Download Name: pd: ______ Date: Constellation Scavenger Hunt! Google Sky

Name: __________________
pd: ________
Date: ______________
Constellation Scavenger Hunt!
Google Sky Activity
Directions:
1) Once you’re in Google Sky, find the layers menu on the lefthand side
2) Check/activate the following layers:
- Under the title Backyard Astronomy,
check off:
> Constellations
> Messier Catalog
> New General Catalog
> Yale Bright Star Catalog
3) Uncheck/deactivate ALL other layers
4) You will be asked to check other layers
during your scavenger hunt.
5) Be sure to keep these layers
activated/checked until told to uncheck
them!!
6) When searching for answers, click on the icons for the stars, nebulas, etc. and look
for answers in the information window.
7) If you get stuck, re-read the directions or question CAREFULLY!
Scavenger Hunt:
1. In the Layers menu on the lefthand side, check/activate the whole “Welcome to Sky”
layer, and you will zoom over to Messier 101.
- Click on the Saturn icon
- Click on the link for the Crab Nebula and you will zoom to it!
- Click on the blue & orange diamond-shaped icon
- What kind of objects can you visit in Google Sky?
a) ____________________________
b) __________________________
c) ____________________________
d) __________________________
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2. Next, uncheck the “Welcome to Sky” Layer.
- Find the constellation Orion & name the stars in Orion’s Belt
a) ____________________________________________
b) ____________________________________________
c) ____________________________________________
3. If you click on the stars and read the information windows for each, you will find two
of the three stars mean “belt” in what language? _____________________________
4. Locate Orion’s star, Betelgeuse (sounds like Beetlejuice!).
- Using the ruler tool, measure the distance from Betelgeuse to the star, Mirphak
- Make sure to change your length measurement from degrees to kilometers
- How far is it? ______________ Units of measure: ____________________
5. Exit out of the ruler tool.
- What constellation are you in? ______________________________
- What is the brightest star in this constellation? ________________________
- What kind of star is it?______________________________
6. Travel to the star at the very top of Perseus. It has two names. What are they?
a) ____________________________________________
b) ____________________________________________
7. Measure the distance from the previous star to the center of the constellation,
Cassiopeia.
- How far is it? ___________________
- Units of measure: ________________
8. Locate the Pacman Nebula. How is it visible to us? _____________________
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________________________________________________________________
9. Locate the constellation, Draco.
- In the layers menu, activate/check off the
Historical Sky Maps > Rumsey Star Maps >
Cassini Overlay (as pictured).
- How is Draco pictured in the Cassini
Overlay? __________________________________
10. Explore the night sky with the Cassini Overlay activated. Name three constellations
and describe the pictures that go with them.
a) Constellation: ______________________ Description: _____________
___________________________________________________________
b) Constellation: ______________________ Description: _____________
___________________________________________________________
c) Constellation: ______________________ Description: _____________
___________________________________________________________
11. Uncheck/deactivate the Cassini Overlay. Search for the North Star.
- Give its second name: ______________________
- What constellation is it part of? _______________________
12. Using the same information box in #11, click the link for Ursa Minor.
- What is its meaning in Latin? __________________________
- What is the constellation more commonly known as? __________________
13. Using the ruler tool, measure sides of Ursa Minor’s rectangle and find the perimeter
(measure in kilometers).
Side lengths: ________________________________________________
Perimeter: __________________
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14. Convert the perimeter into miles (Hint: 1 kilometer = 0.62 miles).
______________________________________________
15. Locate the North America Nebula.
- What constellation is it a part of? ________________________
- How far is it from Ursa Minor? _________ Units of measure: ______________
16. What do you think the blue specks in the nebula are? (Use your brain for this one!
You won’t find the answer in Google Sky!) __________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
17. Locate the Great Globular Cluster in Hercules. Zoom in. By looking at it, what do
you think a globular cluster is? Describe in your own words: ___________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
18. Draw Hercules:
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19. Measure the distance in inches from the Globular Cluster in Hercules to the closest
star in the constellation, Corona Borealis. Round to the nearest thousand.
______________________________________________
20. Travel to the star Arcturus in the constellation, Bootes.
- Zoom in and click on the star.
- According to the information window, what are the 3 brightest stars in the sky?
a) __________________________________
b) __________________________________
c) __________________________________
21. Find Lyra.
- In the layers menu, check off Current Sky Events >
Earth & Sky Podcasts.
- Zoom in and click the Earth & Sky Podcast icon
titled “Vega.”
- Describe the legend of blue-white star, Vega’s
constellation, Lyra.
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
22. Find Aquila. Search the Earth & Sky Podcast icons to find Aquila’s blue star.
- What is its name? ___________________
23. Travel to Scorpius. Its brightest star is a reddish orange color.
- Name the star: ________________________
- Why do you think this star is different than the two blue stars in Aquila and
Lyra? _____________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
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24. Right next to Scorpius is Libra.
- There you will find an Earth & Sky Podcast icon titled “Weird Life.”
- What is weird life? ______________________________________________
- Why do you think scientists began to use this name? ___________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
25. Calculate the approximate area of the triangle (in kilometers) created by the
constellation Libra.
26. In the Layers menu, check off/ activate Featured Observatories > Hubble
Showcase.
- Zoom in on the constellation, Sagittarius and click on
the Hubble Showcase icon titled “Gomez’s Hamburger.”
- What is Gomez’s Hamburger? Explain in your own
words:
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
27. Travel to Covus and find the Sombrero Galaxy. Draw it here and label its parts:
28. Find the distance (in km) from Cepheus to Ophiuchus: _____________________
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29. Activate Current Sky Events > Star Date.
- Find the constellation, Leo, and click the Star
Date icon.
- Click the link for “more recent tips” & choose one
of the tips from this month:
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
List five stars that are currently visible in the night sky:
a) ___________________________________________
b) ___________________________________________
c) ___________________________________________
d) ___________________________________________
e) ___________________________________________
30. Find your zodiac sign. List three facts about it -- find information from the different
layers available in Google Sky (think about its stars, nearby nebulas, or other
information you can pull from layers such as Earth Sky Podcasts, Star Date,
Hubblecast, etc.)
a) _____________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
b) _____________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
c) _____________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
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