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Astronomy Year / Week 04 / Sky Night
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Week 04 · Find North

Sky Night

Sky Night: find north
// The Big Dipper and the North Star
⏱ about 15 min

Sky Night: Find north

Rocket, Raven and Nova face north with a grown-up.

"There is the cup!" Rocket whispers.

Raven points. "What do you notice at the end of the cup?"

Nova glows red. "Hint: follow the pointers out of the cup. Keep going."

  1. The Big Dipper has seven stars.
  2. The two pointer stars lead to Polaris.
  3. Stars seem to circle around Polaris.
  4. Face Polaris, and you face north.
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. Use your compass to face north.
  2. Wait for your eyes to get used to the dark.
  3. Look for the Big Dipper.
  4. Follow the pointer stars to Polaris.
  5. Check: does Polaris sit over north on your compass?
Sky logWhat I saw
Big Dipper: high, low or hidden?
Did I find Polaris?
Did my compass agree?
Moon shape tonight
SKY NIGHT CHECK
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
You found Polaris. Which way are you facing?
Cloudy night?
Make a Big Dipper star map instead.
Draw seven dots for the Big Dipper.
Draw a line from the pointers to a dot for Polaris.
Hang it on a wall that faces north!
◇ NORTH HUNT WITH YOUR GROWN-UP
Take turns tracing the Big Dipper with a finger.
Both follow the pointers to Polaris.
Each say which way is north, east and west.

You found north with the stars! Next week we ask: planet or star?

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