1. THE STARS AND CONSTELLATIONS

2. STARS  Stars form when clouds of gases (mainly hydrogen) are pulled together by gravitational forces.  Atomic explosions occur inside stars. –They are so hot inside that they emit heat and light.

3. STARS CONTINUED  Stars can have planetary systems made up of planets and satellites.  An enormous cloud of gas and dust, a nebula, surrounds the stars.

4. STARS AND THEIR SIZES  Stars can have different sizes.  Some stars are similar in size to the earth, they're called dwarf- stars.  When stars are bigger than earth, they're called giant-stars.

5. STARS AND THEIR COLORS  The color of stars is variable: –red stars –yellow stars –blue stars  Red stars are the coldest and blue stars are the hottest.

6. CONSTELLATIONS  Constellations are imaginary patterns of bright stars.  The ancient Greeks invented the constellations we call the twelve signs of the zodiac.

7. CONSTELLATIONS CONT.  There are eighty eight official constellations.  Some examples are: Big dipper, Orion, Gemini, Little dipper.