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Science
Quarter 3 – Module 6
Constellations
Science – Grade 9 Alternative Delivery Mode
Quarter 3– Module 6: Constellations
First Edition, 2021

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Published by the Department of Education

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Librada M. Rubio, PhD
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Science
Quarter 3 – Module 6
Constellations
Introductory Message

This Self-Learning Module (SLM) is prepared so that you, our dear learners,
can continue your studies and learn while at home. Activities, questions,
directions, exercises, and discussions are carefully stated for you to understand
each lesson.

Each SLM is composed of different parts. Each part shall guide you step-by-
step as you discover and understand the lesson prepared for you.

Pre-tests are provided to measure your prior knowledge of lessons in each

SLM. This will tell you if you need to proceed with completing the module or if you
need to ask your facilitator or your teacher’s assistance to better understanding the
lesson. At the end of each module, you need to answer the post-test to self-check
your learning. Answer keys are provided for each activity and test. We trust that you
will be honest in using these.

In addition to the material in the main text, Notes to the Teacher are also
provided to our facilitators and parents for strategies and reminders on how they
can best help you on your home-based learning.

Please use this module with care. Do not put unnecessary marks on any part
of this SLM. Use a separate sheet of paper in answering the exercises and tests.
And read the instructions carefully before performing each task.

If you have any questions in using this SLM or any difficulty in answering
the tasks in this module, do not hesitate to consult your teacher or facilitator.

Thank you.
 What I Need to Know

This module was designed and written with you in mind. It is here to help
you master which constellations may be observed at different times of the year
using models. The scope of this module permits it to be used in many different
learning situations. The language used recognizes the diverse vocabulary level of
students. The lessons are arranged to follow the standard sequence of the course.
But the order in which you read them can be changed to correspond with the
textbook you are now using.

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. determine the characteristics of stars based on the characteristics of the
sun;
2. infer that the arrangement of stars in a group (constellations) does not
change;
3. explain why stars seem to move across the sky; and
4. show which constellations may be observed at different times of the year
using models (S9ES-IIIj-35).

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 What I Know

Directions: Read each statement or question and write the letter of the correct
answer on a separate sheet of paper.

For numbers 1 to 3, use the table below that presents information about stars A,
B, C, and D.
Star Color
A Blue
B Red
C White
D Yellow

1. Which star is the hottest?

a. A b. B c. C d.
2. Which star is very similar to our sun?
a. A b. B c. C d. D
3. Which is the coolest star?
a. A b. B c. C d. D
4. How do stars appear to move in the night sky?
a. from east to west c. from north to south
b. from west to east d. from south to north
5. Why do stars appear to move in the sky over the night?
a. New galaxies are formed. c. The universe is expanding.
b. The night sky is rotating. d. The Earth is rotating on its axis.
6. If you are located at the North Pole, where will you see the Polaris?
a. overhead c. it cannot be seen in the North Pole
b. just above the horizon d. around 45 degrees from the
horizon
7. Which constellation is prominently seen during spring?
a. Hercules b. Orion c. Pegasus d. Virgo
8. Which star is closest to Earth?
a. Alpha Centauri c. Sirius
b. Betelgeuse d. Sun
9. Why do stars have colors?
a. It is because of varying temperatures.
b. It is because of the different locations.
c. It is because of the presence of oxygen.
d. It is because of the presence of carbon dioxide.
10. Stars can be found in large groups throughout the universe. What are these
groups called?
a. Asteroids c. Constellations
b. Comets d. Solar system

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 Lesson

1 Constellations

Constellations are an imaginary group of stars. Have you tried star gazing?
You might have observed that there are a lot of constellations that you can find
in the night sky. But have you ever wondered if all these constellations are present
in every season in the night sky?
In this module, you will learn about the characteristics of stars. You will
also learn about the patterns that form from groups of stars. These patterns in
the night sky appear to move in the night because of Earth’s rotation. Different
star patterns are seen at different times of the year because of the Earth’s
movement around the Sun. This module provides you with different activities that
will help you learn more about constellations that may be observed at different
times of the year.

