Trippensee® Elementary® Planetarium 653-3030 (M-M10) (Unlighted) and 653-3040 (M-M20) (Lighted)

Trippensee® Elementary® Planetarium 653-3030 (M-M10) (unlighted) and 653-3040 (M-M20) (lighted)

Photo shows M-M20 with lighted sun. M-M10 is unlighted Warranty and Parts: We replace all missing or defective parts free of charge. For additional parts, use part numbers above. We ac- cept Mastercard, Visa, checks, school P.O.'s. All products guaranteed free from defect for 90 days. This guarantee does not include accident, misuse, or normal wear and tear.

Astronomy models used around the world for almost 100 years! Introduction not too often overcast and where people's work Exciting discoveries and daring adventures keeps them outside at night, there has been con- continue to focus thinking about our planet Earth, siderable interest in the heavens. The wandering which is, in essence, only a continuously moving movements of the planets through the sky, comets speck of dust in the vast regions of space. With and meteors coming and going, the moon constant- the advent of Sputnik in 1957, all the earth, sun, ly changing its shape as well as its time of rising moon and planetary relationships have assumed and setting, the sun appearing to move southward new importance in our schools as well as in our in the sky, stop, to come back to the north, stop, lives. and to go south again - all this and much more is Serious study of the planets and stars began easily seen by anyone who takes the time to look. long before Sputnik. From the plains of China Because the explanation of so many of these and India to the mountain valleys of the Andes lie happenings appears complicated, many teachers the remains of observatories and religious shrines are hesitant to try to teach them. These planetari- that were built to study and measure the move- ums were designed as an economical teaching aid ments of stars, planets and the moon. More than to explain the motions of the earth and moon and one ancient and medieval ruler rose to power or other planets and how these motions cause many stayed in power solely by his ability to predict an natural phenomena around us. This manual gives eclipse of the sun. Many stone ruins in England an easy explanation of the more important con- and northern France were built to correlate the cepts of the earth in space as taught in astronomy, activities of the sun and moon. In northern Eu- elementary science, earth science, physical geogra- rope the winter solstice was a joyous occasion for phy and physical science classes. This is followed at that time the sun had stopped moving south- by a list of individual, group and class activities ward and was now getting ready to return north that will aid in the student's better understanding to bring forth a new productive season. of our planet. In those parts of the world where the skies are 1 SCIENCE FIRST® | 86475 Gene Lasserre Blvd., Yulee, FL 32097 | 800-875-3214 | www.sciencefirst.com | [email protected] SCIENCE FIRST® | 86475 Gene Lasserre Blvd., Yulee, FL 32097 | 800-875-3214 | www.sciencefirst.com | [email protected] ©2010 - v 7/10

