#SKYCHART TONIGHT HOW TO#

Point to your zenith with one hand and to the horizon with the other hand. If a star or moon was straight overhead in your zenith, you would draw it in the very center of the chart. Your zenith is what is exactly over head of you from your location. Then, if someone came along and perfectly flattened the bowl, the circles show how high in the air the object was. The ant could draw the moon, sun, or stars on the bowl right where he saw them. Imagine you put a perfectly shaped transparent bowl over an ant. A bowl that is perfectly shaped half sphere.Globe or other sphere cut in half (imagine it, don’t wreck your globe).If not, use one of these items to discuss domes: If you have ever been in an arena with a dome over you, discuss that. The atmosphere around you is a dome-shaped half sphere. Inside the circle represents the atmosphere above the ground. Mark on the objects on your horizon in the correct location outside of the circles. The movement of the sun over the day would start by the small E and end at the small west since we first see the sun on our horizon.įace North. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west. Your horizon is represented by the outer most circle. Older students may be reminded that it is 90 degrees from North to East, from East to South, etc. Now is a good time to introduce a compass if you have not done so before. Take the chart outside during the day time and line up the sky chart with North. Make several copies of the sky charts at the end of this book (pg 58.) The straight lines represent the angles for the directions N, S, E, W and in between. As you develop expertise charting the moon you will gain the ability to do more advanced charting with stars, constellations, and galaxies. Tracking the moon is a great way to get oriented to using and making sky charts.

#SKYCHART TONIGHT HOW TO#

Make your own sky chart and sextant for the Astronomy Unit Study.įree Download of Sky Chart & Sextant Below How To Use A Sky Chart Classical Childrens Books Find A Book Your Child Will Love

Skychart tonight