constellation)|Ara]].<ref name=":0" /> ===Northern hemisphere=== {{Main|Northern celestial hemisphere}} [[Polaris]], being the North Star, is the approximate center of the northern celestial hemisphere. It is part of [[Ursa Minor]], constituting the end of the Little Dipper's handle.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Chartrand |first=Mark R. |url=https://archive.org/details/audubonsocietyfi00char/page/134/mode/2up |title=The Audubon Society Field Guide to the Night Sky |date=1991 |publisher=A. A. Knopf |isbn=978-0-679-73354-6 |location=New York |pages=134-162, 405-420}}</ref> From latitudes of around 35° north, in January, [[Ursa Major]] (containing the [[Big Dipper]]) appears to the northeast, while Cassiopeia is the northwest. To the west are Pisces (above the horizon) and Aries. To the southwest [[Cetus]] is near the horizon. Up high and to the south are Orion and Taurus. To the southeast above the horizon is [[Canis Major]]. Appearing above and to the east of Orion is [[Gemini (constellation)|Gemini]]: also in the east (and progressively closer to the horizon) are Cancer and Leo. In addition to Taurus, Perseus and Auriga appear overhead.<ref name=":0" /> From the same latitude, in July, Cassiopeia (low in the sky) and [[Cepheus (constellation)|Cepheus]] appear to the northeast. Ursa Major is now in the northwest. [[Boötes]] is high up in the west. Virgo is to the west, with Libra southwest and Scorpius south. Sagittarius and Capricorn are southeast. Cygnus (containing the [[Northern Cross (asterism)|Northern Cross]]) is to the east. [[Hercules (constellation)|Hercules]] is high in the sky along with [[Corona Borealis]].<ref name=":0" /> [[File:Pole01-eng.svg|thumb|upright=1.2|The Southern Cross in [[Crux]] and the 'Southern Pointers' of [[Centaurus]] can be used to find the southern pole star, [[Sigma Octantis]].]] ===Southern hemisphere=== {{Main|Southern celestial hemisphere}} January constellations include [[Pictor]] and [[Reticulum]] (near Hydrus and Mensa, respectively).<ref>{{Cite web |title=January Constellations |url=https://www.constellation-guide.com/constellations-by-month/january-constellations/ |access-date=2024-06-24 |website=Constellation Guide}}</ref> In July, Ara (adjacent to Triangulum Australe) and Scorpius can be seen.<ref>{{Cite web |title=July Constellations |url=https://www.constellation-guide.com/constellations-by-month/july-constellations/ |access-date=2024-06-24 |website=Constellation Guide}}</ref> Constellations near the pole star include [[Chamaeleon]], [[Apus]] and Triangulum Australe (near Centaurus), [[Pavo (constellation)|Pavo]], [[Hydrus]], and [[Mensa (constellation)|Mensa]]. [[Sigma Octantis]] is the closest star approximating a southern pole star, but is faint in the night sky. Thus, the pole can be triangulated using the constellation Crux as well as the stars [[Alpha Centauri|Alpha]] and [[Beta Centauri]] (about 30° counterclockwise from Crux) of the constellation Centaurus (arching over Crux).<ref name=":0" />
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