Ancient people believed they could see shapes among the stars. They identified both animals and people, and each had its own story. These chance alignments of the stars are known as constellations. Today the 88 constellations are used by astronomers to organize the night sky and to identify the locations of the stars.
Stars are the most plentiful objects in the visible universe.
They provide the light and energy that fuels a solar system. They also create the heavy elements that are necessary to form life. Without stars, there would be no life. The Sun provides energy for nearly every living thing on Earth. It also warms our planet's surface to create a virtual oasis in the coldness of space.