What’s In

Directions: Match the Zodiac Sign from Column A to its corresponding symbol
in/found under Column B. Write your answer in your activity notebook/on a
separate sheet of paper.
Column A Column B
1. Aquarius a. Archer
2. Aries b. Bull
3. Cancer c. Crab
4. Capricorn d. Fishes
5. Gemini e. Goat
6. Leo f. Lion
7. Libra g. Ram
8. Pisces h. Scales
9. Sagittarius i. Scorpion
10. Scorpio j. Twins
11. Taurus k. Virgin
12. Virgo l. Water Bearer

Constellations are defined as a group of stars that form a particular pattern and
are named and identified by their traditional mythological figures. Zodiacs are
also constellations, but not all constellations are zodiacs.

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 What’s New

What is a Star?
A star is a massive ball of plasma that emits light throughout the universe.
While there is only one star in our solar system, there are billions upon billions of
stars throughout our galaxy and exponentially more in the billions of galaxies in
the universe. A star can be defined by five basic characteristics. These are
brightness, color, surface temperature, size, and mass.

Characteristics of Stars Brightness

Two characteristics define the brightness of a star. These are luminosity
and magnitude. Luminosity is the amount of light that a star radiates. The size of
the star and its surface temperature determine its luminosity. The magnitude or
brightness of stars can be described in two ways. The apparent magnitude of a
star is the perceived brightness. It is influenced by its size and distance from the
observer. The bigger and the nearer the star from Earth, the brighter it seems to
be. The absolute magnitude, on the other hand, is its true brightness irrespective
of its distance from Earth. Figure 1 below shows two stars, the sun, and Rigel.
Rigel is actually brighter than the sun based on the absolute magnitude.
However, the sun appears brighter to the human eye because it is closer to Earth
than Rigel.

Rigel

Earth

Sun
Figure 1. Apparent Magnitude of the Sun and the star Rigel

Color and Surface Temperature

A star's color depends on its surface temperature. Stars have different
colors due to their varied temperatures. Cooler stars tend to be redder in color,
while hotter stars have a bluer appearance. Stars in the mid-range are yellow,
such as our sun. Stars can also blend colors, such as red-orange stars or blue-
white stars.

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Table 1. Color and Temperature of Selected Stars
Color Temperature (˚C) Examples
Blue-White 12000 Rigel, Spica
White 11000 Vega
White 10500 Sirius
Yellow 6000 Capella
Yellow 6000 Sun
Orange 4200 Arcturus
Red 3000 Antares
Red 2200 Betelgeuse
Source: https://www.slideshare.net/leahburbos/characteristics-of-stars-34418617

Size

Astronomers measure the size of a given star in terms of our own

sun's radius. Thus, a star that measures 1 solar radius would be the same
size as our sun. The star Rigel, which is much larger than our sun,
measures 78 solar radii. A star's size, along with its surface temperature,
will determine its luminosity.

Table 2. Diameter of Selected Stars

Diameter
Star
(Sun’s diameter = 1)
Sun 1
Betelgeuse in Orion 830
Antares in Scorpius 775
Vega in Lyra 2.7
Rigel in Orion 50
Proxima Centauri C (closest star to the Sun) 0.03
Dubhe (the brightest star in the Big Dipper) 14
Source: https://stardate.org/sites/default/files/ColorsofStars_T.pdf

Mass

A star's mass is also measured in terms of our sun, with 1 equal to

the size of our sun. For instance, Rigel, which is much larger than our
sun, has a mass of 3.5 solar masses. Two stars of a similar size may not
necessarily have the same mass, as stars can vary greatly in density.

What is It

What is a Constellation?
A constellation is any group of stars forming a recognizable pattern
that is traditionally named after its apparent form or identified with a
mythological figure. Modern astronomers divide the sky into 88
constellations with defined boundaries.

