why are concellation names in latin?

Answer 1

Many of the names are the traditional Roman names that got passed along to us. But the main reason is that up until a couple hundred years ago, Latin was the language used for most scientific publications, including star atlases.

Answer 2

The Romans adopted and in some cases renamed many constellations they kept excellent records the Monks of the Early Catholic Church also helped continue the Latin names of the constellations. We use them today because after the Romans the Early Christians and Catholics became the owners of knowledge, once the masses became literate all they really had to draw from were Latin Documents on most subjects. Latin is still today the language of science.

Local areas still use their names and not Latin names for constellations. Big dipper isn't Latin but has a Latin version.

Answer 3

Only the western scientific names are in latin. Many other cultures had other names for constellations, and in fact usually grouped stars into different constellations than the "scientific" ones.

The names of the northern constellations that were invented by the Romans persisted in western writings until they were formalized by the International Astronomical Union. The IAU extended the idea of constellation to mean an area of the sky, and the IAU defined the (mostly straight and square) boundaries of the constellations as if they were marking out countries on a map. The latin names were retained, and in fact extended to the Southern sky when European astronomers first travelled to the southern hemisphere.

Answer 4

it spells "constellations", not "concellations"

it is only in English that people have kept the names taught to them by the Romans when they conquered England. In most other languages the names have evolved into common names (say, in French, "Grande Ourse", i.e. Big Bear, for "Ursa Major", etc.)

But even in English, some constellations have familiar, everyday language names: "big dipper" being one.

Answer 5

because Latinos sleep all day and party all night, so when they were up and saw the stars, they were the default people to name them. Oh wait.....Latin?! My bad. maybe because the first transportable language was latin. I have a question, if Latin is from Europe, how come Latin America is 8000 miles away?

Answer 6

I would say constellations and plants and botanics are kept in their original Latin names for BREVITY.

Main Entry: brev·i·ty
Pronunciation: 'bre-v&-tE
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural -ties
Etymology: Latin brevitas, from brevis
: shortness of duration; especially : shortness or conciseness of expression

Answer 7

Because the firs ones to name constellations were Italians.

Answer 8

all on here http://www.cosmobrain.com/cosmobrain/res/constellations.html