When can we see these constellations?

When can we see these constellations?

*Constellations are seen clearly during the night. During the day, we cannot see the constellations because the sky is too bright.

*Normally constellations can be seen between 8:00p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

*As mentioned earlier, the location or position of the stars are fixed. But the Earth does not stay in the same place. It moves around the Sun.

*Therefore, certain constellations can be seen at certain times only, as shown in the following table:

CONSTELLATION	MONTHS CAN BE SEEN
Orion	December to February
Scorpio	June to August
Big Dipper	April to June
Southern Cross	April to June

Important of Constellations

         Poets, farmer and astronomers created constellations over 6000 years ago. Farmers created constellations to help them with their crops. Before we had detailed calendars, farmers used the stars to remind them when to plant and when to harvest their crops. Since different constellations are only visible at certain times of the year, they could use them to tell what time of year it was. Astronomers used the constellations to map the sky. By having recognizable shapes and figures in the sky, it is much easier to find certain stars. These maps of the sky were also used by explorers for navigation. By knowing where stars are in the sky, you can easily determine which direction you are facing. For example, the North Star can be found in the Big Dipper. By finding the North Star, you can determine any direction needed. This is especially useful when navigating on the ocean.