Glossary

Axis

The imaginary line that runs through the center of the Earth that connects the North and South Poles.

Celestial poles

The point in the sky directly above the North and South poles.

Circumpolar

Stars that appear to circle the North or South celestial poles. These stars do not rise or set.

Night Sky Live

Project which has a number of CONCAMs around the world, which continuously take pictures of the night sky. This data is then posted on the Night Sky Live webpage. For more information of the Night Sky Live project, visit www.nightskylive.net.

Constellation

One of the 88 sectors which the sky is divided into by astronomers. Commonly used, though this use is considered incorrect by astronomers, to describe the star formations in the sky, such as the Big Dipper in the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Cross in the Southern Hemisphere.

Diurnal Motion

The daily movement of the sky, caused by the rotation of the Earth.