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The night sky in the winter tends to be clearer
than it is in summer and the stars are easier to
see. Some of the winter constellations (star
patterns), such as the Big Dipper, Orion the
Hunter or Cassiopeia are easy to identify.
Before you try to find them in the sky, however,
you might want to practice by making
constellation viewers. You can locate a
wonderful set of Constellation Flash Cards at:
http://www.science-teachers.com/constellation_flashcards.htm
You Will Need:
1. A can with the ends removed or a paper towel
tube
2. Plain paper and a pencil
3. Opened paper clip or push pin
4. Diagram of several constellations.
5. Rubber band or tape
What to Do:
1. On a piece of plain paper, trace around the
end of the can or tube.
2. Using a constellation diagram as a model,
draw the constellation to fit inside the circle.
Be sure to mark all the stars.
3. Use the paper clip or push pin to poke a hole
in each of the stars. If the star is bigger,
make a slightly bigger hole.
4. Cut around the circle, leaving about an inch
and a half all the way around. Fit the circle
around the end of the can or tube and fasten it
down with tape or a rubber band.
5. Now hold your viewer up to the light and look
through the open end. You will see your
constellation as it would appear in the sky.
Now that you know what some of the winter
constellations look like, it’s time to find them
in the sky. Pick a clear, cold night and find a
place away from street lights if possible. Orion
is one of the easiest constellations to find;
just look for three stars close together in a
row. If you draw an imaginary line through the
three stars off to the left, you will come to
the brightest star in the heavens - Sirius, the
Dog Star, following his master, Orion. Outdoor Activities
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