Science: Stars in the Night Sky Constellations
Learning how people find star patterns in the night sky
Science: Stars in the Night Sky Constellations
Learning how people find star patterns in the night sky
Science - Grade 2-3
- 1
What is a constellation?
Think about connecting dots to make a picture.
A constellation is a pattern of stars that people imagine makes a picture, shape, animal, or person in the night sky. - 2
Look at a group of bright stars that make the shape of a spoon. What could this star pattern help people remember?
The spoon shape could help people remember where that group of stars is in the sky because the pattern is easy to recognize. - 3
Are the stars in a constellation really connected by lines in space? Explain your answer.
The lines are like the lines in a dot-to-dot drawing.
No, the stars are not really connected by lines in space. People draw imaginary lines to help show the pattern. - 4
Why do many constellations look like pictures or shapes?
Many constellations look like pictures or shapes because people use their imagination to group stars into patterns. - 5
Circle the word that best describes stars: rocks, plants, or balls of hot gas. Then explain your choice.
The Sun is a star.
Stars are balls of hot gas. They shine because they give off their own light. - 6
A student sees three stars in a straight line. What shape or object could the student imagine from this pattern?
The student could imagine a belt, a row, a line, or another object that has three points in a straight line. - 7
Why can it be hard to see stars and constellations in a city?
Compare a bright room to a dark room when looking for a small light.
It can be hard to see stars in a city because bright city lights make the night sky look lighter. This is called light pollution. - 8
Name one safe thing you can do when observing stars at night.
One safe thing to do is observe stars with an adult. It is also safe to stay in a clear area away from roads. - 9
Look at the star map. Which star is the brightest, A, B, or C? Explain how you know.
On many star maps, brighter stars are shown with bigger dots.
Star B is the brightest because it is drawn larger and brighter than stars A and C on the star map. - 10
Some constellations can only be seen during certain seasons. Why might the night sky look different in winter than in summer?
The night sky can look different in winter than in summer because Earth moves around the Sun, so we face different parts of space at different times of the year. - 11
The Big Dipper is a famous star pattern. Is it a whole constellation or part of a larger constellation?
A small pattern can be part of a bigger picture.
The Big Dipper is part of a larger constellation called Ursa Major. It is a smaller pattern within the larger star picture. - 12
Draw or describe a constellation you could make using five stars.
Answers will vary. A good answer describes a clear pattern, such as five stars making a house, kite, letter, or animal shape. - 13
Why did people long ago tell stories about constellations?
Stories can help people remember things.
People long ago told stories about constellations to remember star patterns and to explain what they imagined seeing in the sky. - 14
A compass can help you face north. How can knowing directions help when looking for a constellation?
Knowing directions can help you look in the correct part of the sky. Some constellations are easier to find when you know which way you are facing. - 15
Look at two star patterns. Pattern 1 has stars close together in a triangle. Pattern 2 has stars spread out in a long curve. Describe one difference between the two patterns.
Look at the shape and the spacing between the stars.
One difference is that Pattern 1 makes a triangle with stars close together, while Pattern 2 makes a long curve with stars spread farther apart.