Light Up the Stars!

• What’s a lot older than the movie stars? The star  every day: the Sun! Depending on where you live, you may few or many stars, some of them billions of years old.  Gaze at the following activities as you gaze at the sky of stars.

 

CONNECT:

• Watch the life cycle of different kinds of stars at https://youtu.be/PeNuj2GH8xg
• Connect the star “dots” into constellations by watching https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BD3cnBr6KwA
• The sun is earth’s most important star; see why at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkW54j82e9U
• Have you heard of the Northern Lights? They are started by the sun. See how at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MI3YDGgtN4

 

CREATE:

• Start stargazing with this kid’s guide: https://www.amnh.org/explore/ology/astronomy/a-kids-guide-to-stargazing
• Maker a star finder by following the directions at https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/starfinder/en/
• Set your eyes on the hands-on star activities at https://www.uaf.edu/museum/education/educators/heliophysics-aurora-outre/activities/stars/index.php
• Have fun with the sun-ny activities at https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/menu/sun/

 

CARE:

• Discover how the sun star affects the earth at https://youtu.be/i_jiQzoQF5M
• Enjoy This picture book, which tells how to safe from the sun: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7ghJsZug60&t=67s
• It can be hard to see many stars. Why? Because of Light pollution! See its basis at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gYIeT6GrkA. And see the difference at https://youtu.be/HHLnnXgDUgc
• Are we made of stardust? Explore the possibilities at https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/are-we-really-made-of-stardust.html

 

CAREERS:

Do you get stars in your eyes thinking about stars? Your future career may lie in the stars: as an astronomer or other kind of scientist, teacher, photographer, or planetarium director. See the possibilities that follow:

1. How do you become an astronomer? Watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1ZW3nVfe5A
2. https://www.iau.org/public/themes/careers/
3. https://aas.org/careers/career-in-astronomy
4. https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/astronomy-jobs

 

Starry-eyed about Constellations

 

Ever connect the dots? On a clear night you can see groups of stars in the sky.  People have connected the star “dots” to form constellations that represent images. Often these constellations are used to tell stories and share myths. Try these activities and see starry constellations in your eyes.

 

CONNECT:

• Learn about the types of constellations, their names, and how to find them at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sZ15SUeS9w
• Want to know more about the myths and science of constellations? Watch this 2-part crash course: https://thekidshouldseethis.com/post/what-is-a-constellation-crash-course-kids
• Watch how different cultures view constellations at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HejyXGQN-wk

 

CREATE:

• Explore NASA’s activities about constellations at https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/search/constellations/
• Try some kid-friendly, hands-on constellation activities at https://www.howweelearn.com/constellation-activities-for-kids/
• Create a constellation telescope by following the directions at https://kidsactivitiesblog.com/53541/constellation-activity-craft/
• AND connect the stars anyway to want to make your own constellations!

 

CARE:

• Get the facts about night vision and eye health at https://www.aao.org/eye-health/anatomy/night-vision
• Connect the family closer by star – and constellation – gazing at https://www.pbs.org/seeinginthedark/for-families/
• Be inspired by https://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/space_days/activities/constellations/ to create a community space day for families.

 

CAREERS:

Do you get starry-eyed thinking about constellations? Do you see the stars in your future? If so, gaze at this constellation of astronomy careers.

• https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/astronomy-jobs
• https://aas.org/careers/career-in-astronomy
• https://www.iau.org/public/themes/careers/

Starry-eyed

For centuries people have looked to the stars to find answers to life. Look to these activities to see what is in the stars.

CONNECT:

• What makes a star? Find out at http://www.cosmos4kids.com/files/stars_intro.html
• How do stars grow? They may be more like children than you might expect. Explore the process at http://www.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-news/massive-stars-grow-finger-food/
• How many stars are there – more than the grains of sand on earth? Get the answer at http://www.universetoday.com/106725/are-there-more-grains-of-sand-than-stars/
• Imagine atoms the size that mountains; that’s what are neuron stars. Find out more at https://www.outerplaces.com/science/item/5737-neutron-stars-are-atoms-the-size-of-mountains
• Watch five of the most unusual stars discovered in our universe http://www.pbs.org/video/2365759270/

CREATE:

