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Astronomy Year / Week 05 / Sky Night
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Week 05 · Planet or Star?

Sky Night

Sky Night: planet or star?
// Wanderers and twinklers
⏱ about 15 min

Sky Night: Planet or star?

Rocket, Raven and Nova look for the brightest dots in the sky.

"Twinkle or steady?" Raven asks. "What do you notice?"

Rocket stares. "That one shines steady!"

Nova glows red. "Hint: a steady bright dot may be a wanderer."

  1. Stars make their own light. Planets reflect sunlight.
  2. Stars often twinkle. Planets usually shine steady.
  3. Planets wander slowly past the stars.
  4. You can see five planets with just your eyes.
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. Ask your grown-up which planets are up this month.
  2. Go out after dark and let your eyes adjust.
  3. Find the two brightest dots you can see.
  4. Do the twinkle test on each one.
  5. Draw one bright dot with the stars near it.
Sky logDot 1Dot 2
Twinkle or steady?
Planet or star?
Which part of the sky?
SKY NIGHT CHECK
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
A very bright dot shines steady. What is your best guess?
Cloudy night?
Play Wanderer instead.
Put five paper stars on the floor. They stay still.
One person is the planet. Move one step each turn.
Can the others spot the wanderer?
◇ PLANET HUNT WITH YOUR GROWN-UP
Each pick a bright dot.
Do the twinkle test together.
Look again next week. Did your dot wander?

Great detective work! Next week we find more star pictures.

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