The head and mane of the lion are represented by a group of stars that looks something like a backwards question mark. The water falls onto the back of Leo the Lion. Imagine poking a hole in the bottom of the Big Dipper to let the water drip out. This group of stars is also officially known as Ursa Minor the Little Bear. Polaris is at the end of the handle of the Little Dipper. When you face the North Star, you’re facing due north. Polaris is not a particularly bright star, but it does remain fixed in the sky throughout the night and throughout the year. Use the two stars at the end of the Dipper’s bowl to lead you to Polaris, also known as the North Star. Ursa Major the Great Bear is the official constellation here, but you’ll need dark skies to see its fainter stars. It’s a familiar name for this pattern of stars, especially used by observers in the United States, but it’s not one of the 88 constellations recognized by astronomers worldwide. The Big Dipper is not officially a constellation it’s what astronomers sometimes call an asterism. Connect the dots to imagine a big spoon or ladle high above. What patterns do you see in the stars? What groupings of stars might you select as constellations? What would you call them? Use a drawing pad and pen to chart the stars that you see.In the late spring, the Big Dipper is easy to find, high in the northwest after sunset. Of course, rather than spotting constellations, you could also make up your own! Way, way back in time, someone had to come up with the constellations, right? Just imagine that you're the first person ever to see the night sky.Can you spot some constellations? If you need help finding or identifying common constellations, just jump online and print out a sky map to help you. There's nothing quite like relaxing after dark and taking in the incredible sights in the heavens above. Ready to do some stargazing? Grab a blanket, some snacks, and some friends or family members and head out to the great outdoors.You can also explore why we see certain signs of the zodiac at certain times of the year in the activity Celestial Circles. Along the way, you'll develop a greater understanding that Earth's rotation and axial inclination causes the apparent progression of stars across the night sky. You'll illustrate the constellations of the zodiac and Polaris and re-create the band of zodiac signs. Up for a challenge? Check out the fun Zodiac Track activity. Since the Big Dipper orbits around the northern portion of the sky, African-American slaves in the 19 th century often used the Big Dipper, which many of them called “the Drinking Gourd," to guide them on their way toward freedom in the North.Īre you seeing stars yet? If not, just wait! Grab a friend or family member and explore one or more of the following out-of-this-world activities: You can also use two of the stars in the “cup" of the Big Dipper to locate Polaris, the North Star. In the summer sky, it's usually not too difficult to find, though, as its unique ladle shape is easy to learn and spot. Like all groups of stars, the position of the Big Dipper changes throughout the year. The Big Dipper, also sometimes called the Plough, is made up of the seven brightest stars within Ursa Major. The Big Dipper, although sometimes referred to as a constellation, is actually an asterism.Īn asterism is an interesting pattern of stars within a larger constellation. Yet, when viewed from Earth's night sky, they appear to be close together and form some sort of pattern.įor example, one of the most popular and easily- identifiable constellations is called Ursa Major, which means “The Great Bear." Ursa Major is easy to identify because of seven of the stars within the constellation known as the Big Dipper. The stars within a constellation can be incredible distances apart. Most constellations have a long history and were identified hundreds, if not thousands, of years ago. You might also enjoy picking out constellations.Ĭonstellations are groups of stars in the sky that have been defined by and agreed upon by an international group of astronomers. These are the kinds of questions it's fun to WONDER about as you gaze at the stars. A warm evening…a blanket…a dark sky full of bright stars…these are the pieces of a perfect night for stargazing! Do you like to look up at the stars and WONDER about what's up there? Are there aliens? What is life like on other planets? How many stars are there?
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