Depending on your location, the same object may appear very different. Consider how a car looks from the side and from the back. This picture shows two different views of the constellation, The Big Dipper. The upper image is what we see from Earth and the lower from a different location in space.
It All Depends On Your Point Of View
In most cases, however, the stars that we see that seem to be "close" to each
other actually are quite far apart, some stars are much closer or farther than others
as is shown in the example below of Ursa Major, the big dipper.
In the figure we imagine that we have travelled through space till we
are about the
same distance away as earth but from a different position in space. The stars in
Ursa Major would change as is shown in the lower part of the picture.
You might also be interested in:
How did life evolve on Earth? The answer to this question can help us understand our past and prepare for our future. Although evolution provides credible and reliable answers, polls show that many people turn away from science, seeking other explanations with which they are more comfortable.
...more
Ursa Major is a very famous constellation. It is also called the Great Bear. Ursa Minor is the Little Bear. The body and tail of the Big Bear make up the Big Dipper. There are a lot of myths about this
...more
The unvarying aspect of the relationships of the stars' positions may have suggested to the ancients something that was analogous to their beliefs about the universe. It is not surprising that they chose
...more
The fall constellation Andromeda is a Princess. She looks like a "V"! Andromeda is close to the north pole, so only a few people in the Southern Hemisphere can see it in the spring. Andromeda's parents
...more
Aquarius is also known as the Waterbearer. There are several myths about this constellation. In Greek mythology, Aquarius was the young boy, Ganymede. Zeus sent Aquila to kidnap Ganymede. The boy became
...more
The constellation Cancer is a crab. Look for Cancer from December through June. It's hard to see Cancer because the stars are so dim. To find Cancer, first find Gemini and Leo. Cancer is right between
...more
Canis Major is known as the Great Dog. In Greek myth, it is one of Orion's hunting dogs. Many cultures saw the shape of a dog in this constellation. Sirius is the brightest star in the sky. It is also
...more
The constellation Capricornus is a goat. Many years ago, people thought this constellation was a gate to the Heavens. Souls would go through it after a person died. The Greeks thought it was a sea-goat.
...more
