The document explains that constellations are patterns of stars, observable from Earth, influenced by the planet's rotation and revolution. Diurnal motion makes constellations appear to move across the sky nightly, while annual motion causes them to shift seasonally, with some only visible at specific times of the year. It also notes the zodiac constellations, which correspond to astrological signs, and how the sun's position relative to these constellations determines the month's zodiac sign.

1. CONSTELLATIONS
THE UNIVERSE & ITS STARS

2. A constellation is a group of
stars in the sky that forms a
pattern and has a name. For
example, the stars on the right
are nicknamed the Big Dipper
because they look like a ladle!
CONSTELLATIONS

3. The Earth rotates on its axis
once every 24 hours, which is
why our day/night cycle is 24
hours long. Earth's rotation
impacts how we view
constellations.
EARTH'S
ROTATION

4. As the Earth rotates, your position on Earth changes relative to the stars. This
phenomenon, known as diurnal motion, makes it appear as though the
constellations move across the sky throughout the night, just like the Sun
'moves' from East to West each day.
DIURNAL MOTION
E W

5. THE VIEW FROM EARTH
E W
6:oo PM
12:0o AM
6:0o AM

6. Just as the Moon orbits the
Earth, the Earth orbits the Sun. It
takes the Earth around 365 days
to orbit the Sun, which is why
our calendar year is 365 days
long. Earth's orbit also affects
how we view constellations.
EARTH'S ORBIT

7. Throughout the year,
constellations gradually shift
West due to Earth's
revolution around the Sun.
This is called annual
motion. Since the Earth
faces a different direction
each season, some
constellations are only
visible during certain times
of the year.
ANNUAL MOTION
Pisces
Aquarius
Capricorn
Sagittariu
s
Scorpio
Libra
Virgo
Le
o
Cancer
Gemini
Taurus
Aries

8. One set of constellations
visible along Earth's
elliptical orbit belongs to
the zodiac. These
constellations are the
foundation for zodiac signs
and astrology.
THE ZODIAC
Pisces
Aquarius
Capricorn
Sagittariu
s
Scorpio
Libra
Virgo
Le
o
Cancer
Gemini
Taurus
Aries

9. Pisces
Aquarius
Capricorn
Sagittariu
s
Scorpio
Libra
Virgo
Le
o
Cancer
Gemini
Taurus
Aries
The months that correspond to
each zodiac are based on the
Sun's position relative to the
zodiac constellations. For
instance, the Sun faces the
constellation Aries in April, so
people born in (most of) April are
of the Aries astrological sign.
THE ZODIAC

10. EAST WEST
1:0o AM
What will be the approximate position of the constellation in five hours?
CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING #1
A
B
D
C

11. EAST WEST
1:0o AM
The constellation will be in position D (approximately) after five hours
because constellations appear to move from East to West in a 24 hour
cycle.
CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING #1
D 6:0o AM

12. Which zodiac constellation
is the sun 'in' on the
diagram to the right and,
given that the Sun is in
Aries for most of April,
what month is it on Earth?
CHECK FOR
UNDERSTANDING
#2
Pisces
Aquarius
Capricorn
Sagittariu
s
Scorpio
Libra
Virgo
Le
o
Cancer
Gemini
Taurus
Aries

13. The Sun is facing
Sagittarius in the
diagram and it is most
likely December, but it
could also be November.
CHECK FOR
UNDERSTANDING
#2
Pisces
Aquarius
Capricorn
Sagittariu
s
Scorpio
Libra
Virgo
Le
o
Cancer
Gemini
Taurus
Aries

14. You will now extend your knowledge
based on your learning from this lesson.
GREAT WORK,
EVERYONE!

15. RESOURCE PAGE