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Stars and Constellations | Elementary
| Science and Technology
Table of contents
What Is a Star?
A star is a celestial body made of plasma that produces heat and light.
When you look up at the night sky, most of the points of light you see are stars. Even though they’re extremely far away from the Earth, you can still see their light.
Source: Adapted from StellariumWeb.org
The star closest to Earth is the one at the centre of our solar system: the Sun. You can only see it during the day. Its light makes the sky bright blue, preventing you from seeing all the other stars.
Source: Adapted from StellariumWeb.org
What Is a Constellation?
A constellation is a group of stars that form a picture when they are connected by imaginary lines.
Source: Adapted from StellariumWeb.org
The pictures formed by constellations often refer to objects, animals, or mythological characters.
People came up with the constellations for several reasons: they help sailors navigate at sea, they help mark the seasons, and the are also used to tell stories and legends!
The following constellations are some of the ones you can see from your own home, right here in Quebec.
Source: Adapted from StellariumWeb.org
- Ursa Minor or Little Dipper
It’s shaped like a small pot and includes the North Star. - Ursa Major or Big Dipper
One part of Ursa Major is shaped like a large pot. - Cepheus
This constellation is shaped like a house and is named after the mythological king Cepheus (husband of Cassiopeia). - Cassiopeia
This constellation is shaped like a W and is named after the mythological queen Cassiopeia (wife of Cepheus). - Perseus
This constellation is named after the mythological hero who saved the princess Andromeda (daughter of Cepheus and Cassiopeia). - Triangulum
Its three stars form an elongated triangle.
To locate stars and constellations in the sky, you can use a star finder.
How to Use a Star Finder?
A star finder is an astronomy tool that shows you what region of the sky is visible at a precise date and time.
A star finder has the following parts:
- A rotating disc that shows all the dates of the year and a map of the sky
- A cover showing the hours and the cardinal points (north, south, east, and west)
- An oval window showing the region of the sky that is visible
To use a star finder, go outside on a nice, cloudless evening and follow these steps.
- Turn the disc to line up the date and time when you are observing the sky.
Keep in mind! Between the second Sunday in March and the first Sunday in November, Quebec is on Daylight saving time. During that period, subtract 1 hour when setting up your star finder. For example, if it’s 10 p.m., set the disc to 9 p.m. - Keep the disc still so it does not move anymore under the cover.
- Look at the oval window. What is shown there matches the stars and constellations you can see in the night sky at that moment.
- Hold the star finder over your head and point it toward the north.
Keep in mind! On a star finder, the eastern and western horizons are reversed compared to the cardinal points on a compass rose. This is because the starfinder’s sky map shows a projection of the sky over your head. That is why there is a flip. - Have fun spotting stars and constellations!