Winter Guide To The Constellations: What Is A Star?

Winter Guide to the Constellations
The RSPB Wild Challenge award scheme is a wonderful opportunity for

you and your family to venture out, explore and help nature together. To
sign up to the RSPB Wild Challenge and find out about the full range of
activities, take a look here.
Although it may be cold, winter is an ideal time to experience the magic
of stargazing. A stunning night sky is one of those natural wonders that
seems extra special. To discover more ‘Wow!’ experiences for you and your
family, take a look at the RSPB’s Nature WOW activity.
What is a star?
Stars form from massive clouds of dust and gas.
Gravity pulls the dust and gas together - this
process creates heat. Stars are therefore spheres of
gas that go through nuclear processes. They emit
light and heat, which is why we can see them.
What is a constellation?
Constellations are patterns of stars in the
sky that have been recognised by humans.
The word is from the Latin word constellacio,
which means a set of stars. Constellations
have been named after objects, animals and
mythical creatures. Our ancestors looked up
at the sky and made connections between
the patterns they saw and their culture,
beliefs and reality. There are 88 recognised
constellations.
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and help nature together.
What constellations can I see?
The constellations you’ll be able to see will depend on where you
are and the time of year. This is because the Earth moves so the
constellations visible to us will vary.
There are 36 constellations in the northern sky, which means they
lie north of the celestial equator and so are more easily seen in the
northern hemisphere. The southern sky has 52, meaning they lie
south of the celestial equator and so are more easily seen in the
southern hemisphere.
Each celestial hemisphere is split into quadrants - four parts - to
help us know which constellations are where. The northern celestial
hemisphere is split into NQ1, NQ2, NQ3 and NQ4. Similarly, the
southern celestial hemisphere is split into SQ1, SQ2, SQ3 and SQ4.
This guide focuses on constellations you might see in the northern
hemisphere, particularly during the winter months.
Outdoor areas provide great opportunities for play and learning, but always check for any environmental risks before taking part in outdoor activities, and
only proceed if it is safe to do so. Ensure children always wash their hands after being outside. Please be respectful of nature and take care of animals
and plants. We will not be held responsible for the health and safety of those participating in activities, and cannot accept any liability. By organising or
participating in any activity described, you acknowledge that it is the responsibility of supervising adults to ensure the safety of children in their care.
Some ingredients and/or materials used might cause allergic reactions or health problems. You should ensure that you are fully aware of the allergies and
health conditions of those taking part. If you have any concerns about your own or somebody else’s health or wellbeing, always speak to a qualified health
professional. Activities listed within the resource should always be supervised by an appropriate adult. Children should be supervised when using sharp
items such as scissors or other tools. Please make sure you are aware that children may put craft items into their mouths, and that they should wash their
hands afterwards. By using this resource, you acknowledge that it is the responsibility of supervising adults to ensure the safety of children in their care
and that we will accept no liability as a result of the activity.
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Stargazing Tips
• Head outside with your trusted adult to go stargazing together. Make

sure you both wrap up warm!
• Choose a location that is free of light pollution, preferably away
from any artificial bright lights or towering buildings that could
block your view. Make sure you are allowed to use that location (if
you have a garden, that may work well) and that there are no hidden
drops or obstacles (it’s a good idea to check out the area before it gets
dark).
• Pick a clear night; if it’s very cloudy, you might not see any stars.
• Remember that it might take your eyes some time to adapt to the
dark. We recommend taking a red torch instead of a bright white
torch. A red torch is ideal for reading this Guide to the Constellations
outside, without affecting your night vision. You could stick some red
transparent wrapping material to a normal torch if you don’t have a
red one.
• If you like, you could take a pair of binoculars or a telescope. These
will help you get a better view of objects in the night sky. However,
many stars can be seen without them.
• A compass can also be useful; this will let you know what direction
you are facing. You’ll probably be able to find a compass app on a
mobile device, if you or your adult has one.
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Constellation Guide
Use this guide to help you learn about and spot the different constellations
in the sky. Have a go at joining the stars in the pictures on the right so they
match the ones on the left. You could colour them in too.
The Plough
Name: The Plough

Where? NQ2 - Look north at around 8pm. The Plough is always above
the horizon.
When?
The Plough is circumpolar (moves around the “fixed” North Star,
Polaris), which means it can be viewed all year long.
Fun Facts
• This constellation is also known as ‘The Big Dipper’.
• The Plough consists of seven bright stars; three are the handle and
four are the bowl or body.
• The body and tail of ‘the great bear’ (Ursa Major) make up
The Plough.
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Ursa Major
Name: Ursa Major (“the great bear” or “the larger bear” in Latin)
Where? NQ2 - Look north at around 8pm. Ursa Major’s brightest
stars form ‘The Plough’, which is always above the horizon. If you
can spot this, you can spot Ursa Major!
When?
Most of Ursa Major is circumpolar (moves around the “fixed” North
Star, Polaris), which means it can be viewed all year long.
Parts of the legs will disappear during autumn
and reappear in winter.
Fun Facts
• Ursa Major is the third largest constellation in the sky.
• ‘Alioth’ is the brightest star of Ursa Major; it is the 31st brightest star
we can see from Earth.
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Cassiopeia
Name: Cassiopeia
Where? NQ1 - Look north at around 8pm.
When?
Cassiopeia is circumpolar (moves around the “fixed” North Star,
Fun Facts
• This constellation was
named after Cassiopeia, a
vain, boastful queen in
Greek mythology. She
bragged about how
beautiful she was.
• Cassiopeia has a very
distinct shape; the five
brightest stars make a ‘M’
or ‘W’ shape in the sky.
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Ursa Minor
Name: Ursa Minor (“the little bear” in Latin)

