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Astronomy Year / Week 08 / Sky Night
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Week 08 · Orion the Hunter

Sky Night

Sky Night: big star shapes
// A winter giant and a summer triangle
⏱ about 15 min

Sky Night: Big star shapes

Rocket, Raven and Nova step out with a grown-up.

"Is it Orion season?" Rocket asks.

Raven checks the season. "What do you notice up high?"

Nova glows red. "Hint: winter means the belt. Summer means the triangle."

  1. Orion is high on winter evenings.
  2. Orion's belt is three stars in a row.
  3. Betelgeuse looks red. Rigel looks blue.
  4. The Summer Triangle is Vega, Deneb and Altair.
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

  • Winter: find Orion's belt, then Betelgeuse and Rigel.
  • Summer or early fall: find the Summer Triangle overhead.
  • Spring: find Leo's backwards question mark.
  1. Go out after dark with your grown-up.
  2. Let your eyes get used to the dark.
  3. Pick the target for this season.
  4. Find it and draw it in your log.
Sky logWhat I saw
Season
Star shape I found
Colors I noticed
Moon shape tonight
SKY NIGHT CHECK
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
You see three stars in a short row. What did you find?
Cloudy night?
Make an Orion star map instead.
Draw Orion with seven dots and a belt.
Color Betelgeuse red and Rigel blue.
Draw the Summer Triangle on the back.
◇ STAR SHAPES WITH YOUR GROWN-UP
Take turns pointing out each star.
Say the star names together.
Guess which shape is easier to find.

Great hunting! Next week we learn why stars have colors.

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