 Engage: Use the Big Dipper to find the North Star, Arcturus, Cassiopeia. Find
Summer Triangle, Milky Way.
 Explore: Students make a sample observation of a two fist by two fist section of
the sky that contains a bright star. Compare entries with a neighbor.
 As a class, brainstorm characteristics of an effective sky observation and an
effective notebook entry.
 Explain: Outline Earth’s two main motions (rotation and revolution) and how
those affect observations
 Review the use of a planisphere (star wheel)
 Practice using a star wheel
 Elaborate: Outside naked eye observations using star wheel as a map
 Telescope observations of Jupiter, Jupiter’s moons (Europa, Ganymede,
Callisto), Neptune. Three of Jupiter’s moons and Neptune contain solid and
maybe liquid water
 Evaluate: Use star wheel to identify two objects in the sky chosen by the
instructor.
 Heading for each entry should include
 Date and time
 Location
 Sky and weather conditions
 Sketch observation on a grid with the x-axis being the
horizon and the y-axis being the altitude.
 Measure height above the horizon (altitude) and
degrees from compass direction in fists. A closed fist
held at arm’s length subtends an angle of about 10
degrees from top to bottom.
 Add other interesting items and facts to your entry.
To find the rising or setting time of a star
 Locate the star on the planisphere.
 Rotate the dial so the star is touching the eastern half
(rising) or western half (setting) of the planisphere.
 Find the date in question on the planisphere.
 Read the time that that date is lined up with. (If
daylight savings time is in effect, you’ll need to add an
hour to the time you read.)
 Practice question: What time does the bright star in
the constellation Virgo rise on March 10?
To find the sky orientation for a specific day and time.
 Find the date in question on the planisphere .
 Rotate the planisphere so the time you want is lined up
with that date. (Don’t forget about the daylight savings
time correction.)
 Now, you can look at the planisphere and determine
where a star is located on any day at any time.
 Practice question: When is the bright star in the
constellation Leo due south at midnight?
1)
2)
3)
4)
What time does the bright star in the constellation
Taurus rise on May 1?
What time does the bright star in the constellation
Taurus set on May 1?
What time does the bright star in the constellation
Bootes rise on October 10?
What time does the bright star in the constellation
Bootes set on October 10?
Constellations Stars
Andromeda
Aquila
Altair
Bootes
Arcturus
Cassiopia
Cephius
d Cephi
Cygnus
Deneb
Alberio
Hercules
Lyra
Vega
e Lyrae
(Stellar features)
white
orange giant
variable (per.=5.4 d.)
most distant bright star
binary star, diff colors
M13 Globular cluster
M57 Ring nebula
double binary star
M8 Lagoon nebula, M22 globular
cluster
Sagittarius
Scorpius
Ursa Major
Ursa Minor
Virgo
Other objects
M31 Andromeda galaxy
Antares
Polaris
Spica
red super giant
near N celestial pole
blue star
Big Dipper, M81 spiral galaxy
Little Dipper
Virgo cluster of galaxies