Where? NQ3 - Look north at around 8pm. If you can find the North
Star, this will help you find Ursa Minor.
When?
Ursa Minor is circumpolar (moves around the “fixed” North Star,
Fun Facts
• This constellation is also sometimes called ‘The Little Dipper’.
• The last star in the tail is Polaris - the North Star. This is also the
brightest star in the constellation.
• Ursa Minor was often used for navigation because it is so close to the
North Pole.
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Canis Major
Name: Canis Major (“the great dog” in Latin)

Where? SQ1 - Look south at around 8pm. If you can find Sirius (the dog
star) this will help you find Canis Major. Sirius is the brightest star and
one of the brightest objects in the night sky too.
When?
Canis Major is visible during the winter months (November through to
March) in the northern hemisphere.
Fun Facts
• In Greek mythology, it is said that Canis Major and Canis Minor are
Orion's hunting dogs.
• The constellation is supposed to look like a dog standing on its hind
legs. It is chasing after Lepus, a constellation depicting a hare.
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Gemini
Name: Gemini (“the twins” in Latin)

Where? NQ2 - Look south at around 8pm. Gemini is located between
two other zodiac constellations: Cancer and Taurus.
When?
Gemini is best seen during the winter and spring months in the
northern hemisphere.
Fun Facts
• Gemini is one of the zodiac constellations.
• Gemini is known for its two bright stars, Castor and Pollux, which are
named after the two twins from Greek mythology.
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Orion
Name: Orion
Where? NQ1 - Look south at around 8pm. Try spotting Orion's belt first,
which is made of three bright stars in a straight line.
When?
Orion can be seen shining brightly during the winter months in the
northern hemisphere.
Fun Facts
• Orion is one of the brightest and most famous constellations in
the night sky. The constellation is also known as the Hunter, as it
represents the hunter Orion from Greek mythology.
• Orion contains two of the brightest stars in the sky: Rigel and
Betelgeuse.
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Perseus
Name: Perseus
Where? NQ1 - Look north at around 8pm. Perseus is close to Cassiopeia.
When?
Perseus (also known as ‘the Hero’) can be found in the sky during the
winter months in the northern hemisphere.
Fun Facts
• This constellation is named after a hero in Greek mythology.
Perseus famously defeated Medusa and used Medusa’s head to save
Andromeda from the monster Cetus.
• Perseus also contains the famous variable star Algol - this star looks
like it is winking! Many believe the star was supposed to represent
Medusa's eye.
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Taurus
Name: Taurus (“bull” in Latin)

Where? NQ1 - Look south at around 8pm. Try spotting Orion first;
Orion and Taurus are next-door neighbours in the night sky.
When?
Taurus can be seen during winter in the northern hemisphere. It passes
through the sky from November to March.
Fun Facts
• The brightest star in Taurus is Aldebaran, which is the eye of the bull.
• Taurus is one of the oldest constellations, so there are lots of stories
about it. It’s history dates back to the Bronze Age.
• Taurus is also a zodiac constellation.
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Cepheus
Name: Cepheus
Where? NQ4 - Look north at around 8pm. If you can find the North
Star, this will help you find Cepheus.
When?
Cepheus is circumpolar (moves around the “fixed” North Star, Polaris),
which means it can be viewed all year long.
Fun Facts
• This constellation was named after King Cepheus (of Greek
mythology), who was the husband of Cassiopeia and father of
Andromeda.
• The Cepheus constellation looks a bit like a house.
• Alpha Cephei is the brightest star in the constellation.
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Can you make a model of a constellation
Make a Constellation yourself? You could try some of these ideas:
Use marshmallows and toothpicks to create a

constellation of your choice. Try dried spaghetti
instead of toothpicks or jelly sweets instead of
marshmallows.
You could make a 3D constellation model using clay

or playdough for the stars, then wooden dowels or
pencils to connect them.
Create a textured collage for a constellation of your

choice. Be creative – you could use lentils or
star-shaped pieces of material for the stars, then join
them up with pieces of string or wool. You could
use the images on the next few sheets to help you
to create some of the easier-to-spot constellations.
Once dry, these could even be a ‘feely guide’ to help you
remember the shapes of the constellations when you are outside!
Head outside and make a constellation from pebbles

and sticks - or other natural materials you can find!
Make sure to return anything you find and try not to
disturb the environment.
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The Plough
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inspiring families to enjoy
Ursa Major
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Cassiopeia
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Orion
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Winter Guide to the Constellations

The RSPB Wild Challenge award scheme is a wonderful opportunity for

RSPB and Twinkl -

RSPB and Twinkl -

• Head outside with your trusted adult to go stargazing together. Make

RSPB and Twinkl -

Name: The Plough

RSPB and Twinkl -

RSPB and Twinkl -

RSPB and Twinkl -

Name: Ursa Minor (“the little bear” in Latin)

RSPB and Twinkl -

Name: Canis Major (“the great dog” in Latin)

RSPB and Twinkl -

Name: Gemini (“the twins” in Latin)

RSPB and Twinkl -

RSPB and Twinkl -

RSPB and Twinkl -

Name: Taurus (“bull” in Latin)

RSPB and Twinkl -

RSPB and Twinkl -

Use marshmallows and toothpicks to create a

You could make a 3D constellation model using clay

Create a textured collage for a constellation of your

Head outside and make a constellation from pebbles

RSPB and Twinkl -

RSPB and Twinkl -

RSPB and Twinkl -

RSPB and Twinkl -

RSPB and Twinkl -

You might also like