USING CONSTELLATIONS FIND THE BIG DIPPER EASY FIND
USING CONSTELLATIONS
FIND THE BIG DIPPER
EASY!
FIND THE BIG DIPPER NOW?
STILL EASY?
CAN YOU SPOT POLARIS?
IS THIS IT? ? ?
POLARIS IS NOT A BRIGHT STAR. . . NOPE!
WHY BIG DIPPER? It is fairly easy to recognize It is seen year round in the northern hemisphere – just look to the north! Astronomers and navigators have been using it to guide the night skies for a long time It also helps us locate Polaris
WHAT SO SPECIAL ABOUT POLARIS? Our Pole Star It is directly above our North Pole All stars seem to “go around” Polaris
VIEW OF THE STARS
LET’S FIND POLARIS ON YOUR MAP!
START WITH URSA MAJOR
FIND THE BIG DIPPER
THE BIG DIPPER IS PART OF URSA MAJOR
FIND THE “LIP” OF THEBIG DIPPER LIP!
IT POINTS YOU TO POLARIS
EASY! POLARIS!
POLARIS IS THE BRIGHTEST STAR INURSA MINOR Ursa Minor Polaris Big Dipper
USING CONSTELLATIONS We use constellations to help guide us in the night sky The Big Dipper is not an official constellation, but rather an asterism.
FIND THE BIG DIPPER
ASTERISMS Asterisms are star patterns in the night sky that are easily recognizable Some other examples: � Orion’s Belt � The “W” � Summer Triangle � Winter Triangle � Fish Hook (Scorpious)
ORION’S BELT
FINDING SIRIUS Sirius is the BRIGHTEST star in the night sky!
“W” OF CASSIOPEIA
FINDING THE ANDROMEDA GALAXY
SUMMER TRIANGLE
WINTER TRIANGLE
FISH HOOK (SCORPIO)
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