® • How to locate the well-known stars and the large groups of millions of stars The Trippensee in the sky called galaxies. As new telescopes and planetarium • The location of the standard time other scientific instruments are devel- This planetarium is a manually zones on the earth oped, the "boundaries' of the universe operated device used to demonstrate • Some difficulties of space travel. are constantly being pushed farther and some of the real and apparent motions farther away. The question of the size of the sun, earth and moon. The spatial Scale of the planetarium and shape of the universe is not yet relationship of these celestial bodies Great difficulties are encountered in answered; it remains one of the funda- with each other and the other members attempting to represent the vastness of mental problems of astronomy. of the solar system are made easier to the solar system with a reasonable size New galaxies are constantly being visualize with the planetarium. model. The elementary planetarium discovered as astronomers continue to Many of the phenomena observed shows the relative sizes and distances study the sky. Our sun is a member of on the earth caused by the presence of the sun, earth and moon only in a the galaxy known as the Milky Way. of the sun and moon can be explained general way. For instance, if the whole The Milky Way is shaped like a large by using the planetarium to show the planetarium were made to the same flattened disk with spiral arms radiating interrelation that exists between these scale as a 3" earth globe, the sun would out from the center. See Figure 1. The objects and the earth. be 27' in diameter and 1/2 mile away! sun is located between the outer edge If, instead, the planetarium were to be and center of the galaxy. Large clouds of gas and dust called nebulae are Description correctly scaled from the 6"sun globe, found among the stars of the galaxies. The planetarium has five (5) main the earth would be the size of the letter The information about the starts, parts. The sun, earth and moon are "o" and would be 50' from the sun! nebulae, and galaxies is obtained by represented by globes of different sizes. Because of the difficulty of showing studying the light emitted by these The supporting arm of the instrument is the exact scale of the celestial bodies, objects. Giant telescopes are used to equipped with a compass. The compass the planetarium represents only relative observe and photograph the various is used with the zodiac and calendar sizes and distances and some important parts of the sky. Light travels at the found on the base to located objects motions and relationships. fastest know speed, in once second it and positions in the sky. The planetarium is operated by moves a distance of 186,000 miles, The The sun is the large yellow globe holding the standard in the left hand great speed of light helps us to under- located directly above the base of so that the arm can be turned until it stand the tremendous separation of the the planetarium. The earth globe is is directly over December 21 on the stars and galaxies in the universe. The mounted on the main arm opposite the calendar plate on the base. Now move distance between the sun and the earth sun while the moon, also a half white the entire instrument, without turning is small in comparison to the distance and half black globe, revolves around the arm, until the compass points north between stars. Yet it takes light from the earth. Both the earth and moon along the arm toward the earth globe. the sun about 8.5 minutes to reach the revolve around the sun when the arm of These operations place the planetarium earth. The speed of light is helpful the instrument is turned. in the proper orientation with respect to space and time (by the stars and the in measuring large distances. These A list of demonstrations include: calendar). The planetarium will now distances are given in light years, the • The reason for the occurrence of correctly show the changing aspects of distance light travels in one year. night and day the planets and the moon when the arm Celestial bodies show two basic • The variation in the length of day- is rotated by grasping the pin below motions - rotation and revolution. light the arm and pushing it in a counter- Rotation is the turning or spinning on • The moment of the earth around the clockwise direction. This direction of an axis through the body. Revolution is sun from west to east motion causes the arm to pass above motion around a point outside the body. • The appearance of midnight sun in the calendar months on the base of the The spiral form of many of the visible the arctic. instrument in the proper sequence from galaxies indicates that they are rotat- • The cause of the seasons December to January and the other ing around a center common to each of • Why only one side of the moon is months of the year. their millions of individual stars. The seen from the earth stars also rotate. Our sun rotates on • The cause of phases of the moon its own axis and, with the entire solar • The occurrence of tides on earth The Universe system, revolves around the center • How eclipses of the sun and moon The universe includes all the of the Milky Way galaxy. About 800 occur things that exist. In astronomy, we are million years are required for the sun • Location of the signs of the zodiac. particularly interested in that part of to complete one trip about the center of • Why the North Star does not change the universe which includes the stars, our galaxy. its position in the sky planets, moon, meteors and comets, 2 SCIENCE FIRST® | 86475 Gene Lasserre Blvd., Yulee, FL 32097 | 800-875-3214 | www.sciencefirst.com | [email protected] SCIENCE FIRST® | 86475 Gene Lasserre Blvd., Yulee, FL 32097 | 800-875-3214 | www.sciencefirst.com | [email protected] ©2010 - v 7/10

