Award Astronomer This award is not linked to any specific class. These notes were provided by Robyn Dunlop of North New Zealand Conference in April 2004 There are three pages of graphics which can be used as work sheets. The next page is for requirements 1, 4 and 7. Then there is a page for requirement 2 and a constellation game. The final page in this section is for the third part of requirements 2. In addition paper will be needed to make the coloured drawings in requirement 5. Other material by other people follows this section
This information was provided by Julie Rainey of the Western Australian Conference in June 2004 An Astronomer is one who studies the stars - Means star-namer A Planet is solid, it travels around the sun, it can only reflect light, are much closer to earth than stars A Star is a bright, hot ball of gas, are very far away - seem to twinkle because the air around our earth moves A constellation is a group of stars making a picture in the sky Some Planets are: Jupiter: in Gemini(at foot of Castor- below R of Orion) Saturn: in Taurus (below L of Orion - level with Jupiter) Venus: early after sunset Some Stars are: Sirius: near Canis Major (brightest star-r of Orion's knee) Beetlegeuse(red star), Bellatrix, Rigel, Saiph: in Orion Castor, Pollux: in Gemini Pleiades: cluster near Taurus (Seven Sisters) Some Constellations are: Southern Cross Orion Gemini: near Orion Taurus: near Orion Canis Major: near Sirius Centaurus: near Southern Cross See the manual for instructions on peek box. On the page after this are several sets of constellation charts are provided for identification and for use with this; Crux, Cygnus, Aries. On the page after that are Cancer, Capricorn, Aquarius, Leo, Gemini, Orion, Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Then on the page after that are Pisces, Taurus, Canis Major, Lepus. The sun and moon appear the same size in the sky. When the moon moves in front of the sun during the day we have a solar eclipse. When the earth is between the sun and the moon at night we have a lunar eclipse. How often each day is there a sunrise, sunset or moonrise? How often have you observed one? How many other daily occurrences of God's power have you missed? On the next page are some suitable Bible references for this award.
Suitable Texts Gen 1: 16 Creation Gen 15:5 Abraham's children like stars Deut 4:19 Don't worship sun, moon or stars Job 9:7-9 God made & controls Orion, Ursa, Plieades Ps 8:3 God put them in place Ps 147:4 God knows the number & names of the stars Matt 2:7 Wisemen saw the star Matt 24:29 Stars failing is a sign of end of time 1 Cor 15:41 Stars are all different Rev 1:16,20 Son of Man holding 7 stars (angels with messages) Rev 12:1 Woman with crown of 12 stars Suitable Bible Stories Abraham - told to count the stars, his children would be that many Wisemen - followed the star to Bethlehem to find baby Jesus Jacob - dreamt of a ladder reaching to heaven
These notes were provided by Margaret Tay of North New Zealand Conference in August 2005. The Requirements are numbered (see the manual for the details), here are some helpful comments. 1 A star produces its own light, a plant reflects light from a start. The planets we can see go around our sun, which is a star. The stars we see are much, much further away that the planets. A star general twinkles more than a planet. 2 If possible visit a planetarium or observatory. Have some one show the children all three and explain how to find them. You might find an interested person in your church or community who would come to your meeting and demonstrate to the children. Then at a later time ask the children to point them out and name them. 3 Shoe boxes are great for this. At one end make an eye sized hole to observe through. At the other end prick holes in the pattern of a constellation (use a needle, but you may need to enlarge it with a bigger blunt needle. Make sure the holes are below the edge of the top cover. If each child makes a box with a different constellation, they can then be passed around and the children can say which constellation they are looking at. The children must realise that for the pattern to look correct from the inside, it must be the wrong way round on the outside. Draw the pattern on a piece of paper and work from the inside of the box, or turn the paper over and use it as a pattern on the outside. A really clever child could make a series of cards, the instead of making holes in the far end of the box a large rectangle could be cut out and cards placed there, one at a time to allow one box to be used for several constellations. 4 The sun, moon and earth are all in one line. Look up books on this for a diagram. If the earth is in the middle, then the shadow of the earth moves across the full moon. If the moon is in the middle then its shadow passes across the earth and the sun is eclipsed. Ask the children what happens when the sun is in the middle (of course this never happens because the moon is so much closer to the earth than the sun) but it will make them think. 5 Children may be able to do this as a group. If not encourage that it be done as a family activity, or this could be done very well on a camp. It is a great time for talking about the wonders of God s creation. 6 Some suggestions are Genesis 1:16; Deuteronomy 10:22; Psalm 19:1; Isaiah 13:10; Matthew 2:10
7 See helps in the manual for a good list. Note Pathfinders often visit the observatory, try to arrange for them to invite the Adventurers, and let the Pathfinders do some teaching, it will help the Pathfinders to learn. See also the helps on the web page.