Some constellations such as Ursa Minor, are visible in the sky year round other constellations appear for only part of the year.Explain why this happens.
Can someone explain please??
Sure, I can explain why some constellations such as Ursa Minor are visible year round while others appear for only part of the year.
The visibility of constellations in the sky depends on two main factors: the Earth's rotation and its orbit around the Sun.
First, let's consider the Earth's rotation. As the Earth spins on its axis, different parts of the night sky come into view. This rotation gives the appearance that the stars, including constellations, are moving across the sky. This daily rotation is responsible for the rise and set of constellations.
Now, let's talk about the Earth's orbit around the Sun. The Earth takes about 365.25 days to complete one orbit around the Sun. This means that, from our perspective on Earth, the Sun appears to move against the background of stars throughout the year.
As the Earth orbits the Sun, different constellations become visible or hidden by the Sun's light. This is because the Sun's light is so bright that it makes it difficult to see stars and constellations when it is in the same part of the sky. This is why during the day, when the Sun is up, we cannot see any stars or constellations.
During different times of the year, the Earth's orbit positions us in such a way that different constellations become visible at different times. For example, in the northern hemisphere, Ursa Minor (also known as the Little Dipper) is located near the North Star, Polaris. Since Polaris is almost directly above the North Pole, it remains visible year round, making Ursa Minor a constellation that can be seen year round as well.
On the other hand, constellations that are further away from the North or South Pole, will appear to "rise" and "set" over the course of a year as the Earth orbits the Sun. This means that some constellations are only visible during certain seasons. For instance, the constellation Orion is prominent in the winter in the northern hemisphere, but is not visible during the summer months.
In conclusion, the visibility of constellations in the sky depends on the Earth's rotation on its axis and its orbit around the Sun. Some constellations appear year round because of their proximity to the celestial poles, while others only appear during certain parts of the year due to the Earth's position in its orbit.