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 CHARTSOn 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