Seasonal Constellations

Question 1

At 9:00 p.m. on April 10, Maya can clearly see the constellation Cassiopeia high in the sky. On October 10, at the same time and place, she looks up and Cassiopeia is not visible. Which statement best explains Maya’s observation?

Accepted Answer

Because Earth moves around the Sun, the night side faces a different part of space at different times of year, so the visible constellations change.

Answer

The stars in Cassiopeia travel around Earth each month, so their positions shift throughout the year.

Answer

The bright full Moon in October hides Cassiopeia from view.

Answer

Earth’s tilt turns the sky upside down in the fall, making Cassiopeia disappear.

Question 2

Which statement correctly explains why we see different constellations in winter than in summer?

Accepted Answer

Because Earth moves around the Sun, we look at different parts of the sky at different times of year.

Answer

Because the stars themselves move to new places each season.

Answer

Because the Moon hides some constellations during certain months.

Answer

Because the Sun shines brighter in summer, making constellations disappear.

Question 3

Eli looked at the sky on two evenings. On March 20 he saw Orion high in the sky at 9 p.m., but on September 20 at the same time and place the bright constellation Cygnus was overhead instead. Which statement best explains why different constellations were visible on those two dates?

Accepted Answer

Because as Earth travels around the Sun, the part of the sky that faces Earth at night changes, so different constellations appear in different seasons.

Answer

Because Earth's tilt points us toward different constellations in each season, making some visible and others hidden.

Answer

Because the constellations move in their own orbits around the galaxy, they drift into view at different times of the year.

Answer

Because the Sun’s brightness during the day blocks certain constellations in some months, so they cannot be seen at night then.

Try three questions

At 9:00 p.m. on April 10, Maya can clearly see the constellation Cassiopeia high in the sky. On October 10, at the same time and place, she looks up and Cassiopeia is not visible. Which statement best explains Maya’s observation?

Which statement correctly explains why we see different constellations in winter than in summer?

Eli looked at the sky on two evenings. On March 20 he saw Orion high in the sky at 9 p.m., but on September 20 at the same time and place the bright constellation Cygnus was overhead instead. Which statement best explains why different constellations were visible on those two dates?

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