2,003
edits
Stellarium/Activity: Difference between revisions
From OER in Education
→Tonight's Sky (15 to 30 mins)
| (3 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown) | |||
| Line 49: | Line 49: | ||
What do they see? Where's the sun? the moon? Ask students how they would | What do they see? Where's the sun? the moon? Ask students how they would | ||
describe the shape of the moon. Have they noticed that the moon isn't always the | describe the shape of the moon. Have they noticed that the moon isn't always the | ||
same shape in the sky? '''''<nowiki>[</nowiki>'''If appropriate, discuss | same shape in the sky? '''''<nowiki>[</nowiki>'''If appropriate, discuss very briefly the idea of moon'' | ||
''phases being due to the changing positions of the earth, moon, and sun.''']''''' | ''phases being due to the changing positions of the earth, moon, and sun.''']''''' | ||
B) Do they see anything they think is a planet? How can we tell if | B) Do they see anything they think is a planet? How can we tell if | ||
we're looking at a star or a planet? Inform students that planets are often a | we're looking at a star or a planet? Inform students that planets are often a | ||
slightly different | slightly different colour than the stars in the sky and lie on or near a line called the | ||
ecliptic ''<nowiki>[display ecliptic]. </nowiki>''Give students a few seconds to look for planets, then | ecliptic ''<nowiki>[display ecliptic]. </nowiki>''Give students a few seconds to look for planets, then | ||
turn on planet labels. Select and zoom in on all visible planets. Share one or two interesting facts about each planet when you are zoomed in. | turn on planet labels. Select and zoom in on all visible planets. Share one or two interesting facts about each planet when you are zoomed in. | ||
C) What do we see the most of up there? | C) What do we see the most of up there? Stars. Thousands of | ||
years ago, the Greeks and Romans 'connected the dots' and made pictures in | years ago, the Greeks and Romans 'connected the dots' and made pictures in | ||
the sky; those pictures are called constellations. Today we still use many of the | the sky; those pictures are called constellations. Today we still use many of the | ||
names they gave to their constellations. Talk about common constellations that are | names they gave to their constellations. Talk about common constellations that are visible and add any extra stories if appropriate. | ||
D) Choose at least two other constellations in different parts of the | D) Choose at least two other constellations in different parts of the sky to share stories about. | ||
sky to share stories about. | |||
F) Discuss the importance of some stars and constellations for navigation such as the north star in the northern hemisphere and Sigma Octantis in the southern. | F) Discuss the importance of some stars and constellations for navigation such as the north star in the northern hemisphere and Sigma Octantis in the southern. | ||
| Line 78: | Line 77: | ||
Be sure to emphasize that Mercury and the other planets, including | Be sure to emphasize that Mercury and the other planets, including | ||
Earth, are simply rotating on their axes and orbiting the sun. However, as Earth | the Earth, are simply rotating on their axes and orbiting the sun. However, as the Earth | ||
rotates and revolves and the other planets rotate and revolve, we can end up | rotates and revolves and the other planets rotate and revolve, we can end up | ||
noticing some strange patterns, like the one that Mercury made. Briefly discuss | noticing some strange patterns, like the one that Mercury made. Briefly discuss | ||
how long it takes for Earth to make one trip around the sun, then how long it | how long it takes for the Earth to make one trip around the sun, then how long it | ||
takes for two or three of the other planets to make one trip around the sun. | takes for two or three of the other planets to make one trip around the sun. | ||
Run the Solar System View local script to show the planets orbiting the sun. | Run the Solar System View local script to show the planets orbiting the sun. | ||
