Science 9
Ssc
THIRD QUARTER
Module 9
SUSAN B. LEGASPI
Writer – BSHS
Most Essential Learning Competency
Show which constellations may be observed at different times of the year using models
(S9ES-IIIj-34)
To the Learner
This module was specially designed to help you understand and apply the
lesson objectives.
To achieve the objectives of this module, read and follow the simple
instructions as your guide.
1. Set a helpful learning space at home so you can focus on your studies.
2. Do all the activities following the directions given.
3. Seek assistance from your parents or guardians to guide you in doing the activities.
4. Take down important concepts and list questions you would like to ask to your
teacher.
5. Reflect and apply the concepts that you have learned. - The Writer
Expectations
When you look at the skies in the nighttime, you may notice that certain
constellations are always visible, and some are only visible during certain times of the
year. Why do you think some constellations are not seen at certain months?
After going through this module, you are expected to:
a. explain why some constellations are not seen at certain
months
b. identify constellations seen at different times of the year;
c. illustrate constellations that may be observed at different times of the year in the
Philippine sky; and
d. discuss whether popular beliefs and practices with regard to constellations and
astrology have or have not scientific basis.
Pretest
Directions: Read the questions carefully. Write the letter of the correct answer on the
blank provided before each number.
_________ 1. Why do stars appear to move in the sky?
A. New galaxies are formed.
B. The night sky is rotating.
C. The universe is expanding.
D. The Earth is rotating on its axis
_________ 2. If you are located at the North Pole, where will you see the Polaris?
A. Overhead
B. Just above the horizon
C. Around 45o from the horizon
D. Polaris will not be seen in the North Pole
_________ 3. Why don’t we see all the constellations in one night?
A. There are a lot of clouds.
B. It depends on the observer’s location.
C. The Earth’s revolution around the sun.
D. The Earth is rotating that causes the night sky
_________ 4. How do stars appear to move in the night sky?
A. Stars appear from East to West
B. Stars appear from North to South
C. Stars appear from West to East
D. Stars appear from South to North
1
_________ 5. Why can’t a person at the South Pole see Polaris and its constellation Ursa
Minor in the night sky?
A. It because Polaris is near the equator.
B. Polaris is located in the South Pole.
C. Polaris is located above the North Pole.
D. Many constellations are in the North Pole
Looking Back
In the previous lesson, you have learned the origin of constellation and identified
some constellations observed in the northern and southern hemisphere. Let’s recall some
of the constellation you have learned by doing this activity.
Directions: Identify the constellation by arranging them to which hemisphere they belong.
Phoenix Cepheus Ursa Major Ursa minor
Draco Centaurus Carina Hydrus
Northern Hemisphere
Southern Hemisphere
www.canva.com
Brief Introduction
When you look at the sky at night, stars seem to be grouped in
patterns. Star is a large, hot ball of gases, held together by gravity,
that gives off its own light.
A constellation is a group of stars that appear to form
a pattern. For example, Rigel is a star in the constellation of
Orion, the hunter (Figure 1). This constellation is visible in
the night sky all over the world during winter. In the
Philippines, early Filipinos visualized the same group of
stars as Balatik, a trap used in hunting wild pigs. Christian
Filipinos named the three stars (Orion’s belt) Tatlong Maria or
Tres Marias.
Figure 1. Orion, the hunter
www.canva.com
2
Different constellations are visible depends on two
things: your location on Earth and the time of year.
(Figure 2)
As the earth rotates on its own axis, certain parts of the
Earth may have better views on certain constellations
than other parts do. Thus, stars appear to move from
east to west in the sky. Example, observers from the
north pole can only see constellations visible in Northern
Hemisphere. (Figure 2)
However, people living on the equator can have a
better view of constellation from Northern and
Southern hemisphere.
Figure 2. A view of constellation Ursa Minor
Source: www.canva.com
Activity 1 STARS
THROUGH THE YEAR
OBJECTIVE:
• Explain why some constellations are not seen at certain months
Directions:
1. Study the illustration below. Then answer the questions that follows.
Figure 3. Constellation Seen on Different Months of the Year
Photo from: www.canva.com;
https://diarium.usal.es/guillermo/astronomia/looking-at-the-sky-how-the-
greeks-started-to-understand-the-universe/ 3
Q1. What do you notice about the illustration: (Figure 3)
a.Earth as it revolves around the sun from March to December?
________________________________________________________________________________________
b. What does the black portion represent?
