Star PatternsStar Patterns

Chapter 3Chapter 3

Lesson 13Lesson 13

TCAP CoachTCAP Coach

Star PatternsStar Patterns

People long ago imagined that People long ago imagined that groups of stars formed pictures.groups of stars formed pictures.

The pictures were often thought to The pictures were often thought to be gods, characters in ancient be gods, characters in ancient stories, and animals or other objects.stories, and animals or other objects.

These patterns of stars became These patterns of stars became known as constellations.known as constellations.

ConstellationsConstellations

A constellation is a pattern of stars imagined A constellation is a pattern of stars imagined by people to represent objects or living by people to represent objects or living things. things.

Egyptian people described constellations Egyptian people described constellations thousands of years ago. Ancient Chinese thousands of years ago. Ancient Chinese people did, too.people did, too.

Almost 2000 years ago, the Romans Almost 2000 years ago, the Romans described 48 constellations along with their described 48 constellations along with their names. Those are the names and star names. Those are the names and star patterns we refer to today.patterns we refer to today.

Uses of ConstellationsUses of Constellations

People often use constellations to describe People often use constellations to describe where to find something in the night sky.where to find something in the night sky.

Imagine that you want to tell someone Imagine that you want to tell someone where to look for the planet Mars. You where to look for the planet Mars. You might say that Mars is now in the might say that Mars is now in the constellation Leo (“the lion”).constellation Leo (“the lion”).

You mean that Mars has moved so that it You mean that Mars has moved so that it appears in the same part of the sky as the appears in the same part of the sky as the stars of Leo.stars of Leo.

Uses of ConstellationsUses of Constellations

The drawings below shows the star The drawings below shows the star pattern of “Leo the Lion.”pattern of “Leo the Lion.”

Uses of ConstellationsUses of Constellations

Constellations can also be used to Constellations can also be used to find particular stars.find particular stars.

Say you want to find the star Rigel. Say you want to find the star Rigel. It’s the sixth brightest star in the It’s the sixth brightest star in the night sky. What can you do? You can night sky. What can you do? You can find the constellation Orion (“the find the constellation Orion (“the hunter”)hunter”)

Uses of ConstellationsUses of Constellations

Rigel is at the bottom right end of the Rigel is at the bottom right end of the constellation.constellation.

Uses of ConstellationsUses of Constellations

People who live in Earth’s Northern People who live in Earth’s Northern Hemisphere can find directions of the Hemisphere can find directions of the compass (north, west, south, ad compass (north, west, south, ad east) by using constellations as east) by using constellations as guides. guides.

Uses of ConstellationsUses of Constellations

Look at the picture below. It shows Look at the picture below. It shows the Big Dipper and Little Dipper.the Big Dipper and Little Dipper.

If you draw an imaginary line in the If you draw an imaginary line in the night sky as shown by the arrow, you night sky as shown by the arrow, you will find the North Star, which is also will find the North Star, which is also called Polaris.called Polaris.

Uses of ConstellationsUses of Constellations

Polaris lies just above Earth’s North Polaris lies just above Earth’s North Pole. So, if you face Polaris, you are Pole. So, if you face Polaris, you are facing north. To your right is east. To facing north. To your right is east. To your left is west. And behind you is your left is west. And behind you is south. south.

Constellations and the Constellations and the SeasonsSeasons

Different constellations occupy the Different constellations occupy the night sky in different seasons.night sky in different seasons.

This is because Earth’s night side This is because Earth’s night side faces different parts of the sky as it faces different parts of the sky as it revolves around the sun.revolves around the sun.

Which constellations can you see in Which constellations can you see in the winter, spring, summer, and fall? the winter, spring, summer, and fall? You can find the answers in the star You can find the answers in the star charts. charts.

Constellations and the Constellations and the SeasonsSeasons

Star charts show the positions of Star charts show the positions of constellations in different seasons.constellations in different seasons.

First, find the star chart for the season you First, find the star chart for the season you are in. are in.

Hold the star chart in front of you and turn Hold the star chart in front of you and turn it so that the direction you are facing is it so that the direction you are facing is the bottom of the chart. the bottom of the chart.

Then hold the chart over your head.Then hold the chart over your head. The constellations on the chart should The constellations on the chart should

match the constellations in the sky.match the constellations in the sky.

Constellations and the Constellations and the SeasonsSeasons

The star chart below shows the The star chart below shows the winter sky as seen from Earth’s winter sky as seen from Earth’s Northern Hemisphere.Northern Hemisphere.

1. What is a constellation? 1. What is a constellation?

A. a pattern of planetsA. a pattern of planets B. a starB. a star C. a pattern of starsC. a pattern of stars D. a storyD. a story

1. What is a constellation?1. What is a constellation?

C. a pattern of starsC. a pattern of stars

2. If you are facing north, 2. If you are facing north, which direction is directly to which direction is directly to

your left?your left?

A. westA. west B. eastB. east C. southC. south D. downD. down

2. If you are facing north, 2. If you are facing north, which direction is directly to which direction is directly to

your left?your left?

A. westA. west

3. How might you find a planet 3. How might you find a planet in the night sky?in the night sky?

A. Figure out what part of the A. Figure out what part of the constellation it makes up.constellation it makes up.

B. Find out which constellation it now B. Find out which constellation it now appears closest to.appears closest to.

C. Find out whether it is a star.C. Find out whether it is a star. D. Look for it near the sun. D. Look for it near the sun.

3. How might you find a planet 3. How might you find a planet in the night sky?in the night sky?

B. Find out which constellation it now B. Find out which constellation it now appears closest to.appears closest to.

4. How should you hold a star 4. How should you hold a star chart so that it matches the chart so that it matches the

constellations in the night sky?constellations in the night sky?

A. Hold it so the direction you are facing is A. Hold it so the direction you are facing is at the top of the chart.at the top of the chart.

B. Hold it so the direction you are facing is B. Hold it so the direction you are facing is at the right of the chart.at the right of the chart.

C. Hold it so the direction you are facing is C. Hold it so the direction you are facing is at the left of the chart.at the left of the chart.

D. Hold it so the direction you are facing is D. Hold it so the direction you are facing is at the bottom of the chart. at the bottom of the chart.

4. How should you hold a star 4. How should you hold a star chart so that it matches the chart so that it matches the

constellations in the night sky?constellations in the night sky?

D. Hold it so the direction you are D. Hold it so the direction you are facing is at the bottom of the chart.facing is at the bottom of the chart.