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Astronomy Year / Week 06 / Tuesday
2/6
Week 06 · Star Pictures

Tuesday

The Little Dipper
// Constellations, the Little Dipper and Cassiopeia
⏱ about 15 min

Tuesday: The Little Dipper

Rocket finds Polaris with the pointer stars. "Found it again!"

Raven looks closer. "What do you notice? Polaris has faint stars near it."

Nova draws a small spoon. "Hint: Polaris is the end of a handle."

A little dipper

The Little Dipper is a smaller dipper of stars.

It is part of Ursa Minor, the Little Bear.

Polaris is the star at the end of its handle.

Most of its stars are faint.

You need a dark sky to see them.

LITTLE DIPPER CHECK
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
Which star is at the end of the Little Dipper's handle?
What do you need to see the Little Dipper?
FIND THE LITTLE DIPPER
  • Tap a card.
  • Then tap its spot.
1First
2Next
3Then
4Last
Draw the Little Dipper. Make Polaris the end of the handle.

Two dippers, two bears

Star patternBigger groupBear name
Big DipperUrsa MajorGreat Bear
Little DipperUrsa MinorLittle Bear
DIPPER MATCH
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
The Little Dipper is part of which group?
Which dipper is easier to see from a town?
Polaris is in which dipper?
What does Ursa Minor mean?
Dipper factTrue or false?
The Little Dipper has many faint stars.?
Polaris is at the end of the Big Dipper's handle.?
A dark sky helps you see faint stars.?
WHY THIS EXERCISEKnowing which dipper is which helps you star hop.
LITTLE DIPPER CHECK
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
Which star ends the Little Dipper's handle?
What kind of sky helps you see the Little Dipper?

You found a second dipper! Tomorrow we meet a star W.

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