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Astronomy Year / Week 06 / Sky Night
6/6
Week 06 · Star Pictures

Sky Night

Sky Night: star hop
// Constellations, the Little Dipper and Cassiopeia
⏱ about 15 min

Sky Night: Star hop

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

"Polaris first," Raven says. "What do you notice past it?"

Rocket points. "A zigzag! The W!"

Nova glows red. "Hint: now look for faint stars curving from Polaris."

  1. There are 88 official constellations.
  2. Polaris is the end of the Little Dipper's handle.
  3. Cassiopeia is a W across Polaris from the Big Dipper.
  4. Cassiopeia is high in fall. The Big Dipper is high in spring.
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. Face north with your compass.
  2. Let your eyes get used to the dark.
  3. Find Polaris.
  4. Find the W of Cassiopeia.
  5. Look for the faint Little Dipper.
Sky logWhat I saw
Cassiopeia: high or low?
Big Dipper: high or low?
Little Dipper stars I saw
Moon shape tonight
SKY NIGHT CHECK
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
You see a bright W in the north. What is it?
Cloudy night?
Make star picture cards instead.
Draw the Big Dipper, Little Dipper and Cassiopeia with dots.
Mix them up.
Ask your grown-up to name each one.
◇ STAR HOP WITH YOUR GROWN-UP
Take turns leading the star hop.
Say each step out loud.
Name your own star picture together.

Great star hopping! Next week we see how the sky changes with the seasons.

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