In our July STEM kit, we are learning about the planets in our solar system, the phases of the moon, and a few major constellations. Let's learn a little more about some of the constellations in our sky!
But first, do you know what makes constellations? Groups of stars! Stars are made up of gasses like hydrogen and helium and are held together by their own center of gravity! Did you know, out of all the stars we see in the sky, our Sun is the closest one to Earth!
Virgo
Virgo is the largest constellation in the Zodiac! It also is home to the star, Spica, which is one of the brightest stars in the night sky. Virgo was first found by Greek astronomer Ptolemy in the 2nd century. Do you know how many years ago that was??
Hydra
Hydra is the largest of all the constellations in the sky and was also found by Greek astronomer Ptolemy. In Greek mythology, Hydra was either a large creature with 9 heads or a water snake, as portrayed in another myth. Which would you prefer?
Big Dipper
The Big Dipper is actually a part of the constellation Ursa Major and is not a constellation on it's own! It is one of the most well-known and easy to spot pattern of stars.
Ursa Major
Latin for Great Bear, the Ursa Major is the largest constellations in the North Sky! It is referred to as Great Bear because there is also an Ursa Minor constellation meaning Little Bear!
Leo
This constellation is the 12th largest in the sky. It is one of the easiest constellations to spot because it has such bright stars! This constellations represents a Lion and is one of our Zodiac constellations. Do you know what your Zodiac sign is?
There are SO many constellations and incredible stories and myths behind each one. To keep exploring, download a star gazing app, grab some binoculars and head outside once the sun goes down. What constellations will you be looking for?
GIGIL STEM subscription boxes come with 5 hands-on learning activities for kids aged TK-5th grade. We offer 3, 4, 6, or 12-month subscriptions, with separate boxes for TK-1st grade with age appropriate activities. We also accept charter funds! We are currently approved with iLead, Compass, Sky Mountain, and Sage Oak Charter Schools. If you'd like us to apply to become a vendor for your charter school, email us at hello@gigilstemkits.com!
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