Stars, the Moon’s shapes and a planetarium
Answers are for parents and teachers.
1
Draw how the night sky might look in winter, with Orion and the Pole Star in the north. Label them.
A night scene with Orion drawn as a pattern of stars and the Pole Star low in the north.
2
Earth turns 15° each hour. A photo of the night sky was taken for 6 hours. How far did the stars seem to turn?
6 × 15 = 90°.
3
Draw the Moon as it looks when it is new, a crescent, a quarter and full. Label each.
Four circles with the lit part growing from none to the whole circle.
4
A planetarium show lasts 50 minutes and starts at 10:30. When does it finish?
10:30 + 50 minutes = 11:20.
5
Write a claim, evidence and reasoning to answer: why can we see different constellations in different seasons?
Claim: because Earth moves around the Sun. Evidence: Orion is seen on winter evenings but not in summer evenings. Reasoning: as Earth orbits, the part of the sky we face at night changes through the year.