What do you see? If the sky is clear you can see stars - lots
and lots of stars!
Groups of bright stars are called
constellations. Most constellations were named in
ancient Greek and Roman times! It's like a dot-to-dot puzzle. If
you join the stars, they make a picture that looks like an animal
or person.
How do you know which constellations you're looking at? have a
look on the internet SeaSky or Astroviewer will tell you what stars you
can see. If someone you know has a smart phone, they can get an app
that knows where you are and can tell you what you can see! Have a
look at our top space apps.
You can make your own star map or constellation. I made Orion.
It's my favourite constellation and it's very easy to see in autumn
and winter. The Greeks thought the pattern of stars in Orion looked
like a giant hunter.
Look up to the sky and see if there are any constellations you
like. Or make up a constellation and name it after something you
like!
You need:
- Black paper
- Scissors
- Pencil
- Glitter glue (optional)
- Gold or silver pen (optional)
How to:
Ask an adult for help using scissors.
- Draw dots on the black paper where your stars will be.
- Join the dots in gold or silver pen if you like.
- Draw lines over the dots, like this:
-
- Cut along the lines.
- Push your finger gently through the holes where your stars
are.
- If you like, you can use glitter glue to decorate around your
stars.
- Stick the piece of paper on a window and watch your stars
shine! If you like, you can put a torch behind the paper to make
your stars glow more brightly.
Enjoy your constellation!