this post was submitted on 19 Sep 2023
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I know this may or may not be commonly known. But the lines or stick figures drawn with stars that we come to associate are just a tiny part of the constellation. Sometimes called asterism. The actual constellation is the entirety of all stars that fall between the region. So it's more the cloud of stars inside the constellation. In the past it was a figure or silhouette. Modern constellations are squarish regions of sky. If you have a clear uncontaminated sky, the figures are still sorta visible to the naked eye.
Must have been a lot more easy to become familiar with when people weren't living in light pollution 24/7.
https://www.lightpollutionmap.info/
It's funny you say that, I just acquired a Meade reflector telescope with computer-controlled motorized mount that belonged to my late grandfather and I've been meaning to drag it out into the country somewhere to see some stuff.
It's honestly amazing. I had no idea the milky way was so visible.
I literally was wondering as I scrolled through the comments about how different the sky could have looked when constellations were named and maybe thats why they don't make as much sense now visually, and how it's weird I never thought about or considered it before. Then bam. Your comment.