The North Star is called Polaris and located directly above the North Pole. This star appears in the same place every night all year long.
The Southern Hemisphere does not have
a star to help you find its pole. In stead it has what is known as a Southern Cross. Stars as tools for navigation • North Star • Southern Cross A pattern or group of stars in the sky is called a constellation. Star Patterns The Big Dipper Constellations Earth rotates on its axis, this makes most constellations appear to rise in the east and set in the west during the night. Most constellations appear in many different positions in the sky as the Earth revolves around the sun. STAR CHARTS • STAR CHARTS are the BEST for identifying a constellation in the sky.
• A COMPASS is the BEST for locating
DIRECTION (North, South, East, and West) You need to know direction before you can use a star chart correctly. What other invention helps us view items in space? • A telescope! NOTES: • Star- large sphere of glowing gases • Constellations- a pattern or group of stars in the sky • Star Chart- map of the stars in the night sky used as a way to identify constellations • Compass- used to locate direction in order to use a star chart correctly • Telescope- used to see far away objects in space up-close NOTES: • Star- large __________ of glowing _________ • Constellations- a _________ or group of ______ in the sky • Star Chart- _______ of the ______ in the night sky – used as a way to identify constellations • Compass- used to locate _________ in order to use a star chart _________ • Telescope- used to see ______ away ________ in ________ up-close