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    Stargazing

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    Interested in astronomy? Backyard stargazing is a simple first step. Experts advise us to learn the sky with the naked eye before investing in a pair of binoculars, and don’t rush to buy a telescope. More great advice can be found online in these marvelous sites.

    		Stargazing Resource Handout for Classroom or Homeschool: Just $2.00

    Astronomy.com: Learn the Constellations5 stars

    "If you're a newcomer to amateur astronomy, eager to begin exploring the night sky, you'll have to overcome one of astronomy's biggest hurdles -- learning to identify the constellations." This Astronomy.com article is part of their Astronomy for Kids section. It takes you across the sky, starting with the northern sky and the Big Dipper. Did you know that the Big Dipper is not actually a constellation? It is an asterism, and is part of the Ursa Major (Great Bear) constellation.



    Astronomy for Kids: Beginners5 stars

    Every click is a winner at Rick Morris' Astronomy for Kids, where "grownups are welcome, too, as long as they promise to behave." I recommend starting with Beginner's Corner, for tips on learning the rhythm of the sky, and Sky Maps, for timely advice on what to look for in the sky this month. But don't miss the seven planet word searches in Puzzles, and for oodles of good stuff for school reports, visit Planets.

    Earth and Sky: Tonight5 stars

    Ever wish you had an experienced astronomer standing by your side to guide you to the nightly show? Now you do. Meet Deborah Byrd, Skywatching columnist. "Each day's segment is designed to guide your eye to something you can see that night, or the next morning before dawn. It might be a constellation, a star, or a planet. Or it might be a celestial event, such as an eclipse." In addition to this feature, teachers and lower-elementary kids have their own sections, accessible from the lunar menu at the top of each page.

    Ology: Astronomy: A Kid's Guide to Stargazing5 stars

    "Planets look a lot like bright stars, so telling stars from planets can be tricky. One clue is that planets don't twinkle like stars, although it's sometimes hard to see the difference." Ology offers up a great advice for kids and families, including tips on keeping a Sky Journal to record what stars and constellations you saw on what date.

    Sky and Telescope: Stargazing Basics5 stars

    "How good an astronomer you become depends less on your instrument than on building your knowledge and skills." To get the most out of backyard stargazing, start with this collection of eight articles from Sky and Telescope magazine. Highlights include Words Ya Gotta Know (from arcsecond to zenith) and Understanding Celestial Coordinates (exactly what are declination and right ascension?) Best clicks are the two printable ten-page guides "Getting Started in Astronomy." To find a copy for your hemisphere, look for the link at the bottom of Your First Steps in Astronomy.

    		Stargazing Resource Handout for Classroom or Homeschool: Just $2.00



    Honorable Mentions

    The following links are either new discoveries or sites that didn't make it into my newspaper column because of space constraints. Enjoy!

    About Space and Astronomy

    Astronomy Picture of the Day

    Starchild

    Stargazers Online


    Cite This Page

    Feldman, Barbara. "Stargazing." Surfnetkids. Feldman Publishing. 11 May. 2021. Web. 3 Dec. 2024. <https://www.surfnetkids.com/resources/stargazing/ >.


    About This Page

    By . Originally published May 11, 2021. Last modified July 19, 2022.

    Filed Under: Science, Space

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