Astronomers define a constellation as a specific region of the sky that contains a recognizable pattern or grouping of stars. Traditionally, constellations are patterns imagined by connecting stars into shapes that resemble animals, mythological figures, or objects, helping people identify and navigate the night sky
. In modern astronomy, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) has officially divided the entire celestial sphere into 88 distinct constellations, each with precise boundaries defined by arcs of right ascension and declination. This means every point in the sky belongs to one constellation, and any celestial object located within those boundaries is said to be "in" that constellation
. Key points about constellations:
- They are patterns of stars as seen from Earth, but the stars themselves are usually at very different distances and not physically related
- The concept of constellations dates back to ancient cultures such as the Mesopotamians and Greeks, who named them after mythological figures and animals
- The 88 IAU-recognized constellations cover the entire sky and include the zodiac constellations along the ecliptic path of the Sun
- Constellations serve as a celestial map and a way to organize and locate stars and other celestial objects
In summary, a constellation is both a traditional star pattern and a formally defined area of the sky used by astronomers for identification and navigation purposes.
