Look out for the galactic guide It will be leading our intrepid explorers on an amazing tour of the universe This three eyed creature knows where to find all the best sights in the galaxy It will act as teacher pilot spacecraft and even space suit to keep our explorers safe
MAPPING THE STARS Look up and admire the incredible spectacle that is space It’s amazing what you can see without even leaving the comfort of your own home With approximately a billion trillion stars in the universe and probably lots more what better place to begin our space journey
CONSTELLATIONS The night sky is a spectacular and vast place Stars that shine in the blackness are many trillions of miles from Earth People all around the world have connected the stars using imaginary lines and given the shapes names Often the names are based on myths and legends These shapes are called constellations Aquarius Pegasus northern sky Cetus Delphinus Aries Mira Eridanus Taurus Aquila Vulpecula Little Fox Altair Cygnus Deneb Cassiopeia Algol Serpens Cauda Serpent’s Tail Lyra Vega Hercules Draco Ophiuchus Corona Borealis Cepheus Ursa Minor Little Bear Polaris Ursa Major Great Bear Triangulum Pleiades Hyades Aldebaran Perseus Capella Auriga Rigel Orion Betelgeuse Castor Pollux Lynx Gemini Procyon Canis Minor Lesser CELESTIAL EQUATOR Dog 6 Serpens Caput Serpent’s Head Libra Boötes Arcturus Canes Venatici Hunting Dogs Virgo Spica THE SCIENTIFIC MAP OF THE SKY In order to understand the night sky ancient people imagined it reflected into a circular mirror Today we still use this method and draw star maps in circles On the left is the sky you see if you live in the northern half of the Earth On the right is the sky that you see if you are in the south The night sky looks different depending on where you see it from on which day and at what time These maps show a sample of some of the best known stars in the sky FINDING THE POLES At the center of the map above is Polaris which is also known as the North or Pole Star It is a bright star that is nearest to the celestial pole In the southern hemisphere there is no single star that points south However there are some other stars that you can use to find your way the Southern Cross and the Southern Pointers Alpha and Beta Centauri Leo Regulus Hydra
southern sky Pegasus Aquarius The celestial equator is an imaginary line in the sky It sits exactly opposite the equator the imaginary line that runs around the center of the Earth Cetus Mira Taurus Eridanus Orion Rigel Lepus Betelgeuse Dorado Columba Canopus Sirius Canis Major Greater Dog Puppis Canis Minor Lesser Dog Procyon Fomalhaut Grus Tucana Capricornus Sagittarius Altair Aquila Serpens Cauda Serpent’s CELESTIAL EQUATOR Tail Pavo Ara Triangulum Australe Scorpius Alpha Centauri Beta Centauri Antares Ophiuchus Phoenix Achernar Hydrus Volans Apus Musca Carina Vela Southern Cross Lupus Centaurus Libra 7 MILKY WAY The band that crosses these maps is the edge of the Milky Way our galaxy Regulus Virgo Seasons in the northern hemisphere Spring Summer Winter Autumn ROUND AND ROUND IT GOES The Earth is not still even though it might feel like it is It spins on its axis an imaginary rod through its center and moves around the Sun at the same time The spinning creates day and night and makes it appear as though the Sun and the other stars are moving just like when you are on a carousel and you look at the world around you The movement around the Sun makes the seasons change This is because the Earth is at an angle to the Sun which changes where the Sun’s rays fall on the planet When the rays are direct it is hotter when they are on a slant it is cooler Hydra Corvus Spica Serpens Caput Serpent’s Head
