Constellation Memory was called Rune Decoding. Stars in a constellation are usually not near each other: they only line up from our point of view on Earth. Each pattern in this game uses real stars with their real names and approximate distances.
The 20 star patterns in this game
- Big Dipper (The Plough): 7 stars, best seen in April
- Cassiopeia (The Queen): 5 stars, best seen in November
- Orion (The Hunter): 7 stars, best seen in January
- Ursa Major (The Great Bear): 10 stars, best seen in April
- Ursa Minor (The Little Bear): 7 stars, best seen in June
- Summer Triangle (The Summer Triangle): 3 stars, best seen in August
- Cygnus (The Swan): 5 stars, best seen in September
- Leo (The Lion): 5 stars, best seen in April
- Scorpius (The Scorpion): 5 stars, best seen in July
- Taurus (The Bull): 5 stars, best seen in December
- Gemini (The Twins): 5 stars, best seen in February
- Canis Major (The Great Dog): 5 stars, best seen in February
- Aquila (The Eagle): 3 stars, best seen in August
- Crux (The Southern Cross): 4 stars, best seen in May
- Pegasus (The Winged Horse): 4 stars, best seen in October
- Virgo (The Maiden): 5 stars, best seen in May
- Sagittarius (The Archer): 6 stars, best seen in August
- Boötes (The Herdsman): 5 stars, best seen in June
- Andromeda (The Chained Princess): 3 stars, best seen in November
- Auriga (The Charioteer): 5 stars, best seen in January
Constellation Memory FAQ
What is Constellation Memory?
A free memory game: a pattern of real stars glows on a 5 by 5 night-sky grid for a few seconds, then you tap where the stars were. It uses 20 real constellations and asterisms, and after each try you learn the star names and how far away they are.
How do I move to the next level?
Score at least 80% accuracy. Accuracy counts every missed star and every wrong tap, so tapping everything does not work. Levels 1 to 4 use the Big Dipper's handle (3 stars), Cassiopeia (5), Orion (7) and Ursa Major (10); from level 5 the pattern is random.
Are the stars in a constellation close together?
No. They only line up from our point of view. In Orion, Bellatrix is about 250 light-years away while Alnilam is about 2,000 light-years away.
Did this game used to be called Rune Decoding?
Yes. The page address is unchanged so old links still work, but the game is now Constellation Memory.
