Astronomy Maps

These sculptures are representations of the twelve Zodiac constellations. They are accurate maps of stars and 'objects of deep space interest'. A fascinating look at the factual side of celestial studies. The constellations provide the canvas against which the planets travel, on their never ending journey.

All research and work done by Kathryn.

A glass plate mounted onto a granite plinth,

P.O.A.

In Babylonian text, Aries was the final station along the Zodiac ecliptic. The star Mesarthim is unusual because of its strong silicon emission lines. Aries is a small constellation. Aries has six stars with planets.	Taurus Nearing the Milky Way Taurus has two open clusters near to Earth, and a huge red Alpha star, depicted by ancient civilisations, Aztec to Aboriginals, as the eye of an animal. Pleiades is an open cluster of stars 440 light years from Earth. It is now known to contain an estimated 1000 stars. It contains 7 stars with planets.	Gemini From Greek mythology Gemini are twin brothers immortalised in the night sky. It has some very bright stars, Mekbuda is 220,000 times the size of our own Sun. It has 8 stars with planets
Cancer The constellation of Cancer is quite faint and it is known more for its deep space objects. M44 (Beehive) is a massive cluster of stars and is the closest to Earth. M67 is one of the oldest open clusters in our galaxy, thought to be about 4 million years old, 2,700 light years away. 'X' represents Cancri 55 and is a super, metal rich star. It was 67 on NASA Terrestrial Planet Finder Mission. Babylonians believed souls to pass through Cancer. It has 7 known stars with planets.	Leo Leo is a large constellation with many interesting features. 'X' represents a metal rich star. There is a confirmed supermassive black hole (M105), and the closest known Red Dwarf to our Earth, Wolf 359. It contains 13 stars with planets.	Virgo Virgo is a huge constellation and the biggest in the Zodiac. The Sun spends most of its time in this constellation. The 'Virgo Cluster' contains an estimated 3000 galaxies at a distance of 65 million light years from Earth. M104 'The Sombraro Galaxy' is a splendid example. Virgo contains 28 known stars with planets.
Libra In Libra the planetary system of Gliese 581 has at least 6 orbiting planets that are the most promising candidates for life outside of our solar system, because of their position relative to the Sun. Star HD140283 (Methuselah) is the oldest known star in the universe, 14.46 billion years old, which controversially pre-dates the Big Bang. Libra contains 3 stars with planets.	Scorpio Scorpio is near the centre of the Milky Way and it contains many bright stars, galaxies and nebulae. Its brightest star 'Antares' is red in colour. It contains 13 known stars with planets.	Sagittarius Sagittarius sits next to Scorpio and is closest to the heart of the Milky Way spiral. It is rich in the materials that makes stars and galaxies. It contains a supermassive black hole. It contains 28 stars with planets.
Capricorn Capricorn is one of the smallest constellations in the Zodiac. The atmosphere surrounding 'X' star has an unusually rich atmosphere of Mercury and Manganese. It was recorded as far back as 21st Century B.C. in Babylonian star texts, that when the Sun was in Capricorn (The Tropic of Capricorn) the lowest point in the sky, it heralded the winter solstice. It was believed to be a celestial portal between Heaven and Earth for the soul to leave. It contains 5 planets with stars.	Aquarius Aquarius is a large constellation. In Babylonian and Egyptian astronomy the arrival of Aquarius meant the seasonal flooding. Aquarius's position lies away from the galactic plane and offers an unobstructed view into deep space. It contains 11 stars with planets.	Pisces Pisces is a large constellation. M74 is a noteworthy spiral galaxy. Its Alpha star is a white dwarf. It contains 13 stars with planets.

Astronomy Maps

P.O.A.

In Babylonian text, Aries was the final station along the Zodiac ecliptic. The star Mesarthim is unusual because of its strong silicon emission lines. Aries is a small constellation. Aries has six stars with planets.

Taurus

Gemini

From Greek mythology Gemini are twin brothers immortalised in the night sky. It has some very bright stars, Mekbuda is 220,000 times the size of our own Sun. It has 8 stars with planets

Cancer

Leo

Leo is a large constellation with many interesting features. 'X' represents a metal rich star. There is a confirmed supermassive black hole (M105), and the closest known Red Dwarf to our Earth, Wolf 359. It contains 13 stars with planets.

Virgo

Libra

Scorpio

Scorpio is near the centre of the Milky Way and it contains many bright stars, galaxies and nebulae. Its brightest star 'Antares' is red in colour. It contains 13 known stars with planets.

Sagittarius

Sagittarius sits next to Scorpio and is closest to the heart of the Milky Way spiral. It is rich in the materials that makes stars and galaxies. It contains a supermassive black hole. It contains 28 stars with planets.

Capricorn

Aquarius

Aquarius is a large constellation. In Babylonian and Egyptian astronomy the arrival of Aquarius meant the seasonal flooding. Aquarius's position lies away from the galactic plane and offers an unobstructed view into deep space. It contains 11 stars with planets.

Pisces

Pisces is a large constellation. M74 is a noteworthy spiral galaxy. Its Alpha star is a white dwarf. It contains 13 stars with planets.

Aries