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Patterns in the Sky

Away from city lights on a clear, moonless night, the naked eye can see
2000 to 3000 stars. As you look at these stars, your mind may group them into
different shapes or patterns. People of nearly every culture throughout history
have looked at the stars and given names to shapes they saw. They even invented
stories to go with them. For example, the pattern that the Greeks named Orion
(the hunter) was also seen by the ancient Chinese who saw it as a supreme
warrior named Shen. The Chemehuevi Native Americans of the California desert
saw the same group of stars as a line of three sure-footed mountain sheep.
The International Astronomical Union (IAU) divides the sky into 88 official
constellations with exact boundaries so that every place in the sky belongs within
a constellation. Most of the constellations in the Northern Hemisphere are based
on the constellations invented by the ancient Greeks, while most in the Southern
Hemisphere are based on names given to them by 17th-century European
explorers.

Apparent Movement of the Stars through the Night

The stars in the sky stay in approximately the same positions relative to
each other. Orion is always near Taurus. Ursa Minor is always surrounded by
Draco. The stars do not move relative to each other much at all.

There are some subtle movements, however, as we orbit the sun over the
year. Stars that are nearer to us move left and right a little more than stars
further away.

Basically, there are two reasons behind the stars’ apparent movement
across the sky. First is the Earth’s rotation on its axis, and the second one is its
revolution around the sun.
The Earth spins eastward, and because of that, we observe the sun rising
in the east and setting in the west. All other stars “move” in the same direction as
the sun. During the day, you may not be able to notice other stars because the
sun outshines the others. But during the night, you may be able to observe the
apparent movement of thousands of stars.

In the Northern Hemisphere, every star in the sky circles around the North
Star, the Polaris. In fact, if we take a long exposure with a camera, we can see
the star trails this motion creates.

Why do the stars circle around the North Star? Well, the axis of the Earth's
rotation goes through the North Pole and the South Pole, and that's why the stars
appear to move around a point that is directly above the North Pole which
happens to be the position of the Polaris. If you are in the North Pole, the Polaris
will be seen directly above you. It moves lower to the horizon as the latitude
decreases.

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 In the Southern Hemisphere, there is a similar pattern. The stars appear to
rotate around a point directly above the South Pole. The only difference is that
there isn't a south star. It so happens that there is no visible star directly above
the South Pole. Polaris is not visible in the southern hemisphere.

Aside from rotation, the Earth also travels around the sun. Because of
these, some constellations may be visible only during certain months.

(A) (B)

(C) (D)

Figure 2. Different constellations at different times of the year. (A) Winter Constellations;
(B) Spring Constellations; (C) Summer Constellations; (D) Fall Constellations
Source: https://astronomy.com/observing/astro-for-kids/2008/03/learn-the-
constellations

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 However, some constellations appear to move in a circle around the night
sky and are visible throughout the year. These are called circumpolar
constellations. These are constellations that are always above the horizon. This
includes Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Draco, Cepheus, and Cassiopeia in the northern
hemisphere, and Carina, Centaurus, and Crux in the southern hemisphere.

Polaris

The
Northern Star, also known as Polaris, is famous for holding nearly still in our sky
while the entire northern sky moves around it. That’s because it’s located nearly at
the north celestial pole, the point around which the entire northern sky turns.
Polaris marks the way due north. As you face Polaris and stretch your arms
sideways, your right-hand points due east, and your left-hand points due west. The
about-face from Polaris steers you due south. Polaris is located at the end of the
handle of the Little Dipper in the constellation Ursa Minor.

POLARIS

Figure 3. Polaris as viewed from Zambales, Philippines via Stellarium Mobile

How Early People Used the Constellations

For tens of thousands of years, human beings have been fascinated by the
patterns of stars in the sky above Earth. Early on, they noticed that the Moon
changed shape from night after night as well as its position among the stars.

