Why the Sky Changes
If you watch the night sky through the year, you will notice different stars and constellations in different seasons. But why?
Earth orbits around the sun once every year. As we travel around the sun, we face different directions in space. In winter, Earth's night side faces one direction, so we see one set of stars. Six months later in summer, Earth's night side faces the opposite direction, so we see completely different stars!
Think of it like sitting on a merry-go-round at night. As you spin, you see different buildings and trees on different sides. The buildings are not moving — YOU are, and your view changes as you rotate.
Some constellations are visible all year because they are near the North Star (Polaris). The Big Dipper and Cassiopeia circle Polaris and can be seen any night of the year from northern latitudes. These are called circumpolar constellations.
Other constellations are seasonal — visible only during certain times of the year. Learning the seasonal constellations is like learning the flowers of each season!
**Think About It:** The sun is also 'in' a constellation during the day — we just cannot see the stars because the sun is too bright. The zodiac constellations (Aries, Taurus, Gemini, etc.) are the ones the sun passes through during the year.