OtterKnow Kids EncyclopediaA constellation is a group of stars that makes a picture or shape in the sky! When you look up at night, you can connect the bright stars like dots to see animals, people, and objects. It is like a giant connect-the-dots game in space!
People long ago looked at the stars and imagined pictures. They drew lines between the stars to make shapes like bears, lions, and hunters. Today, scientists have divided the whole sky into 88 official constellations. Each part of the sky belongs to one constellation, like puzzle pieces fitting together.
- The stars in a constellation are not really close together.
- They just look close from Earth but are actually very far apart.
- Some constellations can only be seen from certain parts of the world.
- People have been naming constellations for over 5,000 years!