Early people noticed constellations of stars in the sky that looked like animals
and people and made up stories about what they thought they saw. In fact, the oldest
records we have of astronomical observations are 30,000year-old paintings found
on the walls of caves.
Ancient Egyptians were very interested in the night sky. They were drawn to
two bright stars that always could be seen circling the North Pole. The Egyptians
referred to those stars as "the indestructibles." Today we know them as Kochab, in
the bowl of the Little Dipper (Ursa Minor), and Mizar, in the middle of the handle of
the Big Dipper (Ursa Major).

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Early Application:

• The first astronomers created calendars from changes they saw in the
Moon. Some ancient people around 5,000 years ago set up large stones to
mark the movement of the Sun and other stars. One of those old
observatories is Stonehenge in what we now call England.

• Ancient natives of North America lined up circles of stones with the Sun
and stars to chart the rising Sun and the beginning of summers.

• In the northern hemisphere, the appearance of the constellation Orion

signifies the coming of the cold season.

• Some stars and constellations always appear in Earth's northern sky. For
instance, the Big Dipper is one of those constellations. Ancient sailors used
stars and constellations to guide their travels.

• Astrolabes. "Star-finders" or astrolabes were created by Arab astronomers

to solve complicated astronomy problems. One side of an astrolabe
contained a detailed star map.

Source: https://www2.nau.edu/~gaud/bio301/content/erlast.htm

Philippine Constellations

The constellations serve as a map during the early years and it talks about
countless stories regarding heroes and monsters, thru the years of humankind
and cultures. Like in other countries, our Filipino ancestors did worship stars
before as their gods. They have their own version of names, prayers, and stories
which depend on what region they come from.

The origin of names of different astronomical bodies comes from deities in

ancient Philippine mythology. “Tala” is a very good example and very common to
hear. “Tala” is a goddess of the stars. Other examples are “Mayari” who is a
goddess of the moon, and “Hanan” the goddess of the morning. They are the
daughters of “Bathala” and, a mortal woman. Another example is “Apolaki” who is
the god of the sun, and he was the son of “Anagolay” and “Dumakulem”.
Using the constellations and their movements as a reference, along with
the changing of the season and time, our ancestors somehow practiced following
the star movements as a sign of good harvest, fishing, hunting, and other
activities in the tribe. It’s either a good or a bad omen when something is
changing in the night sky.

“Moroporo” is connected to sea navigation but, like “Balatik”, it was

primarily
used to signal the beginning of the planting season.

Here are some of the constellations and asterisms that are commonly
known in the Philippines.

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 “Tres Marias” (The Three Marias) in Tagalog, “Magbangal” in Bukidnon, and
“Seretar” in Teduray, “Balatik” is composed of perfectly aligned and evenly spaced
stars which act as the belt of the constellation of Orion. In Palawan and Ibaloi
however, “Balatik” is seen as both the sword and belt of Orion. It signifies the start
of planting and setting of traps to protect the crops from animals.

“Mapolon” in Tagalog, “San Apon” in Ibaloi, and “Kufukufu” in Teduray. In

the western part of the country, it is known as the star cluster Pleiades (The Seven
Sisters) located in the constellation of Taurus. The Tagalogs consulted this star
cluster to know the shifting of time and season. It implies the start of the planting
season. The “Buwaya” indicates the coming of the rainy season.
“Lepu”, by the “Matigsalug Manobo” of Bukidnon. In the western equivalent,
it is known as the constellation of Aquila. It signifies the time to clean or clear the
fields while waiting for the harvest time.
Tagalogs had a constellation called “Talang Batugan” (Lazy), named for its
characteristic of slow motion, large size, and low brightness. It is usually known as
a guiding star for shepherds.
In Bicol, “Pogot” is used as a sign for fishing and incoming storms; “Soag”
signals the beginning of nighttime; and “Torong” shows an approaching storm.
“Sipat” and “Tudong” are mentioned in a ritual known as “kentan” conducted
by ethnic groups in the Cordillera to bless rice seedlings. “Binabbais”, another star
named by the people of Cordillera, is heard in prayers chanted during their rituals.

