Download Astronomy Readings Version 2/10/2003

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Astronomy Readings
Brief Summary
Astronomy Readings is, of course, a play on words. A person’s Sun sign usually provides
natural interest since it is something which that person associates with him- or herself. The
signs of the zodiac, like all constellations, each cover a portion of the sky. In that area, there
might be galaxies, nebulae, past “mysterious flashes,” double stars, and other deep sky
objects or celestial phenomena. Visitors can find out about the science behind these objects,
as well as multicultural mythology associated with that constellation.
Equipment Required
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Orbits Explorer Interactive
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Astronomy Readings tablecloth
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Costume
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Internet connection
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4 pennies or other circular objects that
will not roll around
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Spinning top to illustrate precession
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Astronomy Readings presets – Starry
Night Pro or Cosmic Atlas
Main Teaching Points
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The sky is full of deep sky objects, interesting stars, and other celestial phenomena.
A person’s astrological sign or Sun sign is the area of the sky (identified by a
constellation) where the Sun would have been on his or her birthday at the time when
astrology was invented.
The Sun is no longer in the astrological sign on a person’s birthday. This is due to
precession.
Educational Strategy
When people feel that they have a personal connection to something, they are more likely to
be interested in it and more likely to retain, recall, and use the information they have learned.
Some astronomers tend to shy away from discussing anything to do with the signs of the
zodiac for fear of validating astrology. This is a shame since these constellations open doors
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to discussions of the ecliptic, apparent movement of the Sun and planets, precession, sky
mapping, and other astronomical concepts.
Set Up
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Put on the costume.
At the Orbits Explorer Interactive, switch the projector into Astronomy Readings mode.
Lay the tablecloth over the Orbits Interactive table.
Turn on your microphone and PA.
Open up “Astronomy Readings” on the computer using one of the Starry Night Pro
presets or Cosmic Atlas. In Starry Night, this can be found by going to the toolbar at the
top and selecting “Go/Astronomy Readings,” and then choosing one of the presets.
Suggested ways of presenting demo
Try this, using the Starry Night preset “Starting Zodiac - present”:
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Bring up the Starry Night Pro preset, showing Earth orbiting the Sun.
Invite an audience to join you as you tell ”Astronomy Readings.”
Pick a visitor, and ask his or her birthday and Sun sign. Tell them that the Sun sign
is supposed to be where the Sun is on his or her birthday.
Use the preset to determine where the Sun is on that date – it will NOT be in that
Sun sign. Tell audience that the Sun is no longer in a person’s Sun sign on his or
her birthday because of the way the Earth wobbles as it spins on its axis – this is
called precession.*
Explain that classical astrology was invented around the year 1 CE. Change the
year to
1 AD (1 CE**), and show that the Sun is now in the anticipated constellation.
Give a sentence or two about the different things that are visible in that
constellation.
Ask the visitor to pick some objects that he or she would like to hear more about
Use the images and websites to show all of the visitors the celestial
objects/phenomena, and use any props (pennies, people, etc – get creative!) to
explain the concepts.
Or try this, using the Starry Night Preset “Starting Zodiac – 1 AD”:
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Bring up the Starry Night Pro preset, showing Earth orbiting the Sun.
Invite an audience to join you as you tell ”Astronomy Readings”.
Pick a visitor, and ask his or her birthday.
*
A Note about Precession - Precession is an interesting but slightly complicated topic. See Questions and Answers and
the glossary for a full description. Then, practice different techniques to tell visitors about this without getting bogged
down in the details and loosing their interest, or confusing them before they even get to the objects in their sign.
**
BCE (Before the Common Era) and CE (Common Era) are secular forms of BC and AD.
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Use the preset to determine what his or her sign would be, explaining why we use
the year 1 CE** – due to precession, the Sun is no longer in the constellation which
astrology associates with a person’s birthday.
Give a sentence or two about the different things that are visible in that
constellation.
Ask the visitor to pick some objects that he or she would like to hear more about.
Use the images and websites to show all of the visitors the celestial
objects/phenomena, and use any props (pennies, people, etc. – get creative!) to
explain the concepts.
Operating Tips
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Using the themed tablecloth and costume allows you to give the visitors a mystical
experience, while using astronomy software and your knowledge of astronomy allows you
to give visitors scientifically accurate information. This will help reclaim the zodiac for
astronomy! Strike a balance that feels comfortable for you and the visitors.
