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constellation

A constellation is an area on the celestial sphere in which a group of visible stars forms a perceived pattern or outline, typically representing an animal, mythological subject, or inanimate object.

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A constellation is a group of stars that form a recognizable pattern or shape in the night sky, often representing an animal, mythological character, or object. Constellations have been used throughout history to help people navigate, tell stories, and organize their understanding of the stars above them.

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Image: Suzhou star cartography.jpg

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Commons category: Constellations
equivalent class: dbpedia.org/ontology/Constellation
P8168: goo

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~29 min read

Article

23 sections

Contents

Terminology
Observation
Northern hemisphere
Southern hemisphere
History of the early constellations
Lascaux Caves, southern France
Mesopotamia
Ancient Near East
Classical antiquity
Ancient China
Early modern astronomy
Origin of the southern constellations
88 modern constellations
Symbols
Dark cloud constellations
List of dark cloud constellations
See also
References
Further reading
Mythology, lore, history, and archaeoastronomy
Atlases and celestial maps
Catalogs
External links

A constellation is an area on the celestial sphere in which a group of visible stars forms a perceived pattern or outline, typically representing an animal, mythological subject, or inanimate object.

The first constellations were likely defined in prehistory. People used them to relate stories of their beliefs, experiences, creation, and mythology. Different cultures and countries invented their own constellations, some of which lasted into the early 20th century before today's constellations were internationally recognized. The recognition of constellations has changed significantly over time. Many changed in size or shape. Some became popular, only to drop into obscurity. Some were limited to a single culture or nation. Naming constellations also helped astronomers and navigators identify stars more easily.