#CelestialFacts

[jameswebb-discoveries]

Winter Solstice Alert!

Check out the 100 Fascinating Facts About Winter Solstice coming up on December 21, 2023.

✨ Did you know that December 21st brings us the enchanting Winter Solstice? 🌬️ It's not just the shortest day and longest night of the year; it's a celestial masterpiece that has sparked wonder across cultures for centuries. 🌠 Join us on a journey through 100 fascinating facts that'll transport you straight to the heart of this cosmic event. 🌑✨

#WinterSolstice #CosmicWonders #AstronomyMagic #December21 #CelestialFacts #ExploreTheUniverse ✨

[globemakers]

The Camelopardalis constellation lies in the northern hemisphere. Its name comes from the Latin derivation of the Greek word for “giraffe.” Taken apart, the word camelopardalis means camel (Greek kamēlos) and leopard (pardalis). The giraffe was called the “camel-leopard” because it had a long neck like a camel and a body with spots, like a leopard. The constellation was created by the Dutch astronomer Petrus Plancius and documented by the German astronomer Jakob Bartsch in 1624. It contains Kemble’s Cascade, an asterism formed by a cascade of relatively faint stars, and several notable deep sky objects: the open cluster NGC 1502, the spiral galaxy NGC 2403, and the dwarf irregular galaxy NGC 1569. Camelopardalis is the 18th largest constellation in the night sky, occupying an area of 757 square degrees. It is located in the second quadrant of the northern hemisphere (NQ2) and can be seen at latitudes between +90° and -10°. The neighboring constellations are Auriga, Cassiopeia, Cepheus, Draco, Lynx, Perseus, Ursa Major, and Ursa Minor. The Greeks did not see any stars in Camelopardalis and thought this region of the sky, as well as what is now the constellation Lynx, was empty. There are no myths associated with the constellation as it was only created in the 17th century. For more #GlobeFacts that are #CelestialFacts click the hashtag. Globe : 23cm Mini Desk Globe in "Celestial Cassini" | www.bellerbyandco.com | photos by Jade Fenster

[globemakers]

Today Alex is finishing up detail on a Celestial Globe & we have an excuse for more #CelestialFacts! Libra is Latin for weighing scales, making it the only constellation of the Zodiac representing an inanimate object. At 538 square degrees, Libra ranks 29th overall in terms of size. It doesn’t have any first magnitude stars, making it relatively faint but not impossible to view with the naked eye. At one time Libra was considered part of Scorpius — the scales looked like claws hung upside down — but then Roman astronomers redrew the skyline and moved the claws of the scorpion to Libra. The association with scales and balance began with the ancient Babylonians, with the scales representing the balance between the seasons as well as day and night. The ancient Greeks viewed Libra as the claws of Scorpius reaching out. To the Romans, Libra represented the scales of justice being held by the goddess Virgo or Astraea. Globes : www.bellerbyandco.com

[globemakers]

Alex painting a celestial globe... usually I'd do #CelestialFacts .... but I'm still enjoying the #GlobeFacts dedicated to New Years traditions around the world. In Belgium they take their livestock seriously. At least seriously enough that the farmers wish their cows a happy new year!@saragerardartist is that true?? In Bolivia (& a few other places) coins are baked into sweets and whoever finds the coins has good luck for the next year. The French like to keep things simple and delicious. Every new year some choose to consume a stack of pancakes. In Colombia they carry their suitcases around with them all day in hopes of having a travel filled year. In Chile families spend the night in the company of their deceased loved ones by sleeping at the cemetery. In Denmark people climb on top of chairs and literally “jump” into the New Year to bring good luck. Anyone do something similar or know these to be true / untrue? #Globemakers | www.bellerbyandco.com