Lesson Four: How can I locate things in the sky?

Lesson Description

In this lesson students use a sky map to locate stars, planets, and constellations in the sky. They draw each of these as they see them, comparing what they see in the night sky to the maps. Then students measure the angular distance between stars in the sky. Students are also asked to observe the Moon, paying close attention to the terminator line.

Instructions

For this lesson, you will be observing objects in the night sky. You will need a sheet from your teacher with the constellations and stars you need to find, a pencil, and a skymap. It would also be helpful to have a red flashlight. A white flashlight will make it harder to see the stars. To make a red flashlight, use tape or a rubberband to secure a sheet of red paper over the lens of a regular flashlight.