NOTE TO TEACHERS: 
These procedures are written to show you how you might use these technologies to teach science concepts. Suggested questions, approaches, and expected answers are all provided. Therefore, these activity descriptions should be used as a guide for your instructional planning, rather than as step-by-step directions for students.

How do stars appear to move in the sky?

You can explore the movement of stars and test your prediction - even during the day - with a simulation like Starry Night.

Open Starry Night, set your viewing location to your current location (From the Main menu click on Go - Viewing Location). The Viewing Location window appears, allowing you to select any location on earth by entering the latitude and longitude or by clicking and dragging the red circle on the map to any location.

Select a viewing direction by clicking on the N, S, E or W buttons in the main toolbar.





Using the Time control panel, set the time controls to the current date and time (simply click the Now button or manually enter the time by selecting the number in the window and entering a value). Finally, select a time interval for viewing the simulation (3 minute intervals work well for this activity).

You are now ready to run your Starry Night simulation. Use the Time panel control buttons to play, rewind, and replay the movement of stars for the current evening. Change your viewing directions from south to north to east to west.

Were your predictions correct?

What did you observe?

What did you find surprising?

What questions do you have?



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