Name the constellation which appears to have the shape of:

(a) a big bear


(b) a distorted W or M


(c) a hunter


(d) a big lion

(a) Ursa Major constellation is also known as the Big Dipper, the Great Bear or the Saptarshi. There are seven prominent stars in this constellation. It appears like a big ladle or a question mark.

(b) Cassiopeia is another prominent constellation in the northern sky. It is visible during winter in the early part of the night. It looks like a distorted letter W or M.


(c) The constellation Orion is has seven or eight bright stars. It is also called the Hunter. The three middle stars represent the belt of the hunter. The four bright stars appear to be arranged in the form of a quadrilateral.


(d) Leo Major appears to have the shape of a big lion. It is visible in the northern hemisphere around the spring. It is easily identifiable through may. Its brightest star is Regulus. Its most prominent pattern of stars is a backwards question mark called the Sickle.


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