← Back to course
Astronomy Year / Week 01 / Thursday
4/6
Week 01 · Safe Sky Watchers

Thursday

Make a red light
// Sky safety, day and night
⏱ about 15 min

Thursday: Make a red light

Rocket clicks on a bright white flashlight outside. "Now I can see the stars!"

Raven blinks. "Hmm. I see fewer stars now. What do you notice?"

Nova glows a soft red. "Hint: my light is a different color. Why might that help?"

Eyes get used to the dark

Your eyes need time to get used to the dark.

It takes about half an hour.

Then you can see many more stars.

Red light helps

Bright white light makes your eyes start over.

Red light does not do that.

So sky watchers use red light at night.

LIGHT FOR THE NIGHT
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
Which light is best for sky watching?
About how long do eyes take to get used to the dark?

Make your red light

  1. Get a small flashlight and red paper.
  2. Put the red paper over the end of the light.
  3. Ask a grown-up to tape it on.
  4. Turn it on in a dark room.
Safety first
A grown-up uses the tape and scissors.
Use a small flashlight with small batteries.
Never shine any light in eyes.
BUILD THE RED LIGHT
  • Tap a card.
  • Then tap its spot.
1First
2Next
3Then
4Last

Why astronomers use red

Night eyes take a long time to build.

A few seconds of bright white light can undo them.

Deep red light does not undo them.

That is why astronomers use red lights.

NIGHT EYES
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
Rocket turns on a white light outside. What happens to his night eyes?
Which light do astronomers use at night?
Your eyes are used to the dark. What can you see now?
Who tapes the red paper on?
Red light factTrue or false?
Eyes need about half an hour to get used to the dark.?
A white flashlight is best for stars.?
Red light helps keep night eyes working.?
Shine your light in a friend's eyes.?
WHY THIS EXERCISERed light lets you see your log and still see the stars.
Try it
Sit in a dark room with a grown-up.
Wait for a few minutes.
Look around. What can you see now that you could not see at first?
Safety first
Sit still in the dark. Do not walk around.
A grown-up stays with you.

You built a real sky watcher tool! Tomorrow we plan our first Sky Night.

← Wednesday