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Astronomy Year / Week 01 / Sky Night
6/6
Week 01 · Safe Sky Watchers

Sky Night

Sky Night: first look
// Sky safety, day and night
⏱ about 15 min

Sky Night: First look

The Sun has set. Rocket, Raven and Nova step outside with a grown-up.

"Where did the Sun go down?" Raven asks. "What do you notice?"

Nova glows red. "Hint: the sky is still a little bright on one side."

Rocket points. "That must be west!"

  1. Never look at the Sun.
  2. Earth spins once every 24 hours.
  3. The Sun seems to rise in the east. It sets in the west.
  4. Red light helps your eyes see in the dark.
Safety first
Go outside only with a grown-up.
Stay near home in a safe, open spot.
Use a red light, not a white one.
Watch your step in the dark.

Your Sky Night mission

  1. Go out after sunset with your grown-up.
  2. Find the side where the sky still glows. That is west.
  3. Wait for your eyes to get used to the dark.
  4. Count the stars you see in one part of the sky.
  5. Look for the Moon. Is it up tonight?
Sky logWhat I saw
Where the sky still glowed
Stars I counted
Was the Moon up?
Clouds?
SKY NIGHT CHECK
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
After sunset, one side of the sky still glows. Which side is it?
Did you need a telescope tonight?
Cloudy night?
Clouds happen. Stay inside and play Spin the Earth.
A grown-up holds a flashlight. That is the Sun.
You are Earth. Turn slowly in place.
Facing the light? Say day. Facing away? Say night.
◇ SKY NIGHT WITH YOUR GROWN-UP
Take turns finding west.
Count stars together and compare.
Talk about what surprised you.

You are a real sky watcher now! Next week we start watching the Moon.

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