Finding Constellations in the sky
Some general tips as you look into the night sky
-Try to avoid areas that are around lights. -Try to avoid an evening when there is a full moon. Check the moon calendar |
Some clues when you try to find the constellation Lyra:
- First find the North Star, which is part of the constellation Ursa Minor.
- Then turn so you are facing South. Match your star map to the real sky (so South faces south and North faces north).
- Stars in the center of the map are high in the sky and stars that are closer to the edges are closer to the horizon.
Create your own constellation planetarium in a cup at home!
Constellation Resources
Read some family books such as..
- Try creating a Star wheel. You can bring these with you and hold them up to the sky. It is like a map to help you find stars, planets, and constellations.
- Try the app STARWALK. It is live sky day and night! It is a live map to help you find stars, planets, and even satellites. You can see where the International Space Station is in the world too!
- Planatarium Sky where you can see the sky from your location and at different times of day and night. How do the constellations change over the weeks? Seasons?
- In the Sky contains information about the sky from your location, planets in the area, and a look at each constellation and its story.
- US Naval Observatory
(Sun and Moon rise and set times, Moon phases, eclipses, seasons, positions of solar system objects, and other data)
Read some family books such as..
- A Child's introduction to the night sky, by Michael Driscoll
- The constellations, by Chris Sasaki
- The constellation Orion : the story of the hunter, by Arnold Ringstad
- Once upon a starry night : a book of constellations, by Jacqueline Mitton & Christina Balit.
Make a Constellation Viewer
1. Take a paper towel roll 2. Cut out the contellation strips from the 'constellationviewerhandout' 3. Attach the constellation strip to one end and look at constellations by looking out a window or near a light. BUT make sure you Don't look directly into the sun or a light. You could also try to shine a flashlight and project the constellaion on the wall. 4. Create your own constellation and story! |
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