Constellations are stars grouped together to form shapes, pictures, etc. In ancient Greece the Greeks discovered and named 48 constellations. Now, in modern day, scientists have found 40 more.
Many constellations can be seen at one time. Some constellations can only be seen north of the equator, and others can only be seen south of the equator.
The stars that can be seen from around the North Pole are called the north circumpolar stars and the stars that are below the equator and around the South Pole are called the south circumpolar stars. In the winter, we cannot see the winter star groups because they are in the sky only in the daytime. We cannot see them because of the Sun’s brightness. The best time to see them is after the Sun has set and the moon has come out.
You cannot see all the
constellations at once.
There are 88 constellations. The
major constellations are - Cassiopeia, Cepheus, Draco, Ursa Minor (the Little
Dipper), Ursa Major (the Big Dipper), Pavo, Tucana, Ara (the Altar), Triangulum
Australe (the Southern Triangle), Centaurus, Crux (the Southern Cross), Volans,
Carina, Dorado, Hydrus, Eridanus, Lybra, Scorpio, Sagatarius, Leo, Orion, and
Virgo. Of course, there are also many, many more.
About 10 of the 12 best-known constellations are, interestingly enough,
animals.