What are the Names of these Constellations? Quiz

The Plough is also known as the Big Dipper. This asterism is an easy one to find in the sky, as it has seven stars and looks like a kitchen ladle. An asterism is part of a larger constellation, such as Ursa Major in this case. Basically, an asterism is the shape or pattern of a group of stars.

The constellation Libra can be seen in the Southern Hemisphere and is also known as the scales or balance. Zubeneschamali (Beta Librae), which means "northern claw" in Arabic, is the brightest star in Libra. The second-brightest star is called Zubenelgenubi (Alpha Librae), and this star is known as the "southern claw."

There are 83 stars in the constellation of Libra. On a really dark night, it is possible to see the stars without binoculars. An easy way to find the Libra constellation is to look for a distinctive quadrangle shape that has four of the brightest stars. June is the ideal time of year to view Libra as it is at its highest point in the sky at this time.

Orion is also known as the hunter in Greek mythology. This constellation is known for having two of the brightest stars in the sky. The supergiants are called Betelgeuse (red star) and Rigel (blue star).

From November to February, the Orion constellation is, to a large extent, visible in the night sky. The easiest way to locate Orion is by finding Orion's Belt, which is made up of three very bright stars: Alnilam, Mintaka, and Alnitak. In the Northern Hemisphere, you can see Orion in the southwestern sky, while in the Southern Hemisphere, it appears in the northwestern sky.

Cancer is also known as the crab. You can find Cancer between Gemini and Leo. The best time to see this constellation is in the late winter and early spring. As one of the twelve zodiacal constellations, Cancer follows the Sun, Moon, and planets as they travel around the sky.

It is fair to say that Cancer is not particularly easy to spot, given that it is one of the dimmest constellations in the zodiac. If you live in a big town or city, it's even more challenging, as light pollution makes it harder to spot.

Leo the lion can be found in the Northern Hemisphere between Cancer and Virgo. The best time to see Leo is during the spring months of April and May, making it a favourite among astronomers and astrology enthusiasts alike.

Part of the shape of Leo looks like a question mark backwards. The shape of this mark is known as "The Sickle", which represents the lion's mane and is a key feature for stargazers in identifying this constellation. Leo features several bright stars, with Regulus being the brightest in the constellation and among the brightest stars in the sky. Leo is often referred to as the "Heart of the Lion". It is a multiple star system located approximately 79 light years from Earth.

The symbol for Taurus is the bull. You can see Taurus in the Northern Hemisphere between autumn and Spring, and in the Southern Hemisphere between spring and autumn. Taurus the bull resembles a two-pronged fork, with the Hyades, a family of stars in space, occupying the centre V-shape. The bull's face is marked by the Hyades. The bull's flaming eye is symbolised by the blazing red star Aldebaran, which shines in the V. Also, Taurus is home to another well-known star cluster known as the Pleiades or Seven Sisters. It resembles a little dipper.

The eye of the celestial bull is Aldebaran, often referred to as Alpha Tauri because it is the brightest star in the constellation of Taurus. It ranks among the 15 brightest stars visible from Earth, boasting a magnitude of 0.85. Its striking reddish hue makes it easily distinguishable in the night sky,

You will find Gemini between Taurus and Cancer. The best time to see Gemini is in the early part of the year, particularly January, February, and March. Gemini has two very bright stars called Castor and Pollux. They are commonly known as the "Twins" and together make up a significant portion of the constellation Gemini.

Out of the two stars, Pollux, which is a giant star, is the brightest and is orange. Castor is white and fainter in the sky. An interesting fact, according to Britannica, is that Castor is a system of six stars that appear to be one because they are so near to one another.

The constellation Scorpius is also known as Skorpion. You will find Scorpius between Libra and Sagittarius.

The shape of Scorpius resembles the letter "S", which is similar to the shape of a scorpion. The star Antares, with its red colour and also being very bright, is often mistaken for the planet Mars. Antares is the brightest star in the constellation of Scorpius.

Sagittarius is represented by the Archer as its zodiac symbol. This constellation is located in the southern celestial hemisphere. Notably, Sagittarius is home to numerous star clusters and nebulae, largely because the Milky Way is at its densest in this region.

Sagittarius is home to two prominent star clouds: the Small Sagittarius Star Cloud, sometimes referred to as Messier 24, and the Large Sagittarius Star Cloud. Located in the fourth quadrant of the Southern Hemisphere, Sagittarius is the fifteenth largest constellation in the sky covering an area of 867 square degrees.

There are four notable celestial bodies among the constellation's 18 main stars: Gamma Piscium, a yellow giant with a radius ten times greater than our sun's; Omega Piscium, a yellow-white main sequence star; and Alrisha, a binary star system of two blue-white stars. The brightest star in this constellation is called Eta Piscium, a yellow giant 27 times bigger than our sun.

A celestial event that occurs in Pisces is the spring equinox, when the Sun crosses the equator. Pisces can be recognised by the shape of a "V" and known for a pair of fish which are connected by a fishing line or cord. The cord appears to be attached to the fish's tails. Not an easy constellation to find; however, if you look for Eta Piscium first, it will make it easier to locate.