A great circle is the largest circle Twelve o'clock noon occurs in a that can be drawn on the surface of a time zone when the sun is directly over sphere. The center of a great circle is one of the 24 standard meridians. A common with the center of the sphere. time zone area on the map covers about The earth can be considered a sphere. 7.5° east and 7.5° west of a standard The earth's equator is a great circle that time zone meridian. is located halfway between the poles. The time is the same throughout the Distances along the equator are mea- entire time zone which extends from sured in degrees, 180° east of a starting the north to the south pole. A person Figure 1 point and 180° west of the same point, not moving on the surface of the earth for a total of 360° completely around will be carried by the earth's rotation Sun the equator. through all the hours and back to his Our sun is a large globe of hot gas Other great circles are associated starting point in a twenty-four hour day. located about 93,000,000 miles from with the earth. A line drawn from the the earth. Compared to other stars it north to the south pole and back to Earth is about average, a yellow star that is the north on the other side of the earth The earth is one of the 9 principal common to our galaxy. To the earth, forms a great circle. These circles are planets of the solar system, the third the sun is the most important star in the called meridians. The prime or first from the sun, about 93,000,0000 miles sky. Its gravity controls the movement meridian goes through Greenwich, away, revolving between the orbits of the planets of our solar system and England, and ends at N and S poles. of Venus and Mars. It is shaped like a it provides the light and heat necessary sphere that is slightly flat at its poles for life on earth. Time and bulgy around its equator. The diam- Without the sun's heat, the tempera- The earth rotates once a day, every eter at the equator is 7,920 miles. tures on the earth would be so low that 24 hours. It turns through 360° in one The earth has two important mo- life here would not be possible. With- rotation. If 24 hours are divided into tions. It rotates once a day (every 24 out the light from the sun, green plants 360°, you will find that the earth turns hours) on its axis, turning from west to would not be able to produce the food through 15° in one hour. This can be east. It revolves once a year around the necessary for most living things to eat. checked by multiplying 15° per hour by 24 hours which equals 360°, the angle sun, moving in the same direction as its turned through by the earth in one day. rotation, from west to east. The path of Look on an earth globe or world map. the earth around the sun is its orbit. Solar System Almost all globes or maps show lines The planetarium is so constructed as The solar system consists of the sun, drawn between the poles which repre- to clearly and unexpectedly show how the nine principal planets, the moons of sent the meridians. Notice that these rotation of a planet or moon occurs. To the planets, and assorted small bodies lines are spaced 15° apart, that is, they illustrate, first move the moon around including the asteroids, comets and represent locations one hour apart. The the earth. Notice that the moon both meteors. area between the lines represent differ- rotates once and revolves once each Each of the nine principal planets ences in time around the world. There time it moves around the earth. Now has two basic motions: rotation and are 24 time zones. revolution. Each rotates on its own axis like a toy top. At the same time, each revolves around the sun. The first motion produces day and night, and the second determines the length of the "year" for each planet.

Degrees and Great Circles The degree is an important unit of measure used to determine the size of angles. A degree is 1/360 of the total distance around the center of a circle. If the circumference of a circle is divided into 360 equal parts and lines are drawn from the ends of each of these parts to the center of the circle, the angle formed between 2 adjacent pairs of lines is 1°. 3

