Backyard Astronomy

You’ve probably heard the rhyme, “Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are.”  Answering this question in terms that a five-year-old can grasp may not be as hard as you think. In a nutshell, everything in the sky is either making light or reflecting light. Stars make light, while the moon and planets reflect light.  Your child will likely be fascinated to know that our own sun is a star.  And come nighttime, you and your child can enjoy gazing up at the night sky together without any special equipment needed.  This is the perfect activity to enjoy with your child (and the whole family!) on those warm, clear Spring and Summer nights.

What You Need:

• Empty paper towel roll
• Stickers of stars and planets
• Paint
• Internet or local newspaper
• Blanket

What You Do:

Make a Telescope

While you won’t be able to see any far out planets with an empty paper towel roll, it will help your child focus on what she’s looking at. To make this homemade “telescope”, have your child paint her paper towel roll and decorate it with stickers of the stars and planets. Getting your child involved in the process will build anticipation for the evening.

Research the Night Sky

Some constellations are easier to see than others. Ursa Major, "The Great Bear", is the most popular constellation because it is visible in the Northern Hemisphere year round. The Big Dipper is actually not a constellation at all, but part of The Great Bear. And the North Star, Polaris, is not the brightest star in the sky, but a very important one. Because of where it sits in the sky it appears not to move, making it the marker to find north from anywhere on Earth! Orion, "The Great Hunter", is another favorite of junior astronomers and easily visible from January through April. Teaching your child the legends behind the constellations may also helps her remember what to look for and get excited about it along the way. For example, Orion is the great hunter of the night sky traveling with his two loyal dogs - the constellations Canis Major and Canis Minor. The three stars which make up Orion’s belt that hold his sword are easy to spot.  And from there you can locate an array of other constellations.