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 What’s More

Activity 1:

Directions: Study the table below then answer the guide questions that follow.
Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.
Diameter
STAR TEMPERATURE (ºC) COLOR (Sun’s diameter =
1)
A 3400 Red 5.2
B 4600 Orange 25.2
C 5750 Yellow 1.3
D 10200 White 1.21
E 11000 White 12.81
F 18400 Blue-white 78.1

Guide Questions:
1. What is the color of the coldest star?
2. Which star has almost the same temperature and color as the sun?
3. Which is the hottest star?
4. What is the color of the hottest star?
5. Which stars are as big as the sun?
6. Which is the biggest star?

Activity 2: Motion of Stars

Directions: Read the instructions carefully and follow the procedure. Answer the
guide questions and write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.
Procedure:
1. On a clear night, observe the position of stars from 7 pm to 9 pm.
2. Choose a specific group of stars to observe.
3. You may record or take pictures every half an hour. Make sure that you take
the picture from the same spot so you can compare if the stars change
position.

Guide Questions:

1. Compare the position of the stars in the sky. What did you notice?
2. Are the stars visible at 7 pm still visible at 9 pm in their “original position” in the
sky?
3. Observe the position of the stars relative to each other. Did it change over time?
4. How is the motion of stars similar to the motion of the Sun?
5. Why do stars seem to move across the sky?

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 Activity 3: Stars for all Seasons

Directions: Write the letter corresponding to the season on which the following
constellations can be observed. Refer to Figure 2 in the discussion. Write your
answers on a separate sheet of paper.

a.
Autumn

b.
d. Winter Sun Sprin g

c.
Summer

1) Andromeda 9) Gemini
2) Cygnus 10) Hercules
3) Bootes 11) Lyra
4) Corvus 12) Orion
5) Canis Major 13) Pegasus
6) Aries 14) Sagittarius
7) Cassiopea 15) Virgo
8) Taurus

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 What I Have Learned

Directions: Choose the correct word from the box to fill in the missing terms. Write
your answers on a separate sheet of paper.

A (1) __________ is a massive ball of plasma that emits light

throughout the universe. Luminosity is the amount of light that a star radiates. The
(2) __________ magnitude of a star is the perceived brightness. It is influenced by its
size and distance from the observer. The bigger and the nearer the star from Earth,
the brighter it seems to be. The (3) __________ magnitude, on the other hand, is its
true brightness irrespective of its distance from Earth. A star's color depends on its
surface temperature. Stars have different colors due to their varied temperatures.
(4) __________ stars are cooler while (5) __________ stars are hotter.

A (6) __________ is any group of stars forming a recognizable pattern that is

traditionally named after its apparent form or identified with a mythological figure.
The Earth’s rotation and revolution are the reason behind the apparent movement
of stars and constellations. The stars seem to rise in the (7) __________ and set in
the (8) __________. In the northern hemisphere, the constellations move in a circle
around the northern star, the (9) __________.

In the Philippines, the constellations were used as maps and calendars of

our ancestors. One of the most famous star patterns in our country is the
(10) __________ which is actually Orion’s belt, signifying the start of planting
season.

Tres Marias constellation apparent red

star absolute blue west

Polaris east

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 What I Can Do

Directions: Draw your own constellation and give an appropriate name

for it. Write a short story about the origin of your constellation. Do this in
a short bond paper.
You will be graded based on the rubric below.

Criteria 4 points 3 points 2 points 1 point

Details in the Details in the It is a little The details

constellations constellations hard to hardly
Drawing make it very mostly show figure out resemble the
easy to tell what what it is all what the description of
it is all about. about. detail is all the
about. constellation
There is one The main ideas There are too The topic of
clear, well- are clear but are few ideas to the story and
focused topic. not well support the main ideas
The main ideas supported by story. It is are not clear.
Story are clear and detailed somewhat
are well information. The related to
supported by story relates to the drawing
detailed and the drawing. of the
accurate constellation
information.
The story is
excellently
related to the
drawing.

