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Constellations
What is a star?
• A STAR is a large sphere of glowing gases.
• Stars change over time.
– Which is the closest star to Earth?
• THE SUN!
• The sun is a medium sized star
• MUCH, MUCH larger than Earth
Stars as Tools for Navigation
 The North Star is called Polaris and located directly
above the North Pole. This star appears in the same place
every night all year long.
 In the Northern Hemisphere, if you find Polaris you
will be able to tell which direction is north.
The Southern Hemisphere does not have a star to help
you find its pole. In stead it has what is known as a
Southern Cross.
 The Southern Cross consists of 4 bright stars and
some dimmer ones. All of these together point to the
south pole.
Stars as tools for navigation
• North Star
• Southern Cross
A pattern or
group of stars in
the sky is called
a constellation.
People of ancient
time saw the
constellations as
character or
animals in the sky.
They made up
stories to explain
how the object,
animal, or character
came into the night
sky.
Star Patterns
The Big Dipper
Constellations
 Earth rotates on its axis, this makes most
constellations appear to rise in the east and set in the
west during the night.
 Most constellations appear in many different positions
in the sky as the Earth revolves around the sun.
 There is a group of stars that appear in the sky all
night long and all year long. It seems that these stars do
not rise and set, but circle the Earth’s north pole each
night. These stars are called circumpolar.
STAR CHARTS
How can we identify constellations in the
night sky?
The use of a star chart can help us!
A STAR CHART is a map of the stars in
the night sky.
STAR CHARTS
On a star chart, lines often connect the
stars that might make up a constellation.
Different star charts must be used at
different times of the year and in different
places on Earth.
Many stars visible from the Southern
hemisphere cannot be seen from the
Northern hemisphere.
STAR CHARTS
What other tools can help us identify
constellations?
• STAR CHARTS are the BEST for
identifying a constellation in the sky.
• A COMPASS is the BEST for locating
DIRECTION (North, South, East, and
West) You need to know direction before
you can use a star chart correctly.
What other invention helps us view
items in space?
• A telescope!
Brainpops
• Constellations
• Telescopes
NOTES:
• Star- large sphere of glowing gases
• Constellations- a pattern or group of stars in the
sky
• Star Chart- map of the stars in the night sky
used as a way to identify constellations
• Compass- used to locate direction in order to use
a star chart correctly
• Telescope- used to see far away objects in space
up-close
NOTES:
• Star- large __________ of glowing _________
• Constellations- a _________ or group of ______
in the sky
• Star Chart- _______ of the ______ in the night
sky
– used as a way to identify constellations
• Compass- used to locate _________ in order to
use a star chart _________
• Telescope- used to see ______ away ________ in
________ up-close