A constellation is a pattern of stars in the sky. It is derived from the Latin word constellation, meaning, set of stars. The group of stars forms patterns that represent a person, animal, or object. Many cultures and countries have adopted their own constellations. Many of the constellations change in shape and size. Each constellation is a collection of stars in 3 dimensions, but they appear to be in the same plane for us since they are very far off from us.
How are constellations named?
- Most of the names came from ancient Middle Eastern, Greek, and Roman cultures.
- They are used as objects to relate to ancient history
- The International Astronomical Union (IAU) formally accepted 88 constellations, out of which 48 are ancient constellations and 40 are modern ones.
Do all the stars form a constellation?
No, there are billions of stars, and only a few among them make up the shape of the constellation and can be seen with unaided eyes.
Uses of Constellation
- Constellations help people to recognize stars in the sky.
- Looking at the pattern of the location of the star can be easier to spot.
- Constellations are also used in the naming of stars.
- In ancient times, they were useful in creating and tracking calendars.
- People in ancient times used to plant and harvest crops based on the constellations.
- Mainly in navigation, to travel across the oceans via ships.
Interesting Facts about constellations
- There are about 22 different constellation names that start with the letter ‘C’.
- Due to the rotation of the Earth, the constellations appear to move from east to west
What is a star map?
A star map (also known as a star chart) shows the stars and other astronomical objects like galaxies in the form of a map. It represents the position of a star when observed from earth.
