Name__________________________
Pocket Universe-iPad Lab
Read and follow the directions carefully!
 Open the “pocket universe” app to the main menu.
 You may “pinch” the screen to zoom the view and tilt the ipad to change the view point.
 Remember the scale of the planets and their orbits is not accurate.
A. Tap on “Virtual Sky”-
Tap on “settings”. Make sure the following are set to “on”.
Sky and horizon, constellation lines, object labels, deep sky objects, draw ecliptic and
objects and events.
1. In the settings menu, tap “set location”. Make sure the following is listed:
Latitude: 40° 45’ N and Longitude 73° 42’ W The nearest city is New York.
If not, make corrections.
2. Tap “settings”, then tap “done”.
3. Tap “data”. Then tap “tonight’s sky”. Answer the following questions while scrolling
down to end of page:
a. How many hours of daylight do we have today? _________
b. How many hours of darkness do we have today? ________
c. What is the moon phase? _______ What %? _______
d. What is the rise time for the moon?______ Set time?_______
e. Which meteor shower is occurring now? _____________
f. What is its strength?___________Peak? _______________
g. Constellation to find it?__________________
h. What time does the Sun set today?_________________
i. What planets will be visible at 11pm?___________________________
j. Which sky direction can you see them?______________
4. Tap on “done”- Tap on “Lunar Phase”-Answer the questions below:
a. What is today’s lunar phase?_______________
b. What time does it rise in our sky?___________ Set?_____________
c. What date is there a new moon?___________
d. What date is there a first quarter moon?__________
e. What date is there a full moon?_______________
f. What date is there a last quarter moon?___________
g. What date is the full moon in July?_________________
5. Tap on “information-Then “done”a. Now using your fingers scroll the screen until you find the sun. Notice the line
showing its motion through the sky. Are any planets listed near the Sun? List them here if
so___________________________________________.
a. Notice the constellations are in black writing but the Stars are written in yellow. What is
the difference between a constellation and a star?
b. Now center Polaris in the middle of the screen. (it will change to green letters when
centered properly). If done correctly a black dot will appear at bottom of screen that says
“Polaris” under it.
6. Tap on “Polaris”a. Classification:________________
b. How many light years away?______________
7. Tap on “done”-Then tap on “time” tap on the ►.
 Watch all the stars and constellations rotate around Polaris.
a. Does Polaris move? Why not?________________
 Let it go from day to night. When night arrives look at Polaris.
a. What constellation does Polaris appear in? _____________
 Now with your fingers-pinch in to zoom. Watch again from day to night.
a. What constellation is Deneb in?______________
b. Name one star in the constellation Cassiopeia.________________
8. Tap on “done” then tap on “menu.
B. Tap on “What’s Up?” Today’s date and time should appear on bottom.
a. What is the date? ___________What is the time?______________
 Notice the Sun’s position right now
b. What is the Sun’s altitude right now?__________
c. Name another planet near the Sun-What is its altitude?________
9. Tap the ► and watch the movement of the Sun and surrounding
Celestial objects for the next two days.
a. What phase is the moon? _________________
b. Name the celestial objects in the sky with the sun.
_______________________________________________________________
10. Tap “menu”-
C. Tap “ Local Stars” Notice our Sun in the center “ Sol”.
Using your fingers, notice some of the closest stars to our sun.
a. List at least 4 stars and their light year distance from our Sun.
b. 1.______________________
c. 2.______________________
d. 3.______________________
e. 4.______________________
11. Tap “menu”
D. Now tap “The Solar System”
12. Using your finger move the plane of the elliptic (the planets orbital path)
13. Adjust it so you can see a bird’s eye view and a profile view of our Solar Systems path.
14. After viewing this, adjust it so it is in-between a profile and bird’s eye view with the
orbits closer to you tilted down a little.
15. Now watch the Sun orbit.
a. Can you see any sunspots on the surface? How many do you see after one solar
rotation?___________
16. This is slow, now let’s speed it up, tap ►.
17. Can you see the moon speeding around the Earth now?
a. Which direction does it revolve around the Earth?______________
b. Which direction does the Sun rotate?___________________
c. Which direction do all the planets revolve?____________________
d. Which planet does not appear to move at all?_________________
18. To help with question 17d, use your finger again to change your plane of the elliptic
view to a more bird’s eye view. Does this help?
a. While looking at the movement from a bird’s eye view what can you tell about the
relationship between a planets distance to the Sun and its orbital speed?
19. Tap “menu”
E. Tap “The Sun and Planets”
a. What is the distance from the Sun to Earth?____________
b. How many satellites does the Earth have?__________
c. What is the Earth’s Satellite called?____________
F. Tap the ►
a. What is the moon rise for today?_________
b. What is the moon set for today?_________
G. Tap the ►
a. How many satellites does the Sun have?___________
b. What are the names of those satellites? ____________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
c. What time does the Sun rise today?__________Set?__________
d. What is its period of rotation?______________
H. Tap the ►
a. Period of orbit for Mecury?_________
I. Tap the ►
a. Period of rotation for Venus?__________
J. Tap the ►
a. How many satellites does Mars have?_______
K. Tap the ►
a. How many satellites does Jupiter have?________
b. What is it’s period of rotation?________
L. Tap the ► using your finger adjust the screen so you can see the rings.
a. How many satellites does Saturn have?_______
b. What is it’s period of orbit?________ What is the Earths?_________
M. Tap the ►
a. How many satellites does Uranus have?
b. What is it’s period of rotation?__________What is Earths?___________
N. Tap the ►Watch it rotate……adjust with your finger as needed.
a. What do you see on the surface as it rotates? Describe below:
_____________________________________________________________
b. What is it’s period of rotation?_______________
c. How many satellites does it have?___________
O.
Tap “menu” –then tap “virtual sky” again.
20. Tap skip to night fall immediately.
21. Tap any constellation you choose-the red outline should appear.
a. List the constellation you choose._______________
22. Double tap the constellation and it will zoom.
a. Does the picture resemble the grouping of stars?
23. Double tap to go back to regular screen.
24. Tap to choose another constellation.
a. List the constellation you choose._______________________
b. Does the picture resemble the grouping of stars?
c. Why not?__________________________________________________________
25. Tap “Find”, then tap “asteroids/comets”
26. Pick one of the highlighted listings
a. Where in the sky can you find it, name the nearest constellation or
star_________________________
27. Then tap the name at bottom of screen in the black circle.
a. List the asteroid/comet you chose.________________
b. Is it an asteroid or comet?__________________
c. When does it rise or set/when is it visible?_______________
d. Tell me briefly about this celestial
body:________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
___________
28. Tap done
If there is still time-explore the website further. If you tap on certain stars, information about
each one will appear. If the iPad is held up towards the sky in the Virtual Sky screen ( yes, even
indoors!) It will tell you what is visible at that moment in the sky (if the Sun was not so bright!)