Questions and Answers
Why is the Sun no longer in my constellation on my birthday?
The signs of classical astrology were set around 2000 years ago, but because of precession
of the Earth’s axis, the Sun is no longer in the constellation of a person’s Sun sign on his or
her birthday. Think of how a spinning top’s stick describes a small circle in the air – this is
called precession. The Earth’s axis also precesses, taking 26,000 years to complete a cycle,
or about one degree every 72 years. This means that the places on our orbit around the Sun
where the solstices and equinoxes happen change with precession, too. Since our calendars
are fixed in such a way that the months stick with the seasons, the constellation in which the
Sun is on a person’s birthday is shifted from where it was 2000 years ago. See glossary for
more details.
Since the Sun blocks out the light of other stars, how would people have known what
constellation the Sun was “in?”
Astronomy was considered to be very important, and so sky watchers were extremely familiar
with the positions of the stars and the apparent movement of the Sun, Moon, and planets. By
plotting the positions of the stars and constellations when they were visible, astronomers
could then figure out their positions when they weren’t visible. There are two ways to do this:
1. During a solar eclipse, the stars are temporarily visible, and the position of the Sun
against the stars can be observed.
2. By observing the constellations just before sunrise and just after sunset, it is possible to
extrapolate the position of the Sun.
Am I really influenced by my sign, planet alignment, etc.?
The only influences from these celestial bodies known to science are those of gravity and
radiation. While the pull of the Moon and Sun is enough to create the tides of our oceans,
there is no scientific evidence that the almost immeasurably tiny gravitational pull of the stars
and only slightly larger pull of the planets influences human nature or personality. It is
interesting to note that the gravitational pull of the doctor who delivers baby is actually greater
than the gravitational pull of the stars and planets at that moment. Likewise, while warmth
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from the Sun sustains life on Earth, and scientific studies suggest that sunlight affect a
person’s mood, there is no scientific evidence that the radiation from distant stars or planets
affects a person’s nature or personality.
Other Cool Stuff to Try
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Get a group of visitor to represent the Sun, Earth, and zodiac constellations, and use this
to demonstrate how the Sun appears to move along the ecliptic (through the zodiac
constellations) over the course of a year. Take this to the next level by asking four
additional visitors to represent the two solstices and the two equinoxes, and show
precession.
Fast Facts
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The constellation Ophiuchus, the Doctor, could be considered the 13 th constellation of the
Zodiac, since the ecliptic also passes through it. Some visitors will actually be
Ophiuchans!
Hipparchus, a Greek astronomer who lived around 150 BCE, was a very important figure
in astronomical history. Among his accomplishments, he:
 compiled the first comprehensive star chart, including a magnitude system for
representing star brightness
 discovered the precession of the equinoxes
 developed the longitude/lattitude method of measuring a position on Earth
 calculated the size of the Sun and Moon using eclipses
Background materials
collections links)
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(websites,
videos,
articles,
digital
See websites associated with this demo for details of celestial objects and concepts.
Ridpath, Ian. 1998. Stars and Planets. New York, NY: DK Publishing.
http://www.bartleby.com/65/hi/Hipparch2.html Hipparchus
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Self assessment suggestions
After doing the Astronomy Readings demo several times, complete the checklist and rubric
below by highlighting the box that best describes your performance. Have your team leader
observe your demo then complete an identical rubric. Discuss your presentation technique
with your team leader along the lines of the rubric.
Assessment for Astronomy Readings
DATE________ PRESENTER_______________
A. Checklist of pre-requisite skills
1. Can set up and put away demo, including media.
2. Can maneuver through the media in the Starry Night Pro or Cosmic Atlas version.
3. Is comfortable with at least some basic content from each of the 12 signs.
B. Rubric for Astronomy Readings
QUALITY
LEVELS  OK
TRAITS 
Presentation style
Knowledge of the science
Engages audience
Fluency with media
Can gather and engage a
crowd.
EXCELLENT
Gets into character to engage
audience in the theatrical
essence of astronomy
readings without
compromising the scientific
legitimacy of the content.
Can give out basic information
Can go beyond visitor
and answer questions pertaining question and add interesting
to the objects associated with
facts gleaned from
the constellations
background knowledge.
Warms up the crowd, defines
Also, adds humor where
roles and asks questions
appropriate. Gauges the
audience’s level and alters the
show depth accordingly.
Uses media associated with all
Uses additional features, such
12 signs as appropriate
as glossary and additional
media presets, when
appropriate