Stories in the Stars

Have you ever tried to play connect-the-dots in the sky? People all around the world have been doing that for thousands of years. The stars we can see at night represent all kinds of myths and legends across numerous cultures.

Today we will take a look at the stars and see some of the many meanings they can hold for different people groups.

Constellation History

As you listen to NASA Astronomer, Jane Houston Jones, talk about how constellations have been perceived by different peoples over time, pay attention to these things:

How old is the cave painting that appears to depict the Taurus constellation?
Where in the world does the Greek constellation called Orion appear upside-down?
Why are constellations becoming more difficult to see?

Where are they?

Sabrina from Crash Course will tell you about the locations of constellations and when you can see them depending on your location on the Earth. Try to find the following answers as you watch:

What is one example of a constellation that is mostly only visible in the Northern hemisphere? What is one from the Southern hemisphere?
Why are different constellations visible during different seasons?
Look closely at the globe on the desk. There is one continent that is fully visible. In which hemisphere is the majority of that continent, and what season is it there right now?

Constellation 101:

What does the word "constellation" mean?

If we look at some of the latin roots in the word, we will find "con," meaning together, and "stell," which means star.

So when we group "stars" "together," they form a con-stell-ation, aka a group of stars in a particular formation.

These constellations have been used by groups of people all around the world for many years. They have been used as a way to tell stories and legends, they have guided travelers who navigate by the stars, and they have also marked the passage of time as seasons change.

Let's take a look at one constellation from multiple points of view...

Orion is one of the most well-known constellations in the world. It can be seen from almost anywhere on the planet, but only at certain times of year. Orion is easy to find because it contains two of the ten brightest stars in the sky.

Let's compare the different interpretations of this group of stars in as many cultures as we can:

Greek: The Handsome Hunter

Orion the hunter is featured in many tales, so it is unclear exactly who he is supposed to be. One of the myths of Orion is the story of how the god Apollo was jealous of how handsome Orion was, so he tricked the goddess Artemis into accidentally killing him. Since she was the goddess of the moon, she brought Orion's body into the night sky and gave him a home among the stars.

Aboriginal Australian: The Canoe

The Yolngu people tell a story of this constellation saying that the three stars of Orion's belt represent three brothers in a canoe. They were said to have eaten a type of fish which was forbidden to their tribe. The sun-woman, Walu, sent their canoe up in to the sky as a punishment. The Orion nebula is supposed to represent the forbidden fish which the brothers had eaten.

Mayan: This constellation represented the turtle god being speared by the fire god. This signaled that the dry season was beginning, as this constellation first became visible at this time of year.

African tribes: The Dogon people saw Orion's belt as a staircase to heaven. The bushmen tribes saw the same stars as three zebras. They also used the stars that make up the legs of Orion to represent turtles.

Chinese: There are two meanings in Chinese culture. First is the supreme commander, Shen. He was in charge of the three divisions of the military. These stars are also the head of the white tiger which represents winter.

Native American: Each tribe has their own interpretation of this formation. It is known as a hunter, a bison, a hand, a pair of canoes, and several other ideas. The three stars of the belt align with three sacred Navajo mountains.

Egyptian: Mysteries

This one is unknown. It was first believed that the constellation represented Osiris, the god associated with life and death. However, more research has uncovered new possibilities that are still being studied. Many historians are intrigued by the way the great pyramids line up with the stars of Orion's belt, but the reason for this is still widely debated. We may never know.

Babylonian: These stars made up Ninshubur, the heavenly shepherd and messenger to Anu, god of the sky.

Aztec: The new fire ceremony was performed every 52 years when these stars appeared. It was a ritual that postponed the end of times.

Scandinavian: Frigg was a Norse goddess often represented with a "distaff." The stars make up the shape of this thread spinning tool.

What do you see?

It's amazing how many different interpretations there are around the world! If you were presented with these stars, what kind of picture would you draw, and what would it mean? Try it out! Use the stars marked out below as your starting point and create your own constellation image and myth.

I entered an astronomy contest the other day.

I didn't win first place, but I did get a constellation prize!

That was a lot of stories! But they're all for the same set of stars.

There are countless constellations in the night sky, and each has its own set of stories. Let's take a look at some other constellations. It's your turn to pick a set of stars and learn more about it. It's time for the constellation challenge!

Constellation Challenge Part 1:

In this part of the challenge, you will be creating a projection of the constellation of your choice. Make sure to select a constellation that is visible in your area at this time of year. You can use the link below to get an idea of which constellations might be visible for you.

https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/night/

Once you've selected your constellation, you will need to create your projection device. There are lots of different ways to do this, so the video below will show you a few examples. Choose your method, gather your materials, and get to work; then come back for part two of the challenge.

Constellation Challenge Part 2:

Now that you've created your projector, try it out. Look carefully at the pattern you see. Does it look different now that it's illuminated instead of drawn on paper or shown on a screen? Your next task will be to find these stars in the sky, but with another device that you are going to make. For part two, you will design a constellation viewer. Then, you will go outside and try to find your constellation of choice. While you're out there, try to find as many constellations as you can! You can grab a family member or friend and make it a competition. Here's how to make your constellation viewer:

Step 1:

Gather materials: You will need scissors, thin cardboard (like a cereal box), plastic wrap, tape, and a marker or white-out pen

Step 2:

Assemble viewer: Cut out a viewing window in a piece of cardboard, lay plastic wrap over it, and tape it down to form a screen.

Step 3:

Use a marker to trace your constellation onto the plastic wrap. You will probably want to use a color that will stand out against the dark sky, or even use a white material like a white-out pen or paint marker if you have one. I chose to use a dark color only so you could see it clearly in the picture.

Step 4:

Bring it outside and compare with the night sky. Can you find your constellation? If you're having trouble, there are lots of free constellation finding apps and websites that could point you in the right direction. Disclaimer: It was raining when I took this photo, so you're actually seeing raindrops, not stars. Hopefully you'll have a clear night when you try this!

Review and Reflection

How many constellations did you find? Every one of them has numerous stories associated with it, so let's take a moment to consider how amazing that is! Answer the questions below, then scroll down to take a quick quiz.

What storie(s) are associated with the constellation you chose for the challenge? Try to find the meaning for that constellation in at least three cultures. You can use the groups of people we studied with Orion as a starting point. Summarize the stories and share them with a friend or family member.
Why do you think stars were so important to people in the past? Do you think they are still as special to people now, or are they outshined by light pollution?
If you could travel to Mars, do you think you would see the same shapes in the stars? Why or why not?

Quick Quiz

How much have you learned today? Let's find out with a little quiz. Remember, you can look back at the lesson to review if you need to. Good luck!

About the Author

Rainbow*

There are so many colors of the rainbow, and she likes to use every one! When Rainbow graduated from high school, she went to Kent State University to study fine art, but found that her favorite time of year was the time she spent working at summer camps in between semesters. If you've been to an Ohio Girl Scout camp lately, you've probably seen her there! After earning a BFA in painting and sculpture, she came to Nuhop to work in a camp setting year-round. Her favorite activities are campfires, the high ropes course, and rock climbing. She can't wait to see the smiling faces of all her campers when they come to Nuhop once again!

*The Nuhop Outdoor Education Staff use "nature names" when working with students. The reason for these nature names is twofold: first it gives them a built-in conversation starter with students, and second, it provides them a level of personal privacy when working with over 4000 students in a given year.

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