Question

What is constellations? Name and explain some major constellations.

Answer 1

The groups of stars that make an imaginary shape in the night sky are called constellations (nakshatras). They are usually named after mythological characters, people, animals and object they resemble in shape. There are 88 constellations known so far.
Some major constellations are:

• Ursa Major (Great Bear): It is one of the most well known constellations and the third largest one. It looks like a big dipper. It is visible in the northern hemisphere. It has groups of seven relatively bright star.
• Ursa Minor (Little Bear): It is ladle shape similar to Ursa Major. It also consists of seven stars. At the end of the Little Bear’s tail is the pole star. It is the nearest bright star to the north celestial Pole.
• Orion (Hunter): It has seven prominent stars. The three middle stars represent the belt of hunter and four stars form a quadrilateral.
• Cassiopeia: It is a constellation in the northern sky that looks like a distorted letter W or M. It is visible during the winter in the early hours of night.
• Leo: Leo contains several bright stars making it one of the most easily recognisable constellations in the night sky. It is visible in both Northern and Southern hemispheres.