The Stars

Update your TOC Engage 4/30 “Star Pictures” Learning Target: I will make some observations about star charts at different locations around the Earth (similarities and differences) I can begin to understand the nature of the night sky like past cultures have done by closely observing the patterns of stars and any changes that I see over place and time.

Stargazing: The Cosmos 1. What are constellations, what are some of their names? 2. Has Polaris always been the North Star? Why or why not? 3. Black holes can be relatively large or small, how many Earth’s can a black hole consume? 4. Are constellations only made up of stars? 5. What is the difference between a star and a galaxy? Process and Procedure page 458 With your new table partner, read “It’s a Bird…It’s a Plane”, discuss and then do P&P Question #2 Read all questions with your partner, discuss using the Star Pictures laminated handout (please do not write on this!) and the diagrams available in the textbook on pgs 459, 460, 461, then answer questions #2a – 2e completely for discussion as an entire class later

Stargazing: The Cosmos What are constellations, what are some of their names A grouping of stars which have been noted to make a pattern Leo Virgo Ursa Major (Big Dipper/Big Bear) Ursa Minor (Little Dipper/Little Bear) Orion Draco Has Polaris always been the North Star? Why or why not? No, due to the Earth’s wobble it changes, earlier it was Thuban. Changes once every 26,000 years Black holes can be relatively large or small, how many Earth’s can a black hole consume? Some have been noted to consume 10 Earth’s an hour Are constellations only made up of stars? Nope some can be made up of galaxies as well What is the difference between a star and a galaxy? Galaxies can contain billions of stars

Star Charts Star Charts: pictures taken from Earth looking out at the stars in the local sky This star chart was taken in the northern hemisphere

Star Charts Today you and your lab partners are studying star charts to try and make sense of the night sky in a similar way that ancient peoples did before you At your lab stations are star charts from Portland, Oregon taken each month of the year Note any changes you see as you look at each month’s chart Document similarities and differences you see between each month in your notebook Be ready to discuss your observations you will be called on at random so be sure each person has written down their observations

Look at the next three star charts All the charts are taken at relatively the same time but are at different locations around the globe Look carefully at each of the names of the constellations shown Look at the locations of each of the constellations shown

Seattle Ursa Major Uras Minor Cygnus Cassiopeia Gemini Perseus Andromeda Pegasus Orion Cetus

LA Ursa Major Uras Minor Cygnus Cassiopeia Gemini Perseus Andromeda Pegasus Orion Cetus

Sydney Andromeda Cygnus Aquila Cetus Piscis Austrinus Sagittarius Grus Scorpius Eridanus Ara Hyrus

Look at the next 3 star charts In your notebook write down the locations and the major constellations you see When you have written down each of the constellations note their locations Finally discuss any similarities and differences between the three locations

Questions At the very beginning when we discussed star charts I told you that the example was from the northern hemisphere. How did I know that? You have seen that positions of stars change in the sky during the night and from season to season. Why do you think this occurs? You can answer in written format or draw a diagram.