Warm UP - Matching A -Sun -Alpha Centauri -Proximi Centauri -Binary System -Nova -Galaxies -Nebulae -Constellations b -Huge clouds of dust and gas glowing between the stars -Single Stars System -Star that brightens, then dims -Star closest to Earth -Stars that form patterns -Various star groups major features of the universe -Most stars in this group -Triple star system, closest to the sun

Answer Word - Definition Sun – single start system Alpha Centauri – triple star system, closest to the sun Proximi Centauri – Star closest to Earth Binary System – most stars in this group Nova – Start that brightens, then dims Galaxies – various star groups: major features of the universe Nebulae – Huge clouds of dust and gas glowing between the stars Constellations – stars that form patterns

A Trip Through the Universe

Guiding Questions By the end of this lesson 1.What are galaxies? What are the three main types of galaxies? 2.What is the size and shape of the Milky Way Galaxy?

Look at the Stars in the Night Sky Each twinkling lights is actually a - Sun

Although Stars are so far away Astronomers can not locate individual stars but can detect huge groups of stars

Lets begin a trip through the universe……

Traveling the Speed of Light….. The distance light can travel in a unit of time through a substance. through a vaccum: 186,000 miles per second through a vaccum: 186,000 miles per second 300,000 kilometers per second 300,000 kilometers per second But you still must travel much faster

Begin the trip: Star closest to the sun: Alpha Centauri 4.3 light years from Earth

Alph Centauri is a multiple star system 3 stars to be exact Proximi Centauri is the first of the stars, Its actually the closest star toEarth.

Journey Continues Alpha Centauri is not so unusual. Over half the stars in the sky have at least one companion star Most stars are double star systems, two stars revolve round each other. Binary Stars

Thousands of years ago……… Arab Shepherds discovered that about every three days a certain bright star suddenly became dim and disappeared, only to brighten again.

Next Stop…. It was named Algol “Ghoul” Binary Star System One of Algol’s stars is small bright blue – Visible from Earth The other is large, dim, and yellow – non visible from Earth

About every three days the larger star passes between the smaller star and Earth, blocking the smaller stars light So every three days the smaller star appears to disappear.

Constellations

Journey continues in any direction…..One path goes passed the Dog Star – Sirius Over 8 light years away

Another path is the North Star – Polaris 400 light years from Earth

Polaris has long been an important star for navigation Sailors would know that sailing toward the star would mean they were sailing North

Polaris is at the end of the handle of a group of stars called……Little Dipper. Little Dipper makes up the constellation of stars called Ursa Minor – Little Bear

Constellation Groups of stars in which people at one time though they saw imaginary figures of animals or people. There are…… 88 Major Constellations

Constellation Construction ~ Find the Month of your birth. ~ Choose a constellation found in that month ~ On construction paper sketch a large version ~ Make sure to make a point for each star ~ Use yellow, green, blue and orange yarn for place markers ~ Hang each string from the point of each star. ~ Yarn should be varying lengths

January Caelum Dorado Mensa Orion Reticulum Taurus

February Auriga Camelopardalis Canis Major Columba Gemini Lepus Monoceros Pictor

March Auriga Camelopardalis Canis Major Columba Gemini Lepus Monoceros Pictor

April Antlia Chamaeleon Crater Hydra Leo Leo Minor Sextans Ursa Major

May Canes Venatici Centaurus Coma Berenices Corvus Crux Musca Virgo

June Boötes Circinus Libra Lupus Ursa Minor

July Apus Ara Corona Borealis Draco Hercules Norma Ophiuchus Scorpius Serpens Triangulum Australe

August Corona Austrina Lyra Sagittarius Scutum Telescopium

September Aquila Capricornus Cygnus Delphinus Equuleus Indus Microscopium Pavo Sagitta Vulpecula

October Aquarius Cepheus Grus Lacerta Octans Pegasus Piscis Austrinus

November Andromeda Cassiopeia Phoenix Pisces Sculptor Tucana

December Aries Cetus Eridanus Fornax Horologium Hydrus Perseus Triangulum