Intro to Latin Nōmen ___________________________

And Roman Culture

Google Earth – Constellations Diēs __________________Pd._________

The people of many ancient cultures looked up into the sky and saw pictures. It was as if identifying constellations was an ancient game of connect-the-dots! We still use the Latin names of these constellations – mainly animals and mythological characters, but also objects and even a few body parts. Use Google Earth sky view to find how Latin is used in identifying star groups.

Open Google Earth, switch to sky view (under the sky database, you may want to select “constellation boundaries” – it will make viewing the constellations easier.

Open translate.google.com

1. Type “Aries” into the search

§ Aries is the first constellation in the zodiac group. There is an imaginary line (the elliptical) around the sky that goes through all of the zodiac constellations.

§ In the Layers sections on the bottom left side of the screen, make sure the sky database is expanded (the sign beside the sky database should be a “minus” instead of a “plus”)

§ Expand Historical Sky Maps (the sign beside the sky database should be a “minus” instead of a “plus”)

§ Expand Rumsey Star Maps

§ Select Cassini Overlay (Under Rumsey Star Maps) – click the box beside the name.

§ There is a pink and black line (the elliptical – the path of the sun across the sky) that goes through the Aries constellation. Follow this line to the left (your left) and write the names of the 12 Zodiac Constellations. Then, use Google Translator (if needed) to find the names of the constellations.

Constellation Name English Meaning

1. Aries _______ _______________________________

2. Taurus ___ ____ _______________________________

3. _____________________________ _______________________________

4. _____________________________ _______________________________

5. _____________________________ _______________________________

6. _____________________________ _______________________________

7. _____________________________ _______________________________

8. _____________________________ _______________________________

9. _____________________________ _______________________________

10. ____________________________ _______________________________

11. ____________________________ _______________________________

12. ____________________________ _______________________________

2. There is now a 13th constellation in the zodiac group. The “feet” of the constellation are in the line of the zodiac constellations.

§ Type the name of the constellation “Ophiuchus” into the search.

§ What animal is he holding? _________________________________________________

§ What two body parts are identified on the animal (write them in English)?

________________________________________________________________________

3. Someone’s hair is in the sky!

§ Type the Latin word for hair into the search bar and write the name of the constellation here:

________________________________________

4. Find Hercules in the sky. What is he holding in his hand? ______________________________________

5. Type the name “Perseus” into the search. What is he holding in his right hand? ________________________

6. Find five animal constellations. Write the Latin then the English meaning. Use Google Translator if needed. Un-check the Cassini Overlay when you find each animal to see the simple outline of each constellation animal. Do they look like the correct animal to you?

Constellation Name English Meaning

1. _____________________________ _______________________________

2. _____________________________ _______________________________

3. _____________________________ _______________________________

4. _____________________________ _______________________________

5. _____________________________ _______________________________

When you are done:

Finish the Mars and the Moon questions using Google Earth if needed.

Work on the derivatives on page V in the myth monster packet. Open the website http://wor d info.info

and use it to find a derivative of each body part. Try to challenge yourself to find new words!

If you still have extra time, open fychair.org/~cmbell/myth/myth.html (a website that explains the stories behind the major constellations – i.e. Why are there two fish tied together on a string in the sky? Or, why is there a crab in the sky?)