Night Sky Near the Equator

The stars and constellations that you can see in the night sky depend on your location on Earth. Some constellations can only be seen in the Northern Hemisphere while others can only be seen in the Southern Hemisphere. The most recognizable constellation that can be seen in the Northern Hemisphere is the Big Dipper. The Southern Cross is the most recognized constellation that can be seen from the Southern Hemisphere. Both of these major constellations can be seen from places near the equator such as Ecuador and the Galapagos.

The Big Dipper as seen from the Equator. The Big Dipper consists of 8 stars.

The Southern Cross as scene from the Equator. The Southern Cross consists of 5 stars (the brightened stars in the image).

Activity

 Draw and name your own constellations in this picture.

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