STARS AND

CONSTELLATIONS
 Learning Objectives
At the end of the lesson, learnerss should be able to:

Identify the different Give the

Enumerate the
constellations in the importance of stars
characteristics of
night sky and constellations
stars
 What is a star?
• The objects that heat and light the planets in a system
• A star is a ball of plasma held together by its own
gravity
• Nuclear reactions occur in stars (H -- He)
• Energy from the nuclear reactions is released as
electromagnetic radiation
What are the characteristics of a star?
Stars differ in…
• Mass
• Size
• Temperature
• Color
• Luminosity
 Mass and Composition
• A star is a massive ball of gases, mainly
hydrogen and helium.
• Bigger stars have more mass, greater
gravity and are hotter than smaller stars.
 Star Size
• Large Stars: Giants or Super Giants
• Medium Stars: Main Sequence (the Sun)
• Small Stars: White Dwarf or Neutron
Star Size
 Star Energy
• The enormous pressure and heat in a star’s core converts matter into
energy.
• This reaction is called nuclear fusion
• In nuclear fusion, hydrogen atoms fuse to form helium atoms.
• During each step of the process, mass is lost and energy is released.
• The energy released causes the star (Sun) to shine and gives the star
its high temperature.
 Star Temperature
Stars in the sky show tinges of different colors which
reveal the stars’ temperatures.
• Blue: hottest
• Yellow: medium temperature
• Red: coolest
Classification of Stars
 Star Luminosity/Brightness
• The brightness of a star depends upon the
distance and its luminosity.
• Apparent Brightness/Magnitude: a star’s
brightness as seen from Earth.
• Absolute Brightness/Luminosity: the actual
brightness
Life Cycle of Stars
 Life Cycle of Stars
• Begin their lives as clouds of dust and gas called nebula
• Gravity may cause the nebula to contract
• Matter in the gas cloud will begin to condense into a dense region
called a protostar
• The protostar continues to condense, it heats up. Eventually, it
reaches a critical mass and nuclear fusion begins.
• Begins the main sequence phase of the star
• Most of its life is in this phase
 Life Cycle of Stars
Life span of a star depends on its size.
• Very large, massive stars burn their fuel much faster than smaller
stars
• Their main sequence may last only a few hundred thousand years
• Smaller stars will live on for billions of years because they burn
their fuel much more slowly
Eventually, the star's fuel will begin to run out.
 Life Cycle of Stars
• It will expand into what is known as a red giant
• Massive stars will become red supergiants
• This phase will last until the star exhausts its
remaining fuel
• At this point the star will collapse
 Life Cycle of Stars
• Most average stars will blow away their outer
atmospheres to form a planetary nebula
• Their cores will remain behind and burn as a
white dwarf until they cool down
• What will be left is a dark ball of matter known
as a black dwarf
 Life Cycle of Stars
• The matter inside the star will be compressed so tightly
that its atoms are compacted into a dense shell of
neutrons. If the remaining mass of the star is more than
about three times that of the Sun, it will collapse so
completely that it will literally disappear from the
universe. What is left behind is an intense region of
gravity called a black hole
 Life Cycle of Stars
• If the star is massive enough, the collapse will
trigger a violent explosion known as a supernova
• If the remaining mass of the star is about 1.4 times
that of our Sun, the core is unable to support itself
and it will collapse further to become a neutron star
Life Cycle of Stars
ACTIVITY: Starry Night!
 Constellations
Constellations are recognizable star patterns named
and cataloged by astronomers. These patterns resulted
from lines of sight with stars at varying distances.
Constellations aid navigation in the night sky,
providing a convenient reference for locating celestial
objects.
 Constellations
The pattern constellations form may take the
shape of:
Animal
Mythological creature
Man
Woman
Inanimate object (microscope, compass,
crown)
 How many Constellations are there?
88 major constellations
Named by early astronomers
North Star = Polaris (it’s almost
directly over the north pole)
Constellations that appear to move because Earth
is moving.
Rotate around Polaris
Some constellations can only be seen in certain
seasons.
Ex. Orion (we can’t see in the summer because
the northern hemisphere faces Orion during the
day)
Constellations that appear to move because Earth
is moving.
Rotate around Polaris
Some constellations can only be seen in certain
seasons.
Ex. Orion (we can’t see in the summer because
the northern hemisphere faces Orion during the
day)
 FUN FACT!
If you are on the equator you can view
all the constellations in a year. If you are
on the North or South Pole, you will
only be able to see the part of the sky
above you.
What are some examples of
constellations?
 Orion
The Orion constellation is
renowned for its trio of aligned
stars that resemble a belt,
distinguishing it as a prominent
feature on winter nights.
 Andromeda
Andromeda constellation is
characterized by a unique "V"
shape created by its brightest
stars. Its name is derived from
the Greek mythology princess,
Andromeda.
 Ursa Major
Ursa Major, also known as the
Great Bear, is an easily identifiable
constellation located in the
northern hemisphere. Its moniker is
derived from a bear, with the Big
Dipper forming the bear's
hindquarters and tail.
 Ursa Minor
Ursa Minor, also known as the Little
Bear, is a constellation in the northern
celestial hemisphere. One of the most
recognizable features of Ursa Minor is
the North Star, or Polaris, which is
located very close to the north celestial
pole.
 CYGNYS
Cygnus, a summer
constellation, becomes more
conspicuous during the
warmer months in the
northern hemisphere.
Centaurus
Centaurus is notable for its
resemblance to a centaur—a
mythical creature with the
upper body of a human and
the lower body of a horse.
 Scorpius
Scorpius, the Scorpion, is a prominent
zodiacal constellation visible in the
southern hemisphere and some parts
of the northern hemisphere during
summer. It is renowned for its
characteristic shape, resembling a
scorpion with a curved tail and stinger.
 Pegasus
Pegasus, the Winged Horse, is
recognized for its distinct pattern,
forming a large square often referred
to as the "Great Square of Pegasus."
This square serves as a helpful guide
for locating other celestial objects.
 Bootes, Cancer, Crates, Hydra, Leo,
Virgo

Orion, Cetus, Eridanus,

Sagittarius, Aquila, Gemini, Perseus, Taurus,
Cygnus, Hercules, Lyra, Canis Major
Ophiuchus, Scorpius

Pegasus, Andromeda, Aquarius,

Capricomus, Pisces
 Uses of Constellations
 Constellations help people to recognize stars in the sky.
By looking for patterns, the stars and locations can be
much easier to spot.
 The constellations had uses in ancient times. They were
used to help keep track of the calendar. This was very
important so that people knew when to plant and
harvest crops.
 Another important use for constellations was
navigation. By finding Ursa Minor it is fairly easy to
spot the North Star (Polaris). Using the height of the
North Star in the sky, navigators could figure out their
latitude helping ships to travel across the oceans.
Local Name Month of Related Agriculture Activity Western
Appearance Equivalent
Baha December to Clearing of Forest Taurus
February
Pandarawa January Start of planning what kind of crops to Pleiades
plant and how wide the area for
planting should be
Balatik February Start of planting and setting of traps to Orion’s belt
protect the crops from animals

Malihe March Planting of rice, corn, or vegetables _________

Gibbang April and End of planting season, signifies rich Gemini
May harvest
Malara May Stop plnting Canis Minor
Lepu Late May Time to clean or clear the fields while Aquila
waiting for harvest time
Buwaya June Start of the rainy season _________
 THANK YOU!
I hope you learn something new today!