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 Assessment

Directions: Choose the letter of the correct answer. Write your answers on a
separate sheet of paper.
1. The star Algol has approximately the same temperature as the star Rigel. Which
of the following statement is correct?
a. Algol and Rigel have the same size.
b. Algol and Rigel have the same color.
c. Algol and Rigel have the same brightness.
d. Algol and Rigel have the same mass.

2. Why do stars have colors?

a. It is because of varying temperatures.
b. It is because of the different locations.
c. It is because of the presence of oxygen.
d. It is because of the presence of carbon dioxide.

3. Which constellation is prominent in the northern hemisphere during spring?

a. Andromeda c. Orion
b. Lynx d. Ursa Major

4. Which constellation indicates that the cold season is coming?

a. Andromeda c. Orion
b. Lynx d. Ursa Major

5. Which constellation helps sailors to navigate?

a. Pisces c. Sagittarius
b. Polaris d. Ursa Minor

6. What local constellation signifies the start of the rainy season in the
Philippines?
a. Balara c. Buwaya
b. Balatik d. Lepu

7. Why can we see different parts of the sky at different times of the year?
a. Due to the rotation of the earth.
b. Due to the tilt of the earth’s axis.
c. Due to the revolution of the earth.
d. Due to the revolution of the moon.

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8. The constellation below represents the constellation Cygnus.

Which statement best explains why Cygnus is visible to an observer in

Manila in September but not visible in March?
a. Cygnus orbits the Earth. c. Earth orbits the Sun.
b. Cygnus spins on its axis. d. Earth spins on its axis.

9. The constellation Pisces changes position during the night, as shown in the
diagram below.

Which motion is mainly responsible for this change in position?

a. Rotation of Earth on its axis.
b. Rotation of Pisces on its axis.
c. Revolution of Earth around the Sun.
d. Revolution of Pisces around the Sun.

10. In which positions in the night sky, at any time during the year, that an
observer is not able to see Polaris?

a. A and D c. B and D
b. B and C d. C and D

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 Additional Activities

Directions: Find the 10 constellations that are hidden in the box of letters. Words
appear in vertical, horizontal, diagonal, and backward order. Write your answers
on a separate sheet of paper.

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Answer Key

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References
Books
Constellations, Alvarez, Liza A., et. al. 2014. Science 9 Learner’s Module. Meralco
Avenue, Pasig City: Department of Education.

Website
Characteristics of Stars, SlideShare, accessed December 19, 2020,
https://www.slideshare.net/leahburbos/characteristics-of-stars-34418617

Early Astronomy, Northern Arizona University, accessed December 19, 2020,

https://www2.nau.edu/~gaud/bio301/content/erlast.htm#:~:text=Ancient
%20sailors%20used%20stars%20and,Hipparchus%20to%20understand%20
planetary%20motion.

Polaris is the North Star, EarthSky, accessed December 19, 2020,

https://earthsky.org/brightest-stars/polaris-the-present-day-north-star

The Apparent Motion of Stars and Planets, Study.com, accessed December 19,
2020, https://study.com/academy/lesson/the-apparent-motion-of-stars-
planets.html

The Myths, the Magic, and the Mysteries of Universe, Lunar Planetary Institute,
accessed December 19, 2020,
https://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/skytellers/constellations/#:~:text=Why
%20Do%20We%20See%20Different,they%20are%20during%20the%20winte
r.

What are Constellations? Las Cumbres Observatory, accessed December 19, 2020,
https://lco.global/spacebook/sky/what-are-
constellations/#:~:text=The%20patterns%20of%20stars%20seen,sky%20is%
20called%20an%20asterism.

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For inquiries or feedback, please write or call:

Department of Education - Bureau of Learning Resources (DepEd-BLR)

Ground Floor, Bonifacio Bldg., DepEd Complex

Meralco Avenue, Pasig City, Philippines 1600

Telefax: (632) 8634-1072; 8634-1054; 8631-4985

Email Address: blr.lrqad@deped.gov.ph * blr.lrpd@deped.gov.ph

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