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Description

Work together to make a glow-in-the-dark map of the stars, and discover what stars can be seen all over the world.

Resources

- Tables
- Chairs
- Compass
- Access to the internet
- Pens or pencils
- Craft materials, including paintbrushes, scissors, black paper/card and glow-in-the-dark paints
- Painting trays
- Re-purposed materials, including old toothbrushes, black bed sheets/pillowcases and newspaper
- A red bicycle light or head-torch light
- A map of the local area

Instructions

Setting up this activity
1. Make sure you have enough black bed sheets, pillowcases and glow-in-the-dark paint to share between small groups. Each group needs two ‘sheets.’ Consider cutting the bed sheet into quarters or cut the pillow cases in half to make more use of the materials.
[Alternative: Just use large black card, A1]
2. Have a look at Astronomy Now or Sky Map Online for some star maps. Each group needs two different star maps, from the same location at different times, so that it’s clear what factors affect the stars we can see. Print off the chosen maps, making a note of the times and locations they were taken from.
[Suggestion: I used New York, our Scout hut, Moscow, and Tokyo, on the current date and 6 months ago. We have 4 patrols so ended up making 8 maps]
3. Before the session, encourage everyone to come to the meeting in old clothes that they don’t mind getting some paint on.
4. et up the meeting place. For each group, set out tables and chairs and put out two star maps and two sheets, as well as paints, brushes and trays. Put newspaper on the table to protect them whilst painting.

Gather everyone together.
1. Explain that the sky at night changes throughout the year as the world rotates and orbits around the sun. Depending on where we live in the world different stars can be seen. Tell everyone that they'll be discovering star maps, different constellations and how the patterns of the stars change by creating their own star maps.
2. Before getting started on the maps, talk with everyone about the differences between star maps and a map of the local area.
3. A star map is sometimes known as a star chart or astronomical map. It’s a celestial (universe) map of the night sky with astronomical objects, such as planets, stars and moons, laid out on a grid system. They’re used to identify and locate constellations, stars, nebulae, galaxies and planets, as well as to help people to navigate. The stars have been used for human navigation throughout time.
4. Divide everyone into small groups and ask them to each find a space or to wait at a table.

Creating the star maps
1. Everyone should take turns to try and read one of their star maps using a compass, while the discussion of maps is going on. Orientate the star maps and mark north with a pencil. While one group uses the compass, another should look at their star map with a red light, which helps you see in the dark. If possible, they could try this in a darkened room.
2. Now, each group should use paint brushes to paint a large circle on each of their sheets. This needs to be big enough to fit all the stars on their maps in.
3. Someone should also paint the time and location in a corner of the sheet outside the circle, if this is displayed on the map.
4. Have everyone begin painting the stars from each of their maps onto a circle. Groups should divide up the work evenly.

Go outside
1. In this time, you could go outside and look at the stars with the red light, if it’s clear/dark enough.
2. Use the current location map to try and spot similarities to the night sky

Presentation
1. As the paint dries, have each group prepare to present their maps to everyone. They should be able to say when each map was from, where the stars could be seen from and which familiar stars and constellations are visible.
2. When all the paint has dried, move aside the tables and chairs, so that there’s floor space. Lay out the sheets on the floor and turn off any lights.
Everyone should look at the maps in the dark. The paint should make the stars and constellations visible.
3. Have groups take turns to point out the time, location and features of their maps. Allow some time for questions after if anyone has any and then move onto the next group.
4. Encourage everyone to say something about the map or point towards any constellations being spoken about.

Reflection
The sky at night changes all the time as the world rotates and orbits the sun. Depending on where we live in the world different stars can be seen. This activity allowed everyone to look at star maps, find different constellations and see how the patterns of the stars change by creating their own star maps. With all this in mind, ask the group this. Why might an astronomer in Australia see a different set of stars to an astronomer in the UK? Remember, Australia is in a different hemisphere and time-zone.

People used to use the stars to navigate. Stars like the North Star and constellations like the Southern Cross were important beacons that helped people find their way home. Why might it still be useful to know about these stars and constellations? Bear in mind that you don’t always have a map and compass with you, but the stars are always there in the night sky.

Tags

• astronomer - badge
• constellations
• painting
• painting activity
• star gazer
• star gazing
• stargazing

Badge Links

• Astronomer - Constellations
• Astronomer - Map
• Astronomer - Sky
• Navigator - 4 compass points