Re: What is the biggest constellation

Eric, sorry to delay answering your great question!
The answer is that the largest constellation by AREA is a long,
slinky monster deep in the southern sky called "Hydra": this
constellation is supposed to represent the many-headed Hydra
slain by Hercules as one of his Great Labors... However, the
pattern of stars in the "real" Hydra in the sky only shows one
head. Hydra covers about 1300 "square degrees" in the sky: we
use ANGLES to measure DISTANCE in the sky, since no yardstick
could ever be "held up to the sky": the whole sky consists of
360 degrees, while the area visible to you on any given night
is somewhere under 180 degrees - maybe 150 or so. Therefore, if
we want to measure sky AREA, we use "square degrees". Note that
at 90 degrees, Hydra is also the LONGEST constellation in the
sky, wandering across nearly 1/4 the whole visible heavens!

No other constellation is so long as Hydra, but there are some
close contenders in terms of area: among these are Virgo, the
constellation of the Maiden in the Ecliptic; Ursa Major, the
famous Great Bear up in the North, which harbors in it what is
probably the most famous star pattern, the "Big Dipper"; and
last but not least, old Hercules himself - who would never want
to be outdone by the monster he himself killed!

If you'd like to find out more about the sizes, shapes and the
mythological stories associated with all (88!) constellations
in the sky, Eric, check out the following Web site:

    http://www.starshine.com/frankn/constell.asp

Clear skies, and keep the great questions coming!