Did you know that in contemporary astrology, the International Astronomical Union recognizes 88 constellations? This number includes 42 that depict animals, 29 that depict inanimate objects, and another 17 that depict either humans or mythological characters. The largest constellation on this fascinating infographic is the Hydra, which occupies 3.2% of the Southern night sky. It's also commonly viewed as a water serpent!
The best time that you can see it is in the January. Just behind the Hydra in the Top 3 are the Ursa Major at 3.1% (#2) and the Virgo, also at 3.1% (#3). When it comes to these constellations, early astrologers had the understanding that it took 12 lunar cycles for the sun to return to its original position.
From there, they were able to identify 12 different constellations that related to the progression of the seasons, and then proceeded to name them after people or animals. What's your favorite constellation on this chart from Sleepopolis.com?
infographic by: sleepopolis.com
