For thousands of years, people have gazed into the night sky and observed the stars. Scientists estimate that about 6,000 stars are visible with the naked eye, but there are billions more that cannot be seen from Earth. The various star formations, such as Orion and Ursa Major, are known as constellations. This book will examine those and other constellations, as well as discussing how they were discovered and mapped throughout history, some myths from the past, and what modern scientists have learned about them. "These series titles provide overviews of their respective subjects. The appealing layout includes large fonts, many color photographs, and simple diagrams." -- School Library Journal ( September 2002) ( School Library Journal 20020901) "This series explores the concepts of the title of each volume by defining and explaining what they are and how they work. Colored photos on nearly every page make the series visually attractive while they add to the understanding of the text. Appealing illustrations and text will interest young readers with information suitable for reports. Recommended." -- Library Talk (May-June 2002) ( Library Talk 20020601)