Constellations

What are patterns in the night sky called?

• planets

• galaxies

• constellations

How were constellations originally named and identified?

• by their brightness

• by their distance from the Earth

• Longitude and latitude

• By the patterns they form in the sky

What is the name of a person who observes stars is called an ___?

• artist

• astronomer

• constellation

The sun, a hot ball of gas, is not a star.

• True

• False

We see different stars in the sky depending on the season.

• True

• False

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

People in the Northern Hemisphere do see the same constellations as the people in the Southern Hemisphere.

• True
• False

Constellations may be only visible during certain seasons due to the Earth’s orbit around the____.  

• Earth
• Mars
• Planets
• sun

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Ursa Major is also called “Great Bear” and is one of the largest constellations.  

• True
• False

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Ursa Minor means “Little Bear” in Latin and is commonly known as the Big Dipper.

• True
• False

Which constellation is best known because it contains the “big dipper,” which looks like a ladle.

• Ursa Major
• Ursa Minor
• Orion
• Polaris