Poster Maker: Feng Juan
On the 1st, ushered in the Year of the Tiger. Astronomical science experts remind that if the weather is sunny, people may wish to look up for the "white tiger" in the starry sky when celebrating the Year of the Tiger.
Xiu Lipeng, director of the Tianjin Astronomical Society and an expert in astronomical science popularization, said that in ancient China, the starry sky was divided into seven star areas of "three walls and four elephants", and the four star areas of southeast, northwest and northwest were subdivided into twenty-eight stars. According to the different shapes of the stars, the stars in the sky are named after four animals, namely the green dragon in the east, the white tiger in the west, the suzaku in the south, and the Xuanwu in the north. Among them, the Western White Tiger is composed of seven stars, such as Kui, Lou, Stomach, Pleiades, Bi, Xiang, and Ginseng. Kui is the tail of the tiger, Lou, stomach, Pleiades, and Bi are the body of the tiger, the head of the tiger, and the claws of the tiger.
White Tiger Seven Lodges (simulation map).
How to find the "white tiger" in the sky? Xiu Lipeng suggested that the seven houses of the Western White Tiger are distributed in the constellations of Orion, Taurus, Canis Minor, Andis Major, among which Betelgeuse is located in the famous constellation of Orion. Orion is the "overlord" of the winter starry sky, with the reputation of "king of constellations", with many bright stars inside, obvious structure, and high recognition. At present, around 9 o'clock every night, Orion will hang high in the southern sky, as long as the weather is good, even in cities with heavy light pollution, it can be seen by the naked eye. If you find Orion, you can find constellations such as Canis Major, Canis Minor and Taurus around it, and finding the constellations where the Seven Houses of the White Tiger are located is equivalent to knowing nearly half of the winter starry sky.
Large hexagon in winter. Author: Astronomical popular science comic blogger EasyNight (EN fungus)
Xiu Lipeng said that in the minds of Chinese, tigers are born with a kingly style, and Chinese have liked tigers since ancient times. The tiger is a symbol of justice, bravery, strength and majesty, as well as a beast that represents auspiciousness and peace. While looking up for the "white tiger" in the sky to celebrate the New Year, people can also better carry forward the spirit of the tiger, summon up the momentum of the tiger, show the tiger's might, and let their lives and careers flourish.
Producer: Hu Qinghai
Planner: Liu Xinhui
Reporter: Zhou Runjian
Editors: Lian Changyan, Tang Jianhui
It was co-produced by Xinhua News Agency and Tianjin Branch of Xinhua News Agency
Produced by Starry Sky Studios