Sky Chart and Sextant

Make your own sky chart and sextant for the Astronomy Unit Study.


Free Download of Sky Chart & Sextant Below

How To Use A Sky Chart

Tracking the moon is a great way to get oriented to using and making sky charts. As you develop expertise charting the moon you will gain the ability to do more advanced charting with stars, constellations, and galaxies.

North/South Directions on a Sky Chart

Make several copies of the sky charts at the end of this book (pg 58.) The straight lines represent the angles for the directions N, S, E, W and in between. Become familiar with these. Take the chart outside during the day time and line up the sky chart with North. Now is a good time to introduce a compass if you have not done so before. Older students may be reminded that it is 90 degrees from North to East, from East to South, etc.

The Horizon

Your horizon is represented by the outer most circle. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west. The movement of the sun over the day would start by the small E and end at the small west since we first see the sun on our horizon.

First Exercise with the Sky Chart

Face North. Mark on the objects on your horizon in the correct location outside of the circles. Inside the circle represents the atmosphere above the ground.

Dome Shaped Atmosphere

The atmosphere around you is a dome-shaped half sphere. If you have ever been in an arena with a dome over you, discuss that. If not, use one of these items to discuss domes:

• Globe or other sphere cut in half (imagine it, don’t wreck your globe)
• A bowl that is perfectly shaped half sphere
• A small popper toy

Imagine you put a perfectly shaped transparent bowl over an ant. The ant could draw the moon, sun, or stars on the bowl right where he saw them. Then, if someone came along and perfectly flattened the bowl, the circles show how high in the air the object was.

Find Your Zenith

Your zenith is what is exactly over head of you from your location. Point straight up. That’s your zenith. If a star or moon was straight overhead in your zenith, you would draw it in the very center of the chart.

90 Degrees from Horizon to Zenith

Point to your zenith with one hand and to the horizon with the other hand. Your two arms are at a 90 degree angle. On a sky chart the outer circle is the horizon or 0 degrees and the zenith is the very center and ninety degrees.

Reviewing Degrees and Angles

Demonstrate that you can make a ninety degree angle (or any other size angle) in two dimensions. Point both hands to the very north, then move your right arm to point directly east. Your arms are ninety degrees apart. Point to the horizon with one arm and the zenith with another arm, and they are ninety degrees apart on a different plane.

45^o and 60^o and 75^o

Instead of pointing ninety degrees apart, point 45 degrees. This is the half-way point. Much of what we see in the sky will be between the 45 degree and 90 degree marks, particularly if you live in a city.

Imagine dividing that 45 degree angle into thirds as you point into the sky. Try to point to the 60 and 75 degree angles. We will show you how to be a little more accurate next.

Find Angles with Your Fists

An instrument called a sextant(below) is the most accurate way to measure the angles between things in the sky, and we will discuss them later. But you have a handy gadget that you can use whenever you don’t happen to have a sextant with you: your hands. From one side of your fist to another side is approximately ten degrees.

Here’s how it works. Make your ninety degree angle with your fists again, but this time point with your pointer fingers AND your palms up Your pointer fingers are ninety degrees from each other. From the tip of the your finger to the outside of the pinky finger on the same hand is about ten degrees. If you try it fist over fist you will get approximately nine fists in your ninety degree angle. That will work to measure the angles on either plane.

Mark the Moon On Your Sky Chart

Now that you know the directions and angles on your sky chart, it is time to use it with the moon. Note where you see the moon tonight. Find it’s location on your sky chart and draw it. Look for the moon several hours later. It changed! Mark that location. You may wish to mark this several times tonight.

How To Make A Sextant

Making Your Sextant

To make your own sextant you will need:

• The cut out on page 59 for each student
• Tape or Glue
• Paper plate or card stock
• 6 inches of string, yarn, tooth floss, or thread
• Paper clip or bolt to use as weight
• Straw (no bend or cut off the bended part)

It will be easier to use the sextant if you are working with a partner. One will look through the sextant while the other takes the reading.

Looking At Real Sextants

Check out images and prices of real sextants at a science store or on the internet. No, I don't expect you to buy a sextant for your study of the stars. But it is worthwhile taking the time to look at what a real sextant looks like. Maybe a little more accurate than using your fists or a paper plate and kitchen straw, don’t you think?

Download Your Free Sky chart and Sextant

Click image to go to download.

Have Your Printer Ready

Using Your Sextant and Sky Chart

You can use your sextant and sky chart to chart these celestial objects:

• the Sun
• Moon
• Planets in our solar system
• Big Dipper and Polaris
• Constellations
• Galaxies

Join us in the Astronomy Unit Study and learn about these and more phenomenon in our great universe.