Why do we see different constellations at different times of the year and in different positions?

Answer 1

The stars do not appear to change position with respect to each other very quickly from our perspective. All the stars are in motion, so they DO change position with respect to us, but so slowly we cannot really tell by the unaided eye.

However, as earth drifts around the sun, different groups of stars swing into position. This is because we see one set of stars during the night at the beginning of winter, and a different set of stars at the beginning of night during the summer. The summer stars were all hid behind the sun during the winter, and vice versa. In the northern hemisphere, we always see the pole star (the north star). The further north you go, the higher the pole star becomes in the sky. At the north pole itself, you pretty much see only the same stars half the year (the other half of the year is day). The same is true for the south pole.

Only at the equator, between the tropic of cancer and the tropic of Capricorn do half the stars the stars change from one season to the next.

Answer 2

While the Earth moves around the Sun, the apparent position of the Sun among the stars changes. Thus, a group of stars may at one time of the year be right behind the Sun (and thus basically invisible); half a year later, the same group of stars will be opposite to the Sun, and thus cross the meridian at midnight (and be visible all night long).

Answer 3

As Earth orbits the sun, each night a slightly different selection of stars appears, rotating from east to west across the sky. You see a star appear on the eastern horizon and set on the western horizon over the course of the night. That is due to Earth's rotation.

But the next night the same star appears just a bit higher on the eastern horizon. Over the course of one month 360 degrees / 12 months = 30 degrees of the evening sky will be filled with "new" stars. By the time six months have rolled past the night sky would contain an entirely different set of constellations.

This is the case if Earth's axial tilt was not inclined, and your observations were made at the equator. Since the pole is inclined, at the 45th parallel (and above) about half the night sky simply rotates around the pole star (Polaris).

Answer 4

This is because the earth is traveling around the sun, once every year. This means that the portion of the sky that is opposite the sun is changing throughout the year. Earth is revolving.

Answer 5

We see different constellations at different times of the year and in different positions because of Earth's rotation around the sun.

Answer 6

Earth's changing position in relation to the Sun.

Answer 7

because of the earth rotates on its axis