Stars
What is a star?
WJ: A large light and energy producing celestial object of great mass.
A star is a massive ball of plasma (very hot gas) held together by gravity. It radiates energy because of the nuclear reactions inside it.
What is a constellation?
WJ: A pattern of stars in the night sky.
A constellation is a group of stars, usually in a recognizable shape or pattern. Together, the stars look like a picture.
Where do constellations come from?
For as long as people have been around they have looked to the sky. Many of the myths and legends that are so well know come from stories about the stars. There are 88 "official" constellations in the night sky.
Click on the Constellation Map to go to the website that explains it in more detail.
How can I see the constellations?
Through much observation Sky watchers noticed that different stars and star patterns were visible during different times of the year. Certain patterns appeared during spring, summer, fall, and winter, and other patterns disappeared during particular seasons. With this knowledge, they were able to use the stars as a kind of calendar.
For more information you can visit Dustbunny.com, Online Textbook,