________________________________________________________________________________________
Q2. Based on the illustration, what are the constellations visible in the following
months?
a. March
________________________________________________________________________________________
b. September
________________________________________________________________________________________
Q3. Why do you think there are times that we cannot see the other constellations in
the night sky?
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
The Constellations that you could see don’t just depend on where on the world you
are. It also matters what time of the year you’re looking for them. As the Earth revolves
around the sun, the seasons change and different constellations are visible to observers on
Earth at different times of the year. In short, the revolution is responsible for the fact that
we can see different constellations at different times of the year. The observers can see the
stars on the night time because sunlight overpowers or too bright to the starlight.
Figure 4. Constellation Seen on Different Months of the Year in the Philippine Sky
Source: Grade 9 Science module, page 19. Student guide
For example, during summer in the Philippines, the constellations of Orion and Taurus are
not visible at night. They will be visible again as the cold season begins. During this time,
Scorpius will not be seen in the night sky. (Figure 4)
4
ACTIVITY 2: SPOT
THE TWINKLING STARS
OBJECTIVE:
• Identify the constellations seen at different times of the year.
Directions: Complete the data below by referring to figure 3 from activity 1.
Rainy Season Dry Season
(June to early part of Cool dry season
October) Hot dry season
(Later part of October to
(March to May)
February)
ACTIVITY 3:
DOTS AFTER DOTS
OBJECTIVE:
• Illustrate constellations that may be observed at different times of the year in
the Philippine sky.
Directions: Connect the dots following the given coordinates (x,y) in order to
show the constellation that may be observed in the Philippines sky at different
times of the year. Then, name the constellation formed after connecting the dots.
Letter A is done for you.
A. Constellation visible in February: Orion’s belt (Balatik)
• Connect (15,1), (10,1), (12,4), (10,6), (6,5) (5,4) (4,2); (0,2), (4,2),
(10,1), (15,3); (1,7), (4,6), (6,5), (16,8), (12,10) (10,10) (8,10) (6,9);
(10,10), (10,6)
B. Constellation visible in December to February: Taurus
• Connect (30,2), (28,4), (26,5), (25,6), (23,8), (21,7), (20,6), (18,7); (27,1),
(23,5), (23,8), (22,10), (21,11), (20,13)
C. Constellation visible in April and May: Gemini
• Connect (26,16), (24,17), (22,19), (18,19), (15,24); (21,22), (18,25);
(29,17), (27,20), (24,24), (22,26), (20,27); (22,26), (22,29); (23,15),
(24,17), (27,20), (19,23)
D. Constellation visible in May: Aquila
• Connect (9,18), (12,19), (13,21), (7,24), (1,27), (2,22), (4,15), (5,19), (7,24),
(14,27), (1,27)
• Connect (16,29), (14,27)
5
y - axis
x – axis
ACTIVITY 4: HOW EARLY PEOPLE
USED THE CONSTELLATIONS?
OBJECTIVE:
• Discuss whether or not popular beliefs and practices with regards to constellations
and astrology have scientific basis.
Directions: Read the passage below then answer the guide questions.
The first use for constellations was probably religious. People thought that the gods
lived in the heavens and that they created them. Many cultures believed that the positions
of the stars were their God's way of telling stories. So, it seemed natural to recognize
patterns in the sky, give them names, and tell stories them.
While constellations were associated with religion, they also have practical
uses. Before the calendars, people had no way of determining when to sow or harvest except
by looking at these patterns in the sky. Ancient people developed a way to remember the
patterns by giving these patterns names and stories. For example, in the northern
hemisphere, the constellation Orion indicates the coming of cold season. The constellations
made it easier for them to recognize and interpret patterns in the sky. For example, Gemini
is seen in the Philippines during the months of April and May. Farmers interpreted the
appearance of Gemini as the end of planting season and it signified rich harvest. The table
below shows how the Matigsalug Manobo of Bukidnon used the stars and constellations in
relation to their agriculture.
