It depends on the particular stars. Some stars with a rather large
proper motion (e.g., Alpha Centauri, Arcturus) might be quite far
away from where they are now. The Ursa Major moving group has large
enough proper motion that the Big Dipper would look very different
100 million years ago than it does now.

Then there are some very young stars that might not even have
existed 100 million years ago. Rigel, for instance. There might
well be no Pleiades in Taurus, and I suspect Orion might look
very different.

-Paul W.


On 14 Dec 2004 07:23:50 -0800, "Zague" wrote:

Thanks Bob. I didn't know that. Can I assume then that proper motion,
even over a 100 million years period, won't make for a different
looking sky ?

Would today's constellation be recognizalbe in some "proto" state ?
Thanks again!

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