Chapter 3 Lesson 13 TCAP Coach Star Patterns Chapter 3 Lesson 13 TCAP Coach

Star Patterns People long ago imagined that groups of stars formed pictures. The pictures were often thought to be gods, characters in ancient stories, and animals or other objects. These patterns of stars became known as constellations.

Constellations A constellation is a pattern of stars imagined by people to represent objects or living things. Egyptian people described constellations thousands of years ago. Ancient Chinese people did, too. Almost 2000 years ago, the Romans described 48 constellations along with their names. Those are the names and star patterns we refer to today.

Uses of Constellations People often use constellations to describe where to find something in the night sky. Imagine that you want to tell someone where to look for the planet Mars. You might say that Mars is now in the constellation Leo (“the lion”). You mean that Mars has moved so that it appears in the same part of the sky as the stars of Leo.

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

Uses of Constellations Constellations can also be used to find particular stars. Say you want to find the star Rigel. It’s the sixth brightest star in the night sky. What can you do? You can find the constellation Orion (“the hunter”)

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

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

Uses of Constellations Look at the picture below. It shows the Big Dipper and Little Dipper. If you draw an imaginary line in the night sky as shown by the arrow, you will find the North Star, which is also called Polaris.

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

Constellations and the Seasons Different constellations occupy the night sky in different seasons. This is because Earth’s night side faces different parts of the sky as it revolves around the sun. Which constellations can you see in the winter, spring, summer, and fall? You can find the answers in the star charts.

Constellations and the Seasons Star charts show the positions of constellations in different seasons. First, find the star chart for the season you are in. Hold the star chart in front of you and turn it so that the direction you are facing is the bottom of the chart. Then hold the chart over your head. The constellations on the chart should match the constellations in the sky.

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

1. What is a constellation? A. a pattern of planets B. a star C. a pattern of stars D. a story

1. What is a constellation? C. a pattern of stars

2. If you are facing north, which direction is directly to your left? A. west B. east C. south D. down

2. If you are facing north, which direction is directly to your left? A. west

3. How might you find a planet in the night sky? A. Figure out what part of the constellation it makes up. B. Find out which constellation it now appears closest to. C. Find out whether it is a star. D. Look for it near the sun.

3. How might you find a planet in the night sky? B. Find out which constellation it now appears closest to.

4. How should you hold a star chart so that it matches the constellations in the night sky? A. Hold it so the direction you are facing is at the top of the chart. B. Hold it so the direction you are facing is at the right of the chart. C. Hold it so the direction you are facing is at the left of the chart. D. Hold it so the direction you are facing is at the bottom of the chart.

4. How should you hold a star chart so that it matches the constellations in the night sky? D. Hold it so the direction you are facing is at the bottom of the chart.