Constellations

We know a little about stars and the different kinds that appear in the sky. Now you are going to visit a few Internet sites to find out more about constellations. Visit each site in the order that they appear, and then answer the questions on your packet.

First we need to learn the difference between constellations and asterisms.

http://homepage.mac.com/kvmagruder/bcp/aster/general/asterism.htm

1. What is the difference between an asterism and a constellation?

2. Connect the dots to make the Big Dipper and Ursa Major. Which one is an asterism/constellation?

http://www.astropix.com/HTML/C_SPRING/BIGDIP.HTM

3. How many stars make up the asterism the Big Dipper? (Be careful, put your cursor over the stars)

http://www.csam.montclair.edu/~west/UMamyths.html

4. Read the two myths. Why is there more than one story for the same constellation?

5. You read about the Big Dipper and Ursa Major. Use these other links to explore other constellations. When you choose one you like (constellation, no asterisms) you need the following information:

a. constellation name

b. mythology story and culture it is from

c. picture of your constellation in graph paper

d. where your constellation can be see [example: northern hemisphere during the winter months]

e. what else is near your constellation [can other constellations be used to locate your constellation?]

http://www.dibonsmith.com/constel.htm

http://www.fcps.k12.va.us/DIS/OHSICS/planet/constell/constell.htm

http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/the_universe/Constellations/constnavi.html&edu=elem

http://www.reasons.org/kidsspace/constellations/north.shtml?main

http://stardate.org/nightsky/constellations/

http://domeofthesky.com/clicks/constlist.html