try the second motion. Hold the base Motion rection is not made, the seasons would of the planetarium still and revolve the Turn the globe of the planetarium begin one day earlier every four years. blue arm (and the earth) around the until the United States is facing the sun. In one revolution of the blue arm, sun. Notice that the direction of a line the earth appears to rotate once in a from the east coast to the west coast North Star clockwise motion. But it does not rotate points toward the west. Again turn the This planetarium is designed to at all! globe in the same direction as the line show the location of the North Star. The Repeat both motions and notice that between the coasts - toward the west. earth's axis of rotation points toward a the moon keeps one face to the earth as This is the direction the earth revolves position in space which is very close to it revolves while the earth keeps facing around the sun. If you look down on the the location of the north Star. Turn the somewhere else and not at the sun. planetarium while the globe is turned, arm of the planetarium until it is over Repeat again while watching the wire you will see that the earth moves December 21 on the Zodiac Plate. supports of the moon and earth. These around the sun in the direction opposite This date is shown by the line wire supports also represent the axis of to the motion of the hands of clock separating the seasons of autumn and the moon and earth. around its dial. The earth revolves in a winter and the zodiac signs Gemini and As the moon wire is moved around counterclockwise direction. Cancer. Move the whole planetarium the earth, it both revolves and rotates in Hold the planetarium above your without turning the arm until the com- the same period of time. Try drawing a head so that you are looking up at the pass needle points north over the letter circle on a piece of paper with a pencil south pole. Continue turning the globe "N" of the compass. while keeping one side of the pencil in the same direction. The earth now When placed in this position, the facing the center of that circle. Observe appears to revolve around the sun in the compass needle will also be pointing that as the earth revolves around the same direction as the hands of a clock. down the arm toward the earth globe. sun, the earth is not rotating. Now draw From the south the earth appears to The axis of the earth and its north pole another circle without turning or rotat- move in a clockwise direction. are not pointing toward the North Star. ing the pencil. Revolve the earth globe Notice that when the arm of the again and look at the support wire at planetarium is now turned, while hold- the South Pole; no motion is occurring Day ing the base from moving, the earth's with regard to this support wire and the The period of time taken by the sun axis continues to point toward the same longitude lines. to pass twice over the same meridian direction, toward the North Star. With your fingers, turn the earth circle on the earth is called a solar day. globe without moving the blue arm. The earth must turn on its axis a little Notice how the earth globe longitude bit more than one complete rotation for lines move with regard to the support- the sun to appear again over the same ing wire. Notice that this turning or meridian. This can be demonstrated Seasons rotation motion of the earth globe can with the planetarium by revolving the Every year the earth makes one occur without revolving the earth globe earth around the sun and rotating it complete trip around the sun. Dur- around the sun. on its own axis at the same time. The ing this time the weather changes in Therefore, it can be seen that rota- effect can easily be seen by revolving a pattern that is repeated each year. tion and revolution are separate, dis- the earth rapidly around the sun while The changes in weather are associated tinct motions. On the planetarium, the rotating the earth globe slowly on its with the amount of heat received by earth globe can show rotation without own axis. The time required for this is different parts of the earth as it travels showing revolution. Accordingly, the almost 4 minutes a day. around the sun. earth globe may revolve without show- The year is divided into four peri- ing rotation, even though it appears to ods (seasons) related to the weather show one clockwise rotation for every Year changes. revolution of the blue arm around the The length of a year, the time Let's observe the effects caused by sun. required for the earth to make one the earth's annual revolution. Motorized and synchronized Trip- complete revolution around the sun, pensee® planetariums (EL-400 and is nearly 365 1/4 days. The year by EL-500) are constructed to show both the calendar is measured in a whole rotation and revolution of the earth number of days and is 365 days long. when the arm is moved around the sun. The extra 1/4 day makes it necessary As a result, these planetarium do not to add one day to the calendar every revolve without rotation as does the four years. Thus there are three years of elementary planetarium. 365 days, each followed by one, "leap year", which has 366 days. If this cor- 4 SCIENCE FIRST® | 86475 Gene Lasserre Blvd., Yulee, FL 32097 | 800-875-3214 | www.sciencefirst.com | [email protected] SCIENCE FIRST® | 86475 Gene Lasserre Blvd., Yulee, FL 32097 | 800-875-3214 | www.sciencefirst.com | [email protected] ©2010 - v 7/10

