TIP!
You can use the Big Dipper t
o figure out what
direction you’re facing even i
f you have no
compass or GPS. Just exten
d the line between
the two stars at the front ed
ge of the ladle
about five times, away and u
p from the
bottom front star. You will c
ome to a single
brighter star known as Pola
ris, or the North
Star. Turn your face to the N
orth Star and
look down to the horizon. Y
ou will be looking
exactly north. South is behi
nd you, east to the
right and west to the left.
For good stargazing, you need a clear,
cloudless night sky. If you want to view
from a terrace or balcony, turn off the
inside lights and stay as far away from
streetlights as possible, because the light
will interfere with your viewing. Of course,
you can always see lots more stars if you go
with your parents on an outing away from
any towns or cities, and find a pitch-black
location with an unobstructed view of the
sky all around.
To help you see in the dark to look at what’s
on your star wheel, for example, take a
flashlight with you. But first wrap a red
Preparing
for Nighttime
Viewing
balloon around the
light. That will create a
red-light flashlight, which
won’t cause your pupils to dilate and
reduce your night vision. Before viewing,
give your eyes a few minutes to get used to
the darkness. After 15 minutes in the dark,
you will start seeing things that you hadn’t
noticed before.
Spring
North star
Autumn
North
Summer
Winter
CHECK IT OUT
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