Constellations

Stars as Tools for Navigation

 The North Star is called Polaris and
located directly above the North Pole. This
star appears in the same place every night
all year long.

The Southern Hemisphere does not have

a star to help you find its pole. In stead it
has what is known as a Southern Cross.
 Stars as tools for navigation
• North Star • Southern Cross
A pattern or
group of stars in
the sky is called
a constellation.
Star Patterns
The Big Dipper
 Constellations
 Earth rotates on its axis, this
makes most constellations appear to
rise in the east and set in the west
during the night.
 Most constellations appear in
many different positions in the
sky as the Earth revolves around
the sun.
STAR CHARTS
• STAR CHARTS are the BEST for
identifying a constellation in the sky.

• A COMPASS is the BEST for locating

DIRECTION (North, South, East, and
West) You need to know direction
before you can use a star chart
correctly.
 What other invention helps us view
items in space?
• A telescope!
 NOTES:
• Star- large sphere of glowing gases
• Constellations- a pattern or group of stars in the
sky
• Star Chart- map of the stars in the night sky
used as a way to identify constellations
• Compass- used to locate direction in order to use
a star chart correctly
• Telescope- used to see far away objects in space
up-close
 NOTES:
• Star- large __________ of glowing _________
• Constellations- a _________ or group of ______
in the sky
• Star Chart- _______ of the ______ in the night
sky
– used as a way to identify constellations
• Compass- used to locate _________ in order to
use a star chart _________
• Telescope- used to see ______ away ________ in
________ up-close