1. U SING C ONSTELLATIONS

2. F IND THE B IG D IPPER

3. E ASY !

4. F IND THE BIG DIPPER NOW ?

5. S TILL EASY ?

6. C AN YOU SPOT P OLARIS ?

7. I S THIS IT ? ??

8. P OLARIS IS NOT A BRIGHT STAR... NOPE!

9. W HY B IG D IPPER ? It is fairly easy to recognize It is seen year round in the northern hemisphere – just look to the north! Astronomers and navigators have been using it to guide the night skies for a long time It also helps us locate Polaris

10. W HAT SO SPECIAL ABOUT P OLARIS ? Our Pole Star It is directly above our North Pole All stars seem to “go around” Polaris

12. V IEW OF THE S TARS

13. L ET ’ S F IND P OLARIS ON YOUR MAP !

14. S TART WITH U RSA M AJOR

15. F IND THE B IG D IPPER

16. T HE B IG D IPPER IS PART OF U RSA M AJOR

17. F IND THE “ LIP ” OF THE B IG D IPPER LIP!

18. I T POINTS YOU TO P OLARIS

19. E ASY ! POLARIS!

20. P OLARIS IS THE BRIGHTEST STAR IN U RSA M INOR Big Dipper Ursa Minor Polaris

21. U SING C ONSTELLATIONS We use constellations to help guide us in the night sky The Big Dipper is not an official constellation, but rather an asterism.

23. F IND THE B IG D IPPER

25. A STERISMS Asterisms are star patterns in the night sky that are easily recognizable Some other examples: Orion’s Belt The “W” Summer Triangle Winter Triangle Fish Hook (Scorpious)

26. O RION ’ S B ELT

27. F INDING S IRIUS Sirius is the BRIGHTEST star in the night sky!

28. “W” OF C ASSIOPEIA

29. F INDING THE A NDROMEDA G ALAXY

30. S UMMER T RIANGLE

31. W INTER T RIANGLE

32. F ISH H OOK (S CORPIO )