Constellations Experts

An Astronomer is a scientist who studies celestial bodies such as planets moons and stars.

Inventor of the telescope He used this telescope to make observations regarding the earth’s rotation around the sun. Up until his observations, people believed that the sun revolved around the earth. This rotation of the earth also impacts our constellations. As the earth rotates, different constellations are visible to us at different seasons in the year. Thanks to Galileo, we now know this fact!

Discovered Halley’s Comet

Researched the effect of gravity

Discovered that galaxies are constantly moving away from each other

Launched the first modern rocket

Astronomers use many tools in their job such as a telescope, binoculars, observatories, and planetariums.

A telescope is a special instrument (usually in the shape of a tube) that uses lenses and sometimes mirrors to make faraway objects closer.

Binoculars is a portable magnifying device for viewing distant objects that consist of two little telescopes side by side, one for each eye.

An observatory is a laboratory, often high on a mountain, where scientists use telescopes and other tools to study stars.

A planetarium is an auditorium type location where fellow astronomers can come and view the work and findings of other astronomers.

Astronomers study constellations. A constellation is a group of stars that has become associated with (and named after) an object, animal, or character. Most constellations have shapes that go along with them. There are 88 constellations total.

Astronomers use their tools to see the constellations in the night sky and learn more about them. Constellations move based on the time of year because of the earth’s rotation around the sun. Every constellation has a Greek myth associated with it. These stories have been retold for centuries and make remembering the constellations easier.