I Spy in the Night Sky Trivia Quiz

Answer:

Patterns in the night sky, now called constellations, have been observed and tracked by humans since pre-historical times. From the Ancient Greeks to the Chinese, many different civilizations have used these as a basis for their myths and stories. In 1922, International Astronomical Union (IAU) published a list of 88 modern constellations.

Aries is the first sign of the Western zodiac and officially recognized as a constellation. It is the Latin word for ram which is also the symbol of this zodiac sign.

Cetus ('the whale) and Cygnus ('the swan') were both included in the list of 48 constellations identified by the Ancient Greek astronomer, Ptolemy.

The Crux ('cross') is a constellation found in the southern sky. It is commonly called the Southern Cross and is depicted on the Australian flag.

The constellation of Cassiopeia is easily identifiable by the distinct 'W' shape it forms in the sky with its five bright stars. It was named after a queen in Greek mythology.

Hydra is one of the largest constellations. It is named after a water serpent based on its shape.

The Lyra ('lyre') is famous for containing one of the brightest stars in the night sky, Vega.

Orion is one of the most recognized constellations in the northern sky. Named after a hunter from Greek myth, it has two bright stars, Rigel and Betelgeuse, which help in its identification.

The Indus ('Indian') and the Musca ('fly') are both found in the southern sky. Unlike the other constellations in this quiz, the first professional records identifying these constellations is from much later towards the end of the 16th century.

Incorrect answers:
Venus is a well known planet in the solar system.

Titan and Ganymede are both moons. They are the largest moons of Saturn and Jupiter respectively.

Polaris and Sirius are the brightest stars of the constellations Ursa Minor and Canis Major respectively.