Ann Forrest Adams age 16of Atlanta Gas

Why are some stars called constellations?

A constellation is not one star but a group of stars, These stars seem to be neighbors in the sky and together they usually form some sort of pattern. We divide the stars into constellations for convenience. It is not easy to point out one special star in a sky full of stars, Choose one and try to show a friend which one you mean. That one? No that one. You can point at night at your single star and still not be sure that your friend knows which one you mean.

So you describe its position in a group of stars that form some recognizable pattern. See those three little stars close together in a row? Follow them down until you come to a big bright star, Now we know which star you mean. It is Rigel. Follow your three little stars up and you come to the bright star Betelgeuse. All these' stars are part of the constellation Orion. The three little stars in a row form his belt.

When you have the constellation Orion Andy says you can find the star he chose in a minute. Follow the stars in Orients belt westward and slightly down the sky. That shining bright diamond is Sirius, It is part of the constellation of the Big Dog. See how easy it is to point out a star when ,you know a few constellations. Donit you do this very thing every time you find Polaris, the Pole Star? You begin by finding the constellation of the

Big Dipper. This is a group of bright stars arranged in a pattern which is very easy to recognize. The two pointer stars in the Dipper lead you right to Polaris.