A good definition of a Constellation is which?

• A. A pattern of stars that appear close to one another in the sky.
• B. A random group of stars with no pattern
• C. A cluster of galaxies
• D. A single star with planets

Answer: (A)

Constellations are recognizable patterns of stars as seen from Earth, tied together by human imagination to form shapes we can name and study. The key idea is pattern and orientation in the sky, not that the stars are physically close—they often lie at very different distances from us, just aligned along our line of sight from our planet. This makes the pattern visible and useful for imagining directions, telling time at night, or navigating.

That’s why the best choice describes a pattern of stars that appear close to one another in the sky. The other options describe things that aren’t patterns of stars in the sky: a random group with no pattern isn’t a named figure; a cluster of galaxies is a much larger structure of many galaxies; and a single star with planets is a planetary system, not a star pattern.