Star Finders: Star Finders: The Big DipperThe Big Dipper

Science 6Science 6

Mrs. DeForgeMrs. DeForge

Star FindersStar Finders

When you first see the sun in the morning, your When you first see the sun in the morning, your spot on the earth as just started to face the sun. spot on the earth as just started to face the sun. As the day goes by, the spinning earth turns As the day goes by, the spinning earth turns past the sun. Itpast the sun. It’’s highest at noon. s highest at noon.

Star FindersStar Finders

Your last view of the sun comes at sunset. The Your last view of the sun comes at sunset. The earth is turning you away from the sun. At night, earth is turning you away from the sun. At night, stars rise and set the same way the sun does in stars rise and set the same way the sun does in the daytime because the earth is turning past the daytime because the earth is turning past them too.them too.

The Big Dipper and Other The Big Dipper and Other ConstellationsConstellations

The stars in the sky appear to be moving. If you The stars in the sky appear to be moving. If you look for constellations, you will find that they are look for constellations, you will find that they are in different positions at different times in the in different positions at different times in the night. If you look closely, you will notice that the night. If you look closely, you will notice that the stars appear to move around a central star. We stars appear to move around a central star. We call this star the call this star the North StarNorth Star or or PolarisPolaris..

However, it is not the stars that are moving. We However, it is not the stars that are moving. We are!!! The earth is rotating. Therefore, the stars are!!! The earth is rotating. Therefore, the stars in the sky look like they are moving to us. in the sky look like they are moving to us.

Why Do We See Different Why Do We See Different Constellations in the Sky?Constellations in the Sky?

As the earth moves in its orbit around the sun, As the earth moves in its orbit around the sun, the stars which we see are different. the stars which we see are different. Constellations we see change with the seasons.Constellations we see change with the seasons.

Also, as the earth rotates on its axis, the stars Also, as the earth rotates on its axis, the stars which we see are different. The sky at 7pm looks which we see are different. The sky at 7pm looks different than the sky at 10pm.different than the sky at 10pm.

Finally, people look at the sky from different Finally, people look at the sky from different locations on the earth see different stars. locations on the earth see different stars.

Why Can We Always See the North Why Can We Always See the North Star?Star?

The North Star is located almost directly The North Star is located almost directly above the North Pole. The earthabove the North Pole. The earth’’s axis s axis points towards it.points towards it.

Are the Stars Moving in the Sky?Are the Stars Moving in the Sky?

NO!!! We are moving. The earth is rotating on its NO!!! We are moving. The earth is rotating on its axis, once every 24 hours.axis, once every 24 hours.

The Big DipperThe Big Dipper The Big Dipper is also a handy tool. Over thousands of The Big Dipper is also a handy tool. Over thousands of

years people have used it to understand the sky, and years people have used it to understand the sky, and you can learn to use it too. It can keep your from getting you can learn to use it too. It can keep your from getting lost because it points the way to the lost because it points the way to the North Star. North Star. The two The two stars that make the front of the Big Dipperstars that make the front of the Big Dipper’’s bowl are s bowl are even called the even called the PointersPointers..