Spring Equinox (Vernial Equinox) An eclipse can occur 2 ways. The Turn the arm of the planetarium Moon The moon is our nearest neighbor light from the sun is cut off from until it is directly over March 21, the in space, revolving around the earth as reaching the earth when the moon first day of spring. It will be over the the earth moves around the sun. Even passes between the earth and sun. This line dividing winter and spring on the though the moon is much smaller than is called solar eclipse. The light from zodiac plate. The sun appears directly the earth, it has more influence on the the sun is cut off from reaching the over the earth's equator. The days and earth than any other celestial body moon when the earth passes between nights are the same length - twelve except the sun. the moon and the sun. This is called hours each - everywhere on the earth lunar eclipse. Sometimes only part of except at the north and south poles. Size and distance the sunlight is prevented from reaching the earth or moon. The eclipse is then Summer Solstice The moon has a diameter of about 2160 miles which is a little more than called partial. Continue turning the planetarium Both types of eclipse are easily arm until it is directly over June 21. one-fourth the diameter of the earth. Its average distance from the earth is demonstrated with the planetarium. The The sun is not seen directly overhead moon can be moved to a position be- from positions on the Tropic of Cancer. 238,860 miles. Its path or orbit around the earth is elliptical or egg-shaped. tween the earth and the sun to illustrate The Tropic of Cancer is located 23.5° a solar eclipse. It can also be moved north of the equator. The Arctic Circle to a position so that the earth globe is is located 23.5° south of the north pole. Rotation Motions on these planetariums are between the sun and the moon which to be shown separately, by hand. In illustrates a lunar eclipse. Autumnal Equinox order to show the phases of the moon Between 2 and 5 total solar eclipses Move the arm slowly toward the it is necessary to move the wire under occur each year. The number of lunar month of September. The sun no the moon with your fingers so that the eclipses varies. The moon may be longer is seen directly over the Tropic moon's white side is always facing eclipsed zero, once, or twice a year. of Cancer but moves slowly toward the sun as you rotate it around the The moon's orbit around the earth is the equator. As on March 21, the sun earth. (Note: The moon is white on the tilted 5.25° to the earth's orbit around again appears over the equator, and the lighted planetarium, Model M-M20.) the sun. This limits the times that the daylight and night are each 12 hours The moon rotates once with respect earth and moon may cast shadows upon long except at the poles. September 23 to the earth every 29.5 days. It rotates each other. is usually the first day of autumn, in the once while it revolves once around the northern hemisphere and the first day of earth. This is why the moon always spring in the southern hemisphere. keeps the same side facing the earth. Eclipses Winter Solstice Move the arm toward December 21. The sun appears to move from directly over the equator to directly over the Tropic of Capricorn (23.5° south of the equator). The days in the northern hemisphere become shorter until the Penumbra shortest day of the year - December 21. This is the first day of winter in the northern hemisphere and the first day Umbra Sun of summer in the southern hemisphere. Continue turning the planetarium Moon arm toward March. The sun again ap- Earth Lunar Eclipse pears over the equator and spring has arrived in the northern hemisphere, autumn in the southern hemisphere. Penumbra The sun is our most important Umbra Solar Eclipse source of heat and light. The weather in the seasons is about 6 weeks behind the calendar because of the time required Sun for the earth to lose its heat to outer Moon space in the summer and autumn or to Earth gain heat in the winter and spring. 5 SCIENCE FIRST® | 86475 Gene Lasserre Blvd., Yulee, FL 32097 | 800-875-3214 | www.sciencefirst.com | [email protected] SCIENCE FIRST® | 86475 Gene Lasserre Blvd., Yulee, FL 32097 | 800-875-3214 | www.sciencefirst.com | [email protected] ©2010 - v 7/10

