Finding Constellations
Name _________________________________ pd ________
This assignment is an opportunity to practice finding and identifying constellations. Hopefully, you will choose to do this
observation when the moon is not up, or at least when it is either a crescent or slightly less than first quarter. The
moon's light tends to obscure the light for dimmer stars. As you look at the stars for the first time, even with the aid of a
star chart, you will discover that identifying constellations is pretty hard at first. Do the best you can, and please be
honest about what you see and do not see. Use your resources! There are a variety of free phone apps and websites
available to help. A couple helpful ones are: http://stellarium.org/ and https://in-the-sky.org/skymap2.php
Date____________
Time ______________
Sky Conditions (partly cloudy, great seeing, bad lights, etc.)________________________________________________
List the constellations you found in the box below. Be honest!
What constellations did you try to find, but could not?
Describe other things you saw during this observation. Planets, the moon, shooting stars, space satellites, aurora, ufos?
What direction in the sky did you look to see the Big Dipper? Were you able to locate Polaris?
How was your experience? Describe the joys and frustrations you felt while outside! (continue on the back if needed)
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