A pattern or group of stars in the sky is called a constellation.

People of ancient time saw the constellations as character or animals in the sky. They made up stories to explain how the object, animal, or character came into the night sky.

• As early as 5000 years ago, people began naming patterns of stars, called constellations, in the honor of mythological characters or great heroes.

• Today, 88 constellations are recognized.

• They divide the sky into disjoint units.

• Every star in the sky is in one of these constellations.

Ursa MajorUrsa Major

Ursa Major, the Great Bear, is visible in the Northern Hemisphere all year long.

Ursa MajorUrsa MajorCircumpolar ConstellationCircumpolar Constellation

How to find Pole StarHow to find Pole Star

Ursa MinorUrsa Minor

• Ursa Minor, the Little Bear, is visible in the Northern Hemisphere all year long.

• Ursa Minor is mostly known for Polaris, the North Star, which may be found at the end of the handle.

Ursa MinorUrsa MinorCircumpolar ConstellationCircumpolar Constellation

Views of Orion from Tasmania (Australia) and Iran (Asia)

OrionOrion• Orion is the master of the winter skies. He lords over

the heavens from late fall to early spring, with his hunting dog Sirius trailing at his feet.

• The story behind it: (Orion holding an animal)– Orion was known as the "dweller of the mountain",

and was famous for his prowess both as a hunter and as a lover. But when he boasted that he would eventually rid the earth of all the wild animals, his doom may have been sealed. The Earth Goddess sent the deadly scorpion to Orion to kill him. Orion engaged the scorpion in battle but quickly realized its armour was impervious to any mortal's attack. Orion then jumped into the sea and died. In his eternal hunting, Orion is careful to keep well ahead of the scorpion. Orion disappears over the horizon by the time Scorpio rises in the east, as it becomes his turn to rule the evening sky.

Orion Not a circumpolar constellation, but a seasonal constellation

BetelgeuseBetelgeuse,, the right arm of Orion (or "armpit" as the name suggests), glows with a dull red. Rigel,Rigel, in the opposite corner of the constellation, is blue and much brighter.

Ecliptic Constellations & Ecliptic Constellations & Zodiac SignsZodiac Signs

• A band of 12 constellations around the sky entered on the ecliptic (apparent path of the sun on the earth as the earth revolves around it).

• Aries, Leo, Sagittarius, Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn, Gemini, Libra, Aquarius, Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces.