SCIENCE BLOG – CONSTELLATION DIAGRAM

INTRODUCTION 

If we see at the sky for some time at night,  then we will observe some stars forming groups with shapes.  So, the shape formed by the group of stars is called a constellation diagram.  The shapes of constellations resemble objects familiar to those people. Each constellation is signified by an animal, a human being, or some other objects it appears to resemble. All the constellations seem to move in the sky from east to west. This is due to the rotation of the earth on its axis from west to east. 

SOME OF THE IMPORTANT CONSTELLATION DIAGRAM:

A particular constellation does not have a small number of stars as it consists of a large number of stars, some of them are bright and can be seen easily with the naked eye.   All the stars which make up a constellation are not at the same distance, they are just in the same line of right in the sky.

Lets have a discussion on four common constellations Ursa Major, Orion, Cassiopeia, and Leo Major.

URSA MAJOR CONSTELLATION IN CONSTELLATION DIAGRAM

Since Ursa major constellation is the most popular constellation and it is also known as Great Bear, Big Bear, Big dipper and plough. The Indian name of the Ursa Major constellation is saptarishi (saptarshi). The Ursa Major constellation consists of seven bright stars. It appears like a big ladle or question mark(?). There are three stars in the handle of ladle and four in its bowl. During the summer, the ursa major constellation is visible in the early part of the night sky. If we observe the Ursa Major at different times in the night, we will find that it appears to move from the east to west.  Since the pole star remain fixed, therefore the Ursa Major appears to revolve around the Pole star in the constellation diagram.

ORION MAJOR CONSTELLATION ON CONSTELLATION DIAGRAM 

Since Orion is a constellation that can be observed during winter in the late evening. It is also one of the most popular constellations in the sky. Orion is also known as a hunter. The Indian name of Orion is Mriga.

Orion consists of a greater number of bright stars than any other constellation. Besides, this, it consists of seven or eight bright stars. Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky and is located close to the Orion. To locate the position of Sirius in the night sky with the help of Orion, we have to imagine a straight line passing through the three middle stars of Orion. This imaginary line will lead us to a very bright star; this very bright star is Sirius.

CASSIOPEIA: ( mriga constellation) ON CONSTELLATION DIAGRAM

Cassiopeia is also a constellation in the northern sky. The constellation consists of 5 stars which are arranged to form the shape of the distorted letter W or M (depending on the position of Cassiopeia in the sky). Cassiopeia constellation is visible during winter in the early part of the night.

LEO MAJOR : 

The constellation in the northern sky which consists of 9 main stars is known as leo major constellation. . Leo means lion, so the arrangement of stars in the constellation forms the outline of a big lion. This constellation diagram is visible during summer in the early part of the night.

PROBLEMS 

SHORT TYPE QUESTION ON CONSTELLATION DIAGRAM

Qs1  Do all the stars in the sky move? Explain.

Ans1  No, all the stars in the sky do not move but they appear to move from east to west. This is actually due to rotation of the earth on its axis. The Earth moves from west to east.  So, it appears as the stars are rising from east and as the day dawns, they set in the west. But pole star does not appear to move because it is situated in the direction of the Earth’s axis. 

Qs2 Why is the distance between stars and the Earth expressed in light years?

Ans2 The distance between the stars and the Earth is expressed in light years because the distance between them is seven million kilometres which is not easily readable.

Thus, to measure large distances, a bigger unit is used known as light year. When light travels the distance in one year terms as Light Year.

HIGHER ORDER TYPE  IN CONSTELLATION DIAGRAM

Qs3  Mention the name of constellation which terms as “ The Hunter”?

Ans3 Orion constellation is known as the hunter .

Qs4  Differentiate between stars and planets. (with key word)

KEY WORDS	STARS	PLANETS
Twinkling	They have own light so, they twinkle.	Planets do not have their own light. They just reflect the light of the star to which they belong, so, planets do not twinkle.
Number of stars	Infinite in number in the celestial sphere.	Number of planets are only eight in the solar system
Distance	Even the relative distance between stars remains constant.	The relative distance between the planets changes with time
size	These are very big in size. They appear small as they are very far off.	These are relatively smaller
Type	It is a huge mass of extremely hot gases and its temperature is very high	It is made up of rocks and metals and its temperature depends on its distance from the sun.

ANSWER IN BRIEF

Qs4  The moment , the meteors enter the atmosphere of Earth, then what exactly happens? Explain in brief. 

Ans4 The moment  , the meteors enter the earth’s atmosphere, then due to the friction of air, they get heated up and become visible. Then they seen as a bright streak of light flashing for a moment across the sky, so they usually burnt out completely before reaching the surface of the Earth. 

 

HIGHER-ORDER THINKING SKILL ON CONSTELLATION DIAGRAM

Qs5 Differentiate between star and shooting star. 

Ans5  

STAR	SHOOTING STAR
Due to air friction a star does not get destroyed	After entering the atmosphere of the Earth, a shooting star burns due to heat and friction
A star is very big in size	A shooting star is very small
Hydrogen like hot gases makes the star.	Rocks and metals make a shooting star.
A star is luminous	A shooting star has no light of its own