Maps of the Sky- The Planisphere

Students assemble a star wheel to help them locate and identify stars in the night sky anytime.  Students get a better understanding of the effect of the rotation and revolution of the earth when they learn to use a planisphere and observe how the stars appear to move across the sky in predictable patterns.  Students should use their planisphere to identify the brightest stars and constellations in their weekly observations.

Materials:

scissors

Compass Rose Stargazing Mat

Altitude Tracker

Magnetic Compass

Printouts:

Star Wheel - Cover

Star Wheel - Basic Constellations 

Star Wheel - Coordinates

Inside:

• Assemble the planisphere following the directions at the bottom of the constellations star wheel.
• Follow the directions on the back of your Star Wheel to set it so today's date is lined up with 8pm and identify three objects that will be visible in the sky at that time.
• Turn your star wheel ahead one month at 8pm and find the same three objects.  Can you still see all three objects one month later at 8pm?  Can you still see them three months later at 8pm?  Compare the location of Polaris for today's date to one and three months from now.  Compare the location of Betelguese in the constellation Orion for today's date to one and three months from now.  Why does this happen? 
• Set your Star Wheel for today at 6pm, and slowly turn the star disk through the night until tomorrow's date is aligned with 6am.  Which way did you turn the star disk?  Which way did the stars appear to move in your Sky Wheel?  Which way do they appear to move across the sky?  Use your touch with  and slowly scroll through 24 hours, compare to what you saw on your Sky Wheel.
• Use your Sky Wheel to find at least 5 constellations that are visible any time of year, any time of night; to find 3 constellations that are not visible at all for at least 3 nights out of the year. 

Outside Day:

• Align your Compass Rose Stargazing Mat, and use it, your altitude tracker and your planisphere with the coordinates star wheel to find the approximate locations in the sky of the three objects you identified inside for 8pm tonight.  Use your Touch with   to determine if you are correct.
• Turn your star wheel ahead one month and find the approximate locations of the same three objects at 8pm. 

At Night:

• At 8pm, align your Compass Rose Stargazing Mat, and use it, your altitude tracker and your planisphere with the coordinates star wheel to find the three objects.  Were they where you expected?  Do they look like you expected?  Were they easy to find using your tools? 
  

• Milky Way Activity:  During your next observation, use yellow sidewalk chalk to color in the Milky Way on your planisphere.  Use another planisphere showing the Milky Way and a pencil and yellow sidewalk chalk to outline and color in the Milky Way on your planisphere.  Blow off excess chalk dust thoroughly for best results.

Winter Constellations Activity

Return to Sky Path Astronomy Unit