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Constellation Station: Make your own starry projector
(Courtesy of the Iowa Children’s Museum)
(Courtesy of the Iowa Children’s Museum)
(Courtesy of the Iowa Children’s Museum)
(Courtesy of the Iowa Children’s Museum)
Stars are giant spheres of superhot gas made up mostly of hydrogen and helium. Constellations are a group of stars that appear to make a pattern in the sky.
Follow the instructions below and make your very own constellation projector so you can see the stars anytime.
What you need:
- This newspaper
- Scissors
- Tape or rubber band
- Thick paper
- A cardboard tube
- A flashlight
What you do:
1. Check out the printable at the end of this story, then pick a constellation template.
2. Cut it out.
3. Lay it over the thick paper and poke a hole through both pieces of paper for each star.
4. Cut your thick paper down.
5. Secure the paper over the tube.
6. Find a dark room and shine your light through the open end of the tube.
7. Repeat with other patterns.
More you can try
1. Look up some other constellations and try making your own templates.
2. Do you see any other star patterns in the night sky that you could name as your own constellation?
Print this activity
Constellation Station Printable by Gazetteonline on Scribd
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More on the web: Go to www.theicm.org/memberships to learn more.
