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Size, Motion, Distance - Now You See Me...Now You Don't!

Journal Entry - Take out your science journal and answer the following question(s) (use drawings as appropriate):

How does the appearance of the night sky change with the seasons?

Materials:

  • Four signs, one for each season
  • Constellations placed in their appropriate season

Procedure:

  1. Label each wall with the season sign.
  2. Hang constellations in each season.
  3. Stand in a circle with your arms extended out to the side. You need to face the walls.
  4. Your arms represent the horizon. You can see only what is within your horizon.
  5. Observe which constellations you can see.
  6. Move counterclockwise (this simulates the earth’s revolution) 1/8 of the way around the room and observe which constellations you can see now.
  7. Repeat Step 6 until you are back to their original position.

Conclusion:
 Now that you have completed the activity, how did the appearance of the "night sky" change with the seasons?

Utah State Office of Education This Sci-ber Text was developed by the Utah State Office of Education and Glen Westbroek.