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Constellations in a Can/Cup
Lab Objectives:

Students will understand the background of constellations and basic astronomy

Students will be able to define basic terms and formations about constellation

Students will understand and recognize common constellations

Students will be able to apply learned concepts to star gazing
Benchmark(s) Addressed:
CCG: The Universe:
Describe natural objects, events, and processes outside the Earth, both past and
present.
At this time there are no Standards associated with this CCG
Materials and Costs:
List the equipment and non-consumable material and estimated cost of each
Paper Cups ($2.99 for 30 cups).................................................................$ 5.98
Aluminum Foil (75 sq. ft.) ........................................................................$3.49
Toothpicks .................................................................................................$1.17
Glue sticks (24 pack ) ..............................................................................$14.99
Flashlights ($19.99 ea) ............................................................................$79.96
Estimated total, one-time, start-up cost: ......................................................$105.59
List the consumable supplies and estimated cost for presenting to a class of 30
students
Paper Cups ($2.99 for 30 cups).................................................................$ 5.98
Aluminum Foil (75 sq. ft.) ........................................................................$3.49
Toothpicks .................................................................................................$1.17
Glue sticks (24 pack) ...............................................................................$14.99
Estimated total, one-time, start-up cost: ........................................................$25.63
Time:
Initial prep time:
To gather all the needed materials as well as finding different constellations and
printing them onto small pieces of paper to distribute to the students- ~1-2 hours
Preparation time:
Cut out the constellations (which the students will use to outline the
constellation), cut up smaller squares of aluminum foil for 30 students- ~ 45 minutes- 1
hour.
Instruction time:
Spread across several days, touching on myths and factual information about
constellations
Clean-up time:
Throw away toothpicks and any left over materials.
Assessment:
To assess the students’ understanding of these introduced concepts, the teacher
can circulate around the room, observing how well the students can recognize their given
constellation. Once all the students have created their constellation, turn the lights off and
have the constellations reflected on the ceiling, have the students identify the different
constellations.
Background:
A constellation is a group of stars that are connected together to form a figure or
picture. The term is also traditionally and less formally used to mean any group of stars
visibly related to each other, if they are considered as a fixed configuration or pattern in a
particular culture.
Some well-known constellations contain striking and familiar patterns of bright
stars. Examples are Orion (containing a figure of a hunter), Leo (containing bright stars
outlining the form of a lion), Scorpius (a scorpion), and Crux (a cross).
The International Astronomical Union (IAU) divides the sky into 88 official
constellations with exact boundaries, so that every direction or place in the sky belongs
within one constellation. In the northern hemisphere, these are mostly based upon the
constellations of the ancient Greek tradition, passed down through the Middle Ages, and
contains the signs of the zodiac.
In space, most of the stars we see have little or no relation to one another, but can appear
to be grouped in the night sky.
A star pattern may be widely known but may not be recognized by the International
Astronomical Union; such a pattern of stars is called an asterism. An example is the
grouping called the Big Dipper.
The stars in a constellation or asterism rarely have any astrophysical relationship to each
other; they just happen to appear close together in the sky as viewed from Earth and
typically lie many light-years apart in space. However, one exception to this is the Ursa
Major.
The grouping of stars into constellations is essentially arbitrary and random, and
different cultures have had different constellations, although a few of the more obvious
ones tend to recur frequently, e.g., Orion and Scorpius.
The sun appears to pass through the 12
constellations of the zodiac and ancient Greek
astronomers believed they had a special
significance. The grouping of stars into
constellations is essentially random and different
cultures have had different constellations, although
a few of the more obvious ones tend to recur
frequently.
Orion:
Often referred to as The Hunter, is a prominent
constellation, one of the largest and perhaps the
best-known and most conspicuous in the sky. Its
brilliant stars are found on the
Celestial equator and are visible throughout the
world. Its three prominent "belt" stars - three stars
