An Example Constellation in the SDSS Data

Here is an example to get you started. The picture below shows the "Rudolph Constellation," near ra = 219.75, dec= 0.3. You can find this area by opening the Navigation Tool, entering the coordinates, and clicking Get Image. Look for the red star - that's Rudolph's nose!

The Rudolph Constellation

The Rudolph constellation consists of 6 stars. To learn more about the stars, open the Navigation Tool and click on each star to see its data. What can you learn about these stars from studying SkyServer data?

Does the Rudolph constellation look like a red-nosed reindeer to you? What would you call it?

Now it's your turn. Use the Navigation tool to look through the SDSS data to find constellations. E-mail them to us and we'll put them up on these pages! Send us your notebook, or tell us the ID RA and Dec of each star or galaxy in your constellation. Then, tell us what the constellation looks like to you - use your imagination! If you like, you can tell a story about why the constellation is there, like the Greeks and Chimu did.

Your constellations won't be officially used by astronomers, who use the SDSS's ID numbers to identify stars and galaxies. But you'll be able to look through the data and see constellations that you named - patterns that you discovered in the stars.

Game designed by Jordan Raddick

Questions? Comments? Suggestions? E-mail the web designer.