Constellations Flashcard

Front

What are constellations?

Back

Constellations are groups of stars that form recognizable patterns in the night sky.

Front

How many constellations are officially recognized?

Back

There are 88 officially recognized constellations.

Front

Why can we only see certain constellations during specific seasons?

Back

We can only see certain constellations during specific seasons because of the Earth's orbit around the sun.

Front

Do people in the Northern Hemisphere see the same constellations as those in the Southern Hemisphere?

Back

No, people in the Northern Hemisphere do not see the same constellations as those in the Southern Hemisphere.

Front

What causes stars to appear smaller than the sun?

Back

Stars appear smaller than the sun because they are much farther away from Earth.

Front

What is the main reason we see different star patterns at different times of the night?

Back

The main reason is that the Earth rotates on its axis, causing the star patterns to seem to move across the sky.

Front

What is the difference between a star and a planet?

Back

Stars produce their own light through nuclear fusion, while planets reflect light from stars.

Front

What is the Milky Way?

Back

The Milky Way is the galaxy that contains our solar system and is made up of billions of stars.

Front

What is a light year?

Back

A light year is the distance that light travels in one year, about 5.88 trillion miles.

Front

What are the two main types of constellations?

Back

The two main types of constellations are seasonal constellations and circumpolar constellations.