Backyard Astronomy Night
About 60 minutes, outside, for ages 11 and up.
Where it works
Works in any outdoor space
Who it's for
ages 11 and up
Try this adventure now:
- the brightest star you can find
- a full or partial moon
- a group of stars that makes a shape
- a blinking light (likely a plane)
- a star that does not blink (likely a planet)
Today's Challenge
- 1.How many stars would you guess you can see tonight?
- 2.Did the moon look full, half, or a sliver?
- 3.What shape did your favorite star group make?
Quick Start: What you need
- 1pencil
The Goal
Step outside after dark and see how many things in the sky you can identify by eye.
How to start
- 1
Gather what you need: pencil. Nothing else required.
- 2
Head outside and see how many you can find: the brightest star you can find, a full or partial moon, a group of stars that makes a shape, a blinking light (likely a plane).
- 3
Talk about what you are seeing. Start with "How many stars would you guess you can see tonight?"
- 4
Print the worksheet to check things off as you find them, and keep it afterwards.
Draw Your Sky
Draw what you see below: the moon, the brightest stars, and any shapes you noticed.
The light from most stars you see left them years, sometimes thousands of years, before it ever reached your eyes.
If you want to push it further
- Try to find something in the sky that is moving
- See how long you can lie still and just look up
Print it and go
The worksheet has the checklist, the prompts, and a space to draw in. One page, ready for a bag or a glovebox.