Constellations

Have you ever looked up at the night sky and seen a group of stars that looked like a shape? Those star groups are called constellations. People have been watching them for thousands of years. Long ago, they helped sailors find their way and farmers know when to plant crops. Today, we still love to look up and find them.

What Are Constellations?

A constellation is a pattern of stars in the sky. The stars in a pattern are not really close to each other. They just look close when we see them from Earth. There are 88 official constellations. Each one has a name and a shape. Some look like animals. Some look like people or things.

Famous Constellations

One of the most famous is Orion, the Hunter. It has a bright row of three stars called Orion's Belt. Another well-known one is Ursa Major, the Big Bear. Part of it is called the Big Dipper. It looks like a spoon. You can also find Leo the Lion and Taurus the Bull. The stars you see change with the seasons.

Fun Facts

• There are 88 official constellations in the whole sky.
• Orion's Belt has three bright stars in a straight line.
• Some constellations can only be seen from the north, and others only from the south.

Did You Know?

The star Polaris, also called the North Star, sits almost right above the North Pole. Sailors used it for hundreds of years to find their way at night!