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Our constellations

Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2014 3:24 pm
by JonStar
Our constellations (Orion, Cancer, etc) -- how many are they all located in our Milky Way Galaxy?

Re: Our constellations

Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2014 3:32 pm
by geckzilla
They're imaginary boundaries in the celestial sphere. It makes no sense to say that they are in the Milky Way. The stars which comprise the asterisms are all in the Milky Way, though.

Re: Our constellations

Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2014 3:47 pm
by JonStar
Understood they are imaginary. My question could have been phrased better. Just wondered if all the stars that comprise them are located in our galaxy. Thanks for the quick reply and I learned a new word 'asterisms'

Re: Our constellations

Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2014 4:18 pm
by Chris Peterson
JonStar wrote:Understood they are imaginary. My question could have been phrased better. Just wondered if all the stars that comprise them are located in our galaxy. Thanks for the quick reply and I learned a new word 'asterisms'
Every star we see in the sky without using large telescopes is located in our galaxy. Occasionally there is a supernova in another galaxy bright enough to be seen with the naked eye, however.