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Astronomy Year / Week 11 / Sky Night
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Week 11 · Dark Skies

Sky Night

Sky Night: dark sky test
// The Milky Way and light pollution
⏱ about 15 min

Sky Night: Dark sky test

Rocket, Raven and Nova count stars with the porch light on.

Click! The grown-up turns the light off.

They wait. Raven whispers, "What do you notice now?"

Nova glows red. "Hint: count the same patch again."

  1. The Milky Way is our home galaxy.
  2. From dark places, it looks like a soft band of light.
  3. Light pollution hides faint stars.
  4. Turning lights off and pointing them down helps.
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. Pick a patch of sky with your grown-up.
  2. Count the stars with the outdoor light on.
  3. Turn off the outdoor light and wait.
  4. Count the same patch again.
  5. Is your sky very dark? Look for the Milky Way band.
Dark sky logStars I counted
Lights on
Lights off, after waiting
Did I see the Milky Way?
Moon: up or not up?
SKY NIGHT CHECK
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
You counted more stars with the lights off. Why?
Cloudy night?
Do a light walk inside instead.
Walk around your home with a grown-up.
Find lights that could be turned off or pointed down.
Make a dark sky helper list together.
◇ DARK SKY HELPERS
Compare your two star counts.
Pick one light at home to change.
Tell someone else how to help dark skies.

You helped the stars shine! Next week you plan your very own Sky Night.

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