# The Origin of the Constellations

- Institution: Gresham College
- Speaker: Professor John D Barrow FRS
- Year: 2007
- Level: For everyone
- Language: English
- Subjects: Physics, Astronomy and space
- Source: [Gresham College](https://www.gresham.ac.uk/watch-now/origin-constellations)
- Licence: [Educational use (Gresham College's terms)](https://www.gresham.ac.uk/terms-and-conditions)
- Who can watch: Tweens profiles and older (sources give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the source's own words)

Who invented the constellations? The constellations that we use to group stars into visually associated groups have ancient origins and have been hugely influential throughout human history. This lecture looks at the appearance of the ancient constellations and show how it is possible to deduce from their appearance when and where the first constellation makers lived. This leads to a curious historical puzzle since some famous commentators in the ancient world describe patterns of constellations that they could not have witnessed when and where they lived.

## Lectures

1. [The Origin of the Constellations](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/gresham/origin-constellations/11d6bdb7d317) (YouTube)