Constellations

What is a constellation?

• a group of stars that are close to Earth

• a group of stars that is named after a zodiac symbol

• a group of stars that was named for a figure or object that ancient astronomers saw

• a group of stars shaped like an unusual animal

There are __(how many?)____ officially recognized constellations.

Long ago, the constellation Cassiopeia was shaped like a W. Today it is shaped like a squiggly line. Why does it look different today than it did many years ago?

• Because the universe has expanded since then

• The letter W looks different in English

• A meteor changed it

• My eyes were crossed when looking at it

The ancient Greeks thought the Big Dipper looked like a ______________.

Long ago, people of Britain thought the Big Dipper looked like a _________________.

Ancient Irish and French people thought the big dipper looked like a ____________.