6
Table 1. Stars and constellations Used by Matigsalug Manobo of Bukidnon
Local Month of Related Agricultural Western
Name Appearance Activity Equivalent
December to
Baha Clearing of forest Taurus
February
Start planning what
Pandarawa January Pleiades
kind of crops to be planted
Start of planting and setting
Balatik February of traps to protect the crops Orion’s Belt
from animals
Planting of rice, corn, or (no western
Malihe March
vegetables Equivalent)
End of planting season,
Gibbang April and May signifies Gemini
rich harvest
Malara May Stop planting Canis Minor
Time to clean the fields while
Lepu late May Aquila
waiting
(no western
Buwaya June Start of rainy season
equivalent)
Source: Patterns in the Sky, Slideshare by Ms. Rachel B. Espino, T1, Buhatan NHS, Sorsogon City
Using Constellation for Navigation
You can use bright stars and constellations to navigate. A knowledge of the time of year
each constellation is visible is helpful, but not necessary. Here is a simple example: In the
Northern Hemisphere, the star Polaris is located above the North Pole. If you were able to find
Polaris in the night sky, you would be able to determine which way is North, as well as South,
East and West.
Guide Questions:
1. How early people used the constellations?
________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Why is it important for the Matigsalug Manobo of Bukidnon to know the month of
appearance of some constellations?
________________________________________________________________________________________
3. What other beliefs and practices do you know with regards to constellations?
________________________________________________________________________________________
Virgo Leo
The Zodiac Cancer
Libra Gemini
The sun, the moon, and the
planets travel on a set path
through the sky known as the
Scorpius
ecliptic as the Earth rotates.
An Ecliptic is imaginary line on Sagittarius
the sky that marks the apparent
annual path of the sun. The list of
13 constellations they pass
through are known as the stars of
the Zodiac. Taurus
SAGI TAUR
Capricornus TTAR US
IUS Aries
Figure 5. The Zodiac constellations in ARIE
ecliptic orbit S
Aquarius Pisces
7
Astrologers use 12 of these constellations as signs of the Zodiac, omitting
Ophiuchus, to make predictions. Unlike astronomy, astrology is not a science. Signs
differ from constellations, bearing only a loose reference to one another. The sign of
Pisces, for instance, corresponds to the rise of the constellation of Aquarius. Ironically,
if you are born under a particular sign, that constellation it is named for is not visible
at night. Instead, the sun is passing through it around that time of year, making it a
daytime constellation that can't be seen.
Zodiac constellations are constellations that lie along the plane of the ecliptic. In
means that the Sun appears to pass through these constellations over the course of a
year. The passage of the Sun through the zodiac is a cycle that was used by ancient
cultures to determine the time of year.
Guide question:
1. Does astrology have scientific basis? Explain your answer.
Remember
• Different constellations are visible depends on two things:
your location on Earth and the time of year.
• As the Earth revolves around the sun, the seasons change and different
constellations are visible to observers on Earth at different times of the year.
• Early people first use for constellations was probably religious, determining
when to sow or harvest for farmers and others use it for navigation.
• Astrology is not a science. Zodiac (ecliptic) constellations are constellations
that lie along the plane of the ecliptic. In means that the Sun appears to pass
through these constellations over the course of a year. The passage of the Sun
through the zodiac is a cycle that was used by ancient cultures to determine
the time of year.
Check your understanding
Directions: Upon learning that some constellations are not seen at certain times of the
year, let us now answer the following questions:
1. Based on the illustration below, why can’t the observers from the South Pole see
Polaris and its constellation Ursa Minor in the night sky? Complete the diagram to
aid your explanation then label with necessary information.
8
Post - Test
Directions: Read each statement carefully. Write the letter of the correct answer on
the blank provided before the number.
_______ 1. The constellation shown on the side 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 spins on its axis. C. Earth orbits the sun.
B. Cygnus spins on its axis. D. The Earth spins on its axis
_______ 2. The constellation Pisces changes position during a night, as shown in the
diagram below. Which motion is mainly responsible for this change in position?
A. Rotation of Pisces on its axis.
B. Rotation of Earth on its axis.
C. Revolution of Earth around the Sun.
D. Revolution of Pisces around the Sun.
Source: Grade 9, Student module
_______ 3. Which constellation is prominently seen in the sky during summer?
A. Andromeda B. Bootes C. Canis Major D. Pegasus
_______ 4. How do the Matigsalug Manobo of Bukidnon use stars and constellations?
A. It helps them to know the weather.
B. It helps them to check the season.
C. It helps them to determine the harvest time.
D. It helps them if there will be an upcoming typhoon.
_______ 5. Which among the constellations below can be seen in summer in the
Philippine sky?
A. Andromeda B. Bootes C. Pegasus D. Canis Major
Reflection
Directions: Write a reflective learning on this lesson by completing the following phrases.
But now I realize that some
I used to think that constellations are not visible
constellations… in different times of the year
because…
I would like to share my
knowledge about
constellation…