tional attraction of the moon when the effect in producing tides, however, as Tides moon is seen as full moon. Since the it does during the new moon, the sun's Twice each day there occurs a rise water on the earth's surface is movable, attraction at right angles to the moon's and fall of the level of the water in it will be attracted toward both the sun attraction weakens the effect of produc- the oceans. The water along the coast and moon producing two bulges in the ing tides. High tides are produced by begins to rise and continues to climb oceans on opposite sides of the earth. the moon but they are not as great as farther upward and inland. This contin- High tides occur in the locations where the spring high tides. The smaller tides ues for about 6 hours until the highest these bulges are formed. The water that occur near the moon's first and last level is reached. Then the water begins in the oceans between the high tides quarter are neap tides. to recede, falling gradually, until it moves toward the bulges producing There are slight tides in large inland reaches its lowest level about 6 hours low tides in these locations. lakes. In Lake Michigan, at Chicago, later. When the lowest level is reached, the rise and fall of the water is less the rise begins again. The gradual rise Spring tides at new moon than 2". Tides may be very high or and fall of water level is called the Turn the wire support of the moon low where there is a large amount of tide. The rising water is the flood tide, globe until the moon is between the water into or out of a restricted ocean the falling water the ebb tide. Ebb and earth and sun. The moon will be seen valley such as the Bay of Fundy, along flood require a period of about 12 hours from the earth as the new moon. When the coast of New Brunswick and Nova and 25 minutes so that within 25 hours in this position, both the sun and moon Scotia. there are two high, or flood tides, and are pulling on the earth from the same two low, or ebb, tides. direction. A high tide appears in the The tides rise and fall an hour later oceans located on the side of the earth each day. If it is high tide today at 9 Zodiac which is toward the sun and moon and The region in the sky located on A.M., it will be high tide tomorrow at on the opposite sides of the earth as either side of the path taken by the sun 10 A.M. High and low tides may occur well. Gravitational attraction between as it appears to revolve once around at any time of the day. Accurate tables objects depends upon the distance the sky in a year is called the zodiac. of tide schedules have been prepared so between them. There is a greater gravi- The sun always appears to rise and the time of the tides can be predicted in tational attraction on the water nearest set within this region, also known as different parts of the world. High and the moon than on the earth as a whole. the belt of the zodiac. The signs of the low tides occur on opposite sides of the The earth as a whole is, in turn, more zodiac are the 12 equal spaces into earth at the same time. strongly attracted than the water on the which the belt of the zodiac is divided. Causes of tides side opposite the sun and moon. The The sun, when viewed from the earth, The tides are caused by the gravita- earth is effectively being pulled out is always seen in one of the 12 spaces tional attractions of the sun and moon. from under the water on the opposite or zodiac signs. The sun's gravitational pull keeps side, leaving it bulging out as a high The names of the signs of the the earth and other planets revolving tide until the moon moves away from zodiac are printed upon the base of the around it in their orbits instead of flying being in line with the earth and sun. planetarium in the same order as the off into space. The earth's gravitational The movement away from the water corresponding signs appear around the attraction on the moon holds the moon on the opposite side is small; the mid- belt of the zodiac. They show the direc- in its orbit around the earth. The moon ocean difference between high and low tions in which the signs are located in also pulls back on the earth. It is the tide is only about 2 or 3 feet. the sky. Notice that the twelve months attraction of the sun and moon upon of the year do not correspond to the the water in the oceans of the earth that twelve signs of the zodiac. The months produces the tides. The moon, although Neap tides and signs overlap each other although very small in size as compared to the At the time of the moon's first and each of the seasons corresponds to sun, has about 2 or 3 times more effect last quarter phases, it is located at three complete sings of the zodiac. in producing the tides than the sun be- right angles to a line between sun and The proper month of the year, which cause it is much closer to the earth. earth. The gravitational attraction of these two objects is also at right angles refers to the position of the earth, is to each other. Because the effective- located under the arm of the plan- ness of the moon in producing tides is etarium while the sign of the zodiac Spring tides at full moon greater than the sun, the moon attracts for that month is found on the opposite Turn the wire support of the moon the water on the side of the earth facing side of the Zodiac Plate. When the sun globe until it is in line with the earth the moon and pulls the earth away from is viewed from the earth, it appears to and sun, the earth will be between the the water on the opposite side produc- be in the sign of the zodiac which is sun and moon globes. The gravitational ing high tides on opposite sides of the found on the Zodiac Plate opposite the attraction of the sun pulls on the earth earth. The sun is trying to do the same position of the earth. in a direction opposite to the gravita- thing. Instead of aiding the moon's 6 SCIENCE FIRST® | 86475 Gene Lasserre Blvd., Yulee, FL 32097 | 800-875-3214 | www.sciencefirst.com | [email protected] SCIENCE FIRST® | 86475 Gene Lasserre Blvd., Yulee, FL 32097 | 800-875-3214 | www.sciencefirst.com | [email protected] ©2010 - v 7/10

4. To understand how one star seems 9. To show the relative distances of to change position against a back- the planets from the sun, do the ground of stars, try the following: following:

