Boy Scout Penguins and Pajamas Sleepover February 27th & March 12th, 2016 Welcome to the Morrison Planetarium at the California Academy of Sciences! The Morrison Planetarium opened its doors on Nov 6, 1952 with a hand built projector the first large one built in the United States. It reopened as the world s largest all digital full dome planetarium on September 27, 2008. Astronomy is not just for professionals. Staring up at the night sky with a sense of appreciation and wonder is a thrill available to anyone and everyone. By participating in our programs and activities here tonight, as well as filling out this booklet, you can complete many of the requirements necessary to earn the Boy Scout Astronomy Badge. Many of the activities can be completed with information gathered at other demonstrations; however they will be primarily explored in the program they are listed under. Use this booklet as your scrapbook to complete one requirement visiting a planetarium! Ask our planetarium staff if you have any questions and enjoy your sleepover!
Astronomy Activities Tonight In the planetarium dome: Recommended for ages 7 and up. Pick up free tickets at pass distribution. Tour of the Night Sky Experience a live presentation in our immersive all digital planetarium dome. Learn about light pollution, constellations of the zodiac, types of stars, the motion of the planets, and more as we explore the night sky about San Francisco! 7:30pm and 8:30pm 35 min. Journey to the Stars Experience the life and death of the stars in our night sky, including our Sun. Tour familiar stellar formations, explore celestial mysteries, and discover our connection to the stars. 10:30pm 25 min All About Telescopes Learn how different types of telescopes work and which one is best for admiring your favorite celestial object! 7:30pm 20 min. Project Lab Sky Viewing ( weather permitting ) Explore the captivating objects of our night sky. 7:30pm 10:00pm Living Roof Asteroids: Science with an Impact! Explore the little objects of the solar system and how they have impacted life on Earth 9:10pm and 10:35pm 15 min. Hohfeld Hall Astronomy on the Floor Foucault pendulum near the planetarium entrance Barringer Crater Meteorite in the Earthquake exhibit Moon rock sample for Apollo 17 at planetarium pass distribution Solar System mural 2nd floor hallway
Get Familiar with Astronomy: Vocabulary To familiarize yourselves with some of the terms you will hear tonight and as you continue to explore astronomy, match the following astronomy terms to their correct definition. 1. Planet 9. White Dwarf 2. Star 10. Comet 3. Solar System 11. Meteor 4. Galaxy 12. Moon 5. Milky Way 13. Asteroid 6. Black hole 14. Star Map 7. Red Giant 15. Universe 8. Constellation 16. Ecliptic A. A large, burning sphere of gases that creates fusion at its core B. The home galaxy of our solar system C. A small bit of space rock creating a streak of light as it enters Earth s atmosphere. Sometimes called a shooting star D. A solid object that orbits a larger body E. A ball of ice, gas, and dust that orbits the Sun F. A star and all the bodies orbiting around it, including planets, comets, and asteroids G. A system of millions or billions of stars H. The sum of everything known I. An area of space with such intense gravitational pull not even light can escape J. A large body that orbits a star K. A small, rocky body, smaller than a planet, orbiting a star L. The small, but dense remains of a dying star M. A large, bright star near the end of its life N. A map of the night time sky O. Either one of 88 regions of the sky or a pattern formed from bright stars P. The path that the Sun, Moon, and planets appear to take across the sky Draw the Solar System Using the Solar System mural on the second floor, on the next page sketch the solar system. Is our model exactly to scale (hint: are the planets really that close together?). Be sure to include: The Sun Venus Saturn Asteroid Belt Ceres Earth Mars Uranus Kuiper Belt Eris Mercury Jupiter Neptune Pluto
Tour of the Night Sky 7:30pm and 8:30pm 35 min Planetarium dome Light Pollution What is light pollution and what is one way it and air pollution affect the night sky? Milky Way What are we seeing when we look at the Milky Way from Earth? Planets Circle the planets that can be seen with just your eyes (without the help of a telescope). Place a checkmark next to the two that can appear to have phases like the moon. Finally, Use the pocket almanac to determine which months this year each planet will be visible. (Hint: check your 2016 pocket almanac) January February March April May June July August September October November December Mercury Venus Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune
Constellations On the star map on the next page, circle these 8 stars: Polaris, Betelgeuse, Rigel, Aldebaran, Castor, Pollux, Arcturus, Sirius Use the same star map to draw and label 10 constellations: Orion (the Hunter) Taurus (the Bull) Canis Major (Big Dog) Canis Minor (Little Dog) Gemini (the Twins) Cancer (The Crab) Leo (the Lion) Ursa Major (the Big Bear) Ursa Minor (the Little Bear) Cassiopeia (the Queen)
Journey to the Stars 10:30pm 25 min Planetarium dome What is the Sun composed of? (Name the 2 main elements that make up the majority of stars, including the Sun): How does the Sun compare to other stars? What are some ways the radiation of the Sun affects the Earth, in terms of weather and communications? What are sunspots? Name one of each color of star and what it s color tells you about that star: Red star: Blue star: Yellow star:
Telescopes Talk 7pm 20 minutes Project Lab During the demonstration, use what you are learning to explain to your group how the telescope works, Why do astronomers use telescopes and binoculars? What were some of the difference between the types of telescopes mentioned (including the light they detect)? Identify three parts of a telescope and their purposes: 1. 2. 3.
Sky Viewing ( weather permitting ) or on your own on the roof 7:30pm 10:00pm Living Roof The Big Dipper Use the space below to sketch the Dipper s location at the times below. Draw the North Star in relation to the Big Dipper. East West North 7 PM East West 9:30 PM North
Planets Observe a planet for yourself! At least one planet is visible in the evening sky this month. Which one did you see? Describe it! Moon Looking up at the moon, using the circle below to sketch features, including five seas and five craters. Label them (look the names up if needed). Use the space below to sketch the position and phases of the moon four days in a row at the same time (suggested 6:00 pm) for the next four days! (It can be helpful to include landmarks like trees to trace position) Date and time: Date and time: Date and time: Date and time:
Phases and Eclipses The diagram below shows the positions of the Sun, Moon, and Earth during the moon s orbit around Earth. Label each diagram as what we would see from Earth: Lunar eclipse Full moon 1st quarter moon Solar eclipse New moon 3rd quarter moon
Additional activities to do on your own What factors keep the moon in orbit around the Earth? Explain to your counselor the most likely hazards you may encounter while participating in astronomy activities, and what you should do to anticipate, help prevent, mitigate, and respond to these hazards. Explain first aid for injuries or illnesses that could occur during observation: Heat and cold reactions Dehydration Bites and stings Damage to your eyes Describe the proper clothing and other precautions for safely making observations at night and in cold weather. Then explain how to safely observe the Sun, objects near the Sun, and the Moon.
Careers in Astronomy Did you know there is a wide variety of jobs and careers related to astronomy? The presenters of the Morrison Planetarium are dedicated to educating the public about the sky above and space beyond and they are a great resource for you! Speak with planetarium staff to learn more about how people study space, teach others about it, or even visit it! Use the questions below to learn more about how to be an astronomer yourself or other related career paths. List 3 astronomy careers: 1. 2. 3. Pick one career and find out more about it Career: College degree and what kind: Special training: Helpful background experience: Physical requirements?: Other: