A constellation is a group of stars. That simple. A galaxy is a collection of constellations.
We probably know it as a pattern of stars seen from earth.
The word constellation is derived from a Latin word that means ‘set of stars’.
There are 88 constellations in the sky, as recognized by the International Astronomical Union, but some can be seen only from either the northern hemisphere or from the southern hemisphere.
While some constellations can be seen all year, most can only be seen at certain times of the year and in certain seasons.
Interesting facts about constellations
Constellations are sometimes grouped into families. These constellations are in the same area of the sky and the family name comes from the most prominent constellation in that area.
The Hercules Family contains 19 constellations; the Ursa Major Family contains 10 constellations; the Perseus Family contains 9 constellations; and the Orion Family contains 5 constellations.
Some of the most famous constellations include Orion, Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, the Zodiac, and Pegasus.
The brightest constellation is Crux, also known as the Southern Cross, and the largest constellation is Hydra – which covers 3.158% of the night sky.
There are 13 zodiac constellations including Capricornus, Aquarius, Pisces, Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpius, Sagittarius, and Ophiuchus. The first 12 are also used for astrology and the zodiac calendar.