Download 18.9 NOTES What are constellations? Objective: Explain what

18.9 NOTES
What are constellations?
Objective: Explain what constellations are. Name some familiar constellations.
Stars that form patterns in the sky are called constellations. Ancient peoples
thought they could see animals and people in constellations. They named them
and made up stories about them. Today, astronomers recognize 88
constellations. Constellations are often used to locate individual stars.
Different constellations and star groups appear over head at different times of the
year. The ones visible in the Northern Hemisphere are different from those visible
in the Southern Hemisphere. Though stars are relatively stationary, it is the
movements of the Earth that make it look as if the stars are changing position in
the sky.
Orion the Hunter is a constellation seen in the
evening sky from November to March. It rises in
the east. Three bright stars make up Orion’s belt:
two of them are Betelgeuse and Rigel.
Betelgeuse, a red giant star, is under his arm.
Rigel, a giant blue-white star is in his knee.
One of the easiest constellations to find in the northern sky is Ursa Major. Its
name means “big bear”. Ancient people thought it looked like a big bear in the
sky. The Big Dipper is part of the Ursa Major. It is made up of 7 stars: 3 in the
handle, and 4 in the cup. Two bright stars in the cup point to Polaris.
Ursa Minor meaning “little bear” is another constellation in the northern sky. It is
also called the little dipper. Polaris is the first star in the handle of the Little
Dipper.
Winter Constellations
Summer Constellations
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