British Sign Language Glossaries of Curriculum Terms

BSL Astronomy Glossary - star constellation - definition

Definition: Constellations are groups of stars that long ago, in ancient Greek and Roman times, were believed to resemble objects and characters from their myths. The naming process of the constellations did not happen quickly but over time, and we now have eighty-eight officially recognised constellations. When the artist’s impressions are added to the video it is possible to see all the constellations and where they are positioned in relation to each other. From the perspective of our planet, Earth, most of the constellations lie along our galaxy, the Milky Way, as this is the area of the night sky where we can see most stars. As you look further out from the Milky Way, there are fewer constellations.