2007-05-31 23:45:06 · 5 answers · asked by black moon 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
A constellation is a pattern formed by the stars in the night sky. They were imagined by the ancients, who saw pictures in the stars.
However, the question of which is bigger is a complex one. In terms of absolute scale, a constellation is made up of a tiny fraction of the stars within our galaxy (contrary to an earlier answer, none of the stars you see in the sky are from beyond our own galaxy), therefore a galaxy is larger. However, in terms of apparent size a constellation is larger because it covers a greater area of the sky than a galaxy does as seen from here. The only exception to that is the appearance of our own galaxy, which runs in a band around the entire sky, since we are viewing it from within.
2007-05-31 23:59:06 · answer #1 · answered by Jason T 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Correct form of question:
What is A Constellation, and which of these two are larger, a constellation, or a galaxy?
What is a dicitionary?
What is an encyclopaedia?
What is Wikipedia?
What is Google?
What are search parameters and why do so many people have no idea how to use them or how to find their local library?
And what is Grammar and syntax?
It's Friday night in my time zone and I've hardly find a single question or asker worth helping!
2007-06-01 00:00:03 · answer #2 · answered by JeeVee 6 · 5⤊ 1⤋
A constellation is any group of stars that appear to form an image when connected by imaginary lines. Your eyes are only able to determine true distance up to a certain distance away. After a few miles, everything kind of seems the same distance (aside from visual cues). Because of this, you cannot determine the distance of each star you look at. In reality, two stars that appear right next to each other could be millions of light-years apart, because one is a lot closer. They may appear the same brightness because the one that is farther away is a lot brighter. Therefore, a small constellation could be composed of stars that are billions of lightyears apart. some of the stars that make up a constellation may even be galaxies themselves! So in answer to your question, constellations are much larger than galaxies.
2007-05-31 23:54:12 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
A constellation is a formation or group of stars that make a pattern.
A galaxy is bigger considering several constellations can fit in one.
2007-05-31 23:51:19 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
A constellation is a man-made notion. It is a pattern of stars in the sky, which may well be nowhere near eachother in space.
A constellation may contain galaxies.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constellation
2007-05-31 23:48:12 · answer #5 · answered by ? 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