Constellations for Kids

Even though the term constellation is more often used to define a pattern of stars visible in the night sky, the technical definition of this term is 'an area of the celestial sphere'. The technical definition is however, restricted to the stalwarts of modern astronomy. The colloquial use of the term to describe the fascinating patterns created by various celestial bodies, the stars in particular, continues. In fact, the sight of the 'lion' or the 'archer' in the sky is a treat for sky watching enthusiasts. Astronomy being a vast subject, things do tend to get complicated at times, and hence, it is very important to simplify this information about the constellations, for kids to understand.

List of Constellations for Kids

According to modern astronomy, there are 88 constellations in the sky. These 88 constellations were adopted by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in 1992. Eventually, Eugène Joseph Delporte - a Belgian astronomer, came up with proper boundaries for each of these constellations, in such a manner that each and every nook and corner of the sky belonged to some or the other constellation. Given below is the list of 88 constellations recognized by the International Astronomical Union (IAU).

• Andromeda Constellation
• Antlia Constellation
• Apus Constellation
• Aquarius Constellation
• Aquila Constellation
• Ara Constellation
• Aries Constellation
• Auriga Constellation
• Boötes Constellation
• Caelum Constellation
• Camelopardalis Constellation
• Cancer Constellation
• Canes Venatici Constellation
• Canis Major Constellation
• Canis Minor Constellation
• Capricornus Constellation
• Carina Constellation
• Cassiopeia Constellation
• Centaurus Constellation
• Cepheus Constellation
• Cetus Constellation
• Chamaeleon Constellation
• Circinus Constellation
• Columba Constellation
• Coma Berenices Constellation
• Corona Australis Constellation
• Corona Borealis Constellation
• Corvus Constellation
• Crater Constellation
• Crux Constellation
• Cygnus Constellation
• Delphinus Constellation
• Dorado Constellation
• Draco Constellation
• Equuleus Constellation
• Eridanus Constellation
• Fornax Constellation
• Gemini Constellation
• Grus Constellation
• Hercules Constellation
• Horologium Constellation
• Hydra Constellation
• Hydrus Constellation
• Indus Constellation
• Lacerta Constellation
• Leo Constellation
• Leo Minor Constellation
• Lepus Constellation
• Libra Constellation
• Lupus Constellation
• Lynx Constellation
• Lyra Constellation
• Mensa Constellation
• Microscopium Constellation
• Monoceros Constellation
• Musca Constellation
• Norma Constellation
• Octans Constellation
• Ophiuchus Constellation
• Orion Constellation
• Pavo Constellation
• Pegasus Constellation
• Perseus Constellation
• Phoenix Constellation
• Pictor Constellation
• Pisces Constellation
• Piscis Austrinus Constellation
• Puppis Constellation
• Pyxis Constellation
• Reticulum Constellation
• Sagitta Constellation
• Sagittarius Constellation
• Scorpius Constellation
• Sculptor Constellation
• Scutum Constellation
• Serpens Constellation
• Sextans Constellation
• Taurus Constellation
• Telescopium Constellation
• Triangulum Constellation
• Triangulum Australe Constellation
• Tucana Constellation
• Ursa Major Constellation
• Ursa Minor Constellation
• Vela Constellation
• Virgo Constellation
• Volans Constellation
• Vulpecula Constellation

Not all of these constellations are popular. There are significant chances that many of us would be hearing the names of these constellations for the very first time. The most popular constellations include the 13 zodiac constellations, (which represent the zodiac signs), and a few individual constellations, like the Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Andromeda, etc.

Popular Star Constellations for Kids

Around half of these 88 constellations were identified and listed by the ancient Greeks much before they were recognized by IAU. Over the period of time, these constellations have made a place for themselves in various cultures, and this very fact has contributed to their popularity. Some of the most popular constellations are given below:

Ursa Major - The Great Bear: Known widely for the 'Big Dipper' asterism, the Ursa Major constellation can be seen in the northern sky throughout the year. One of the 48 constellations listed by the Alexandrian astronomer - Ptolemy, this constellation is identified by the square of the Big Dipper, which forms the bears body, and a chain of the stars, which forms its tail.

Ursa Minor - Lesser Bear: Known widely for the 'Little Dipper' asterism, the Ursa Minor constellation, is also one of the 48 constellations listed by Ptolemy. This constellation is located in the northern sky. The Polaris, aka the Pole Star, is one of the brightest star in this constellation, and therefore identifying Polaris can make the task of locating the Ursa Minor constellation significantly easy.

Orion - The Hunter: The Orion constellation is one of the oldest constellations known to the mankind. The fact that it is visible throughout the world makes it one of the most popular constellation in the world as well. The bright stars of this constellation contribute to its distinct appearance between the months of December and April.

Scorpius - The Scorpion: The Scorpius constellation is located in the southern hemisphere, close to the center of the Milky Way galaxy. If you reside in the northern hemisphere, you can locate this constellation towards the south in summer. The giant star in the Scorpius constellation - Antares, makes it relatively easy to locate this constellation.

Leo - The Lion: The Leo constellation is one of the most popular and easy to recognize constellation in the sky. In the northern hemisphere, this constellation can be located in spring, and in the southern hemisphere it can be located in autumn. In order to locate the Leo constellation, you will have to locate an inverted question mark, which is the tail of the lion, in the night sky.

This was brief information about the constellations for kids, which included the list of constellations recognized by the IAU - the premier astronomical organization in the world, and some of the most popular constellations, about which we hear every now and then. Star astronomy is undoubtedly one of the most fascinating attributes of science. There is much more to know about the realms of the universe, and what we actually boast of knowing may just be the tip of an iceberg.