• Learn how to see the stars, and make your own planisphere at http://school.discoveryeducation.com/schooladventures/skywatch/index.html
• Identify your own special constellation – and find it out in the sky. You may be lucky to be born under a new star sign: http://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/zp4fvcw
• Did you know that constellation are imaginary? http://www.astro.wisc.edu/~dolan/constellations/ gives lots of information about these imaginary images. Try grouping stars in an original way; you too can create a constellation.
• Make a trivia game based on star facts: http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/space/stars.html
• Make some space available to try these space activities: http://mrnussbaum.com/space/activities/

CARE:

• Create a special star for your special frineds: http://www.redtedart.com/star-crafts-ideas-join-getyourcrafton-challenge/
• Starfish are named for their shape. Read the story of the starfish, and participate in the Starfish Project for children: http://www.thestarfishprojectforchildren.org/
• Watch this video to make Jello stars for your family: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRpVqx_mn1g
• The Star of David means unity and good deeds. Find out other meaning of this important symbol at http://www.buzzle.com/articles/meaning-of-the-star-of-david.html

CAREERS:

Do you see stars when your think about your future? Astronomy can lead to many possibilities. The sky is the limit.

https://aas.org/learn/careers-astronomy

https://www.iau.org/public/themes/careers/

http://www.jobsforastronomers.com/careers

Look! Up in the Sky! It's a bird, it's a plane, it's your future!

What do you see in the sky at night? When the main light is the moon, you can oftentimes see stars, some of which might actually be planets. They are the same heavenly bodies that our ancestors saw, although there has been some movement over time.  Are the stars in your future? Explore now!

 CONNECT:

• Start by exploring the history of space at http://news.discovery.com/space/history-of-space
• Find out about lunar landings at http://www.kidport.com/reflib/science/moonlanding/moonlanding.htm (and maybe some of your relatives saw the first moon landing on TV!)
• What size would other planets look like if they were the same distance from earth as is the moon? See this simulation at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usYC_Z36rHw
• People have been observing the sky for thousands of years. One famous ancient observatory was Chichen Itza; find out more about that Mayan site at http://www.exploratorium.edu/ancientobs/chichen/flash.html 
• Amazing Space (http://amazing-space.stsci.edu/) uses the Hubble Space Telescope's discoveries to inspire and educate about the wonders of our universe.

CREATE:

• The magazine Sky and Telescope offers several interactive observation tools: http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/objects/javascript
• Tour the solar system at http://nineplanets.org/tour. The main site is an overview of the history, mythology, and current scientific knowledge of the planets, moons and other objects in our solar system. Each page has text and NASA's images, and some have sounds and movies.
• Anyone on the Internet can access the Bradford robotic telescope and ask it to look at anything in the northern night sky! The Web doesn't get more hands-on than this! http://www.telescope.org/
• The Solar System Simulator (http://space.jpl.nasa.gov/)  will show you a picture of any planet or moon as it would look if you were standing on another planet or traveling with one of the NASA space probes.
• http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/StarChild.html is a learning center for young astonomers.

CARE:

• Search for and design a habitable planet in this Astro-Venture: http://astroventure.arc.nasa.gov/
• People have been telling stories about stars for even longer than the Mayans. Read some of those star stories, especially as combinations of stars were labelled constellations: http://school.discoveryeducation.com/schooladventures/skywatch/stories/index.htm. Learn some of these stories, and tell them to the kids in your neighborhood; it’s a great babysitting activity!
• Teach others how to be a stargazer by studying this PBS website: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/worlds/stargazer.html
• NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter is collecting information about resources on the moon; all of this information will help humans learn to live and work safely on another planetary body! http://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/explore/LRO/ includes activities for children where they work in teams to prioritize environmental and scientific criteria to recommend a lunar landing site. Ultimately, they get to design and build a lunar colony!
• Want to show your love by naming a star after your special someone? It may be a scam. Find out the details at http://www.iau.org/public/buying_star_names/

CAREERS:

• Want a career in space? The first place you might think of is NASA, but its future is in jeopardy. Nevertheless, their website explains about space-related careers:  http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/careers-index.html
• This college teacher gives a realistic picture of astronomy-related careers, and suggess further resources: http://www.astronomynotes.com/careers.htm
• A really reputable source for finding out about physicists and astronomers careers is the U.S. Department of Labor: http://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/physicists-and-astronomers.htm