What defines a constellation?

A constellation is defined as a group of stars that, when viewed from Earth, seem to form recognizable patterns in the night sky. These patterns can represent animals, mythological figures, or various objects and are used for navigation and cultural storytelling.

The significance of constellations lies in their historical and astronomical contexts. Cultures globally have used constellations for thousands of years to track the seasons, navigate the oceans, and create calendars based on the movement of celestial bodies. Each constellation has a specific area in the sky assigned to it, making it easier for astronomers and stargazers to identify parts of the night sky.

Other choices describe different astronomical entities and phenomena but do not pertain to the traditional definition of a constellation. For instance, the collection of galaxies bound by gravity refers to galaxy clusters, while a cluster of interstellar matter relates to the gas and dust found in space. The arrangement of planets in a solar system pertains to the gravitational interactions among planets and their respective star, which is a concept separate from the identification of constellations.