• Cut a piece of paper to make a strip 1" wide and 50" long. Zodiac • Mark one end and call it the • Hold a finger at arm's length. sun. Close one eye and look at the • With a ruler measure 4/16" background. Then close that from the sun and make a mark. eye, open the other and again Write the name Mercury here. sight at the background. Do not • Make a mark 7/16" from the move your finger. Note that the sun and name this Venus. finger seems to "jump." • At 1" write Earth. General Activities • Your finger is the "star" whose • At 1-5/16" write Mars. These activities are not designed for distance is to be measured. • At 2-1/2" write asteroid belt. specific grades. Each teacher will be The distance between your • At 5" write Jupiter. able to choose and adapt those ideas eyes creates the same effect as • At 10" write Saturn. which he feels are best for his particu- photographing the stars now, • At 20" write Uranus lar class. These activities can be done then again in 6 months, which • At 30" write Neptune as individual, group or class projects, is equal to the diameter of the • At 40" write Pluto depending upon the grade level. earth's orbit. The "jumping" of your finger corresponds to the 1. Observe the position of the Big star's changed position against a 10 Underneath this chart, make an- Dipper soon after dark in the eve- background of other stars. other chart making circles with ning and again 2 or 3 hours later. • This "jumping" or change is the relative sizes. Repeat the observations several called parallax. 11 As a mathematics project, figure nights later. Record the time of night the relative sizes of the sun, earth, and dates when you make each Venus and moon. Convert rela- observation and make a star map of tive sizes to inches, using several that part of the heavens, showing es- different scales. Also figure relative pecially the Big Dipper. Notice that 5. Repeat Activity #4. Compare the distances apart for each scale used. the point in the sky about which it amount of "jump" when your Use the information in Table No. 1. appears to turn is marked by a bright finger is held at arm's length, about 12 Observe and record the difference but lonesome star (North Star). 12" from your eye, and about 3" in time that the stars rise each 2. If you can obtain an old umbrella, from your eye. How does this help night. open it up and on the inside paste explain why it is more difficult to 13 Ideas for individual or group reports: paper stars to represent the Big measure the distance of more distant Dipper. Paste a star about the rod stars? or handle where it goes through the 6. On the next clear evening, locate umbrella. This will represent the and observe the Milky Way. Write • Write about each constellation, North Star. Turn the umbrella coun- a brief description of it. Why is it its history, when seen, how to terclockwise and you can illustrate called the Milky Way? Where is it locate it, important stars in it. the apparent motions of the stars. found in the sky? Include in your • Write a report on leap year. His- Each complete turn will represent report the value of telescopes. torical background on the calen- 24 hours. Can you also represent 7. On any clear night, study the dar. The time zones. What time the Little Dipper and Cassiopeia? stars of the Big Dipper with field is it elsewhere in the world? Turning the umbrella gives the same glasses. Record how many "new" • Write a hypothetical story of a effect as holding the umbrella over stars you can see with the glasses. trip to the moon or Venus based the earth globe on the planetarium Locate these stars on a drawing of on known facts. and turning the earth globe counter- the Big Dipper and explain why you • Discuss why scientists planned clockwise. didn't see them before. on trips to Mars or Venus before 3. Observe the phases of the moon 8. Try your hand at taking star trail going to the other planets. (Re- over a month's time and record by pictures. Most interesting ones will member that distance is not the drawings, dates and observations. be made by pointing the camera to only important issue.) How long is a lunar month: This the north and keeping the shutter makes a good bulletin board project. open for 3 hours or more. 7

Table 1 - Day and Night Summary of Seasons

December 21 March 21 June 21 September 23

North Pole 24 hrs darkness Twilight 24 hrs daylight Twilight (midnight sun)

Arctic Circle 24 hrs darkness 1/2 day, 1/2 night 24 hours daylight 1/2 day, 1/2 night Region (midnight sun)

Tropic of ------Sun directly ------Cancer overhead

Equator ------Sun directly ------Sun directly overhead overhead

Tropic of Sun directly ------Capricorn overhead

Antarctic 24 hours daylight 1/2 day, 1/2 night 24 hrs darkness 1/2 day, 1/2 night Circle Region (midnight sun)

South Pole 24 hours daylight Twilight 24 hrs darkness Twilight (midnight sun)

8 SCIENCE FIRST® | 86475 Gene Lasserre Blvd., Yulee, FL 32097 | 800-875-3214 | www.sciencefirst.com | [email protected]