of medium brightness in the mid-section of this
constellation - make this constellation easy to spot
and globally recognized.
Big Dipper:
The seven brightest stars of the constellation Ursa Major, the Great Bear, form a
well-known pattern of stars that has been recognized as a distinct grouping in many
cultures. Ursa Major is a constellation visible throughout the year in most of the northern
hemisphere. Not only are the stars in the Big Dipper easily found themselves, but they
may also be used as guides to yet other stars. The dipper is easy to spot in the night sky,
because it will look like a giant ladle. The constellation of Ursa Major is larger than just
the dipper. The dipper forms the back half of the Great Bear with the handle outlining its
tail. Ursa Major contains a total of fifty-three (53) visible stars.
Polaris:
The “North Star” more commonly known as the North(ern) Star or the Pole Star,
and sometimes known as the Lodestar, is the
brightest star in the constellation Ursa Minor. It is
very close to the north celestial pole, making it the
current northern pole star. Polaris is also known as
the North Star because it is directly above the
Earth's North Pole. This star is about fifty (50) light
years away from Earth.
Polaris is 431.42 light-years from Earth.
Polaris stands almost motionless on the sky, and all
the stars of the Northern sky appear to rotate around
it. Therefore, it makes an excellent fixed point from
which to draw measurements for celestial
navigation and for astrometry.
Polaris's fame as the North Star has given rise to a
persistent misconception that it is the brightest star
in the sky. Although Polaris is a relatively bright
star and is conspicuous since no other stars of
similar brightness are close to it, it is nowhere near the brightest; it is actually the 48th
brightest star in the night sky. The brightest star in the night sky is Sirius.
How to Find Ursa Major and other Constellations:
The first thing you need to do in order to find Ursa Major is to locate the direction
north. Once you have found the direction north, look for an area of sky with some bright
stars. The seven stars that make up the "Big Dipper" are some of the brighter stars in this
section of the sky. After you have found the "Big Dipper", try to make out the rest of the
Great Bear. Now that you have found Ursa Major, you are ready to use it as a guide to the
rest of the northern constellations.
Finding Polaris and Ursa Minor:
To find the star Polaris and the constellation Ursa Minor, locate the two end stars
in the cup of the "Big Dipper." Connect a line through these two stars. This will point to
the star Polaris. Polaris is in the constellation Ursa Minor. Ursa Minor is better known
as the "Little Dipper." Polaris will not be an extremely bright star, about the same
brightness as the "pointer stars."
Finding Cassiopeia:
To find the constellation Cassiopeia, locate the second star in the handle of the
"Big Dipper" and Polaris. Connect a line through this star from Ursa Major through
Polaris. This will point you through Polaris and on to a "W" or "M" shaped
constellation. This is "the queen," Cassiopeia. The stars of Cassiopeia are not
excessively bright. This will make Cassiopeia a difficult constellation to locate
Finding Alrai and Cepheus:
To find the star Alrai and the constellation Cepheus,
locate the two end stars in the cup of the "Big Dipper." Connect a
line through these two stars. This will point to the star Polaris.
Continue through Polaris and onto Alrai. Alrai marks the point of
the constellation Cepheus. This star is not all that bright, but
Cepheus is not known for its bright stars. This constellation is
entangled in mythology with Andromeda (his daughter),
Cassiopeia (his queen), Cetus (the monster), Pegasus (helped
Perseus), and Perseus.
Procedure:
Materials:
 Paper cups
 Aluminum foil (cut into squares)
 Toothpicks
 Flashlights
 Glue/glue sticks
1. Before beginning the in class activity, print out a variety of common
constellations, as seen from the Northern Hemisphere. Make sure that the
printed out constellations can fit the diameter of the base of a paper cup
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
turned upside down. Cut out the constellations, as you will be distributing
them among the students.
Using one paper cup per students, have the student begin by covering the
outside of the paper cup with the aluminum foil- which helps trap light
inside of the cup and minimizes escaping light. Can use glue or tape to
adhere foil to the cup.
After finishing applying the foil, distribute the different constellations to
the students.
Have the students place the constellation cut out, or tape temporarily to
assist on the tracing process, on the top of the base of the paper cup. Poke
holes in the corresponding location of the stars in the constellation.
This process will leave the constellation backwards on the cup.
After finshed with steps 2-4, have the students place a flashlight
underneath the cup, reflecting the constellation on the ceiling.
Can have several of the students reflect their constellations on the ceiling,
and have other students engage in the learning by recognizing the
constellations and discussing them.