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Cape Cod National Seashore extends into the Atlantic ocean, giving way to some of the best star gazing on the east coast. Throughout history, people have utilized the stars to help navigate, know when to plant and harvest crops, as well as for entertainment. Stories about the stars, constellations and other celestrial bodies help us learn about the past, while exploring the night sky.
Transcript
Action. Okay. Okay. Cut. Hi, everyone. I'm Ranger Katie. And today I'm going to show you how to make your very own eco friendly, light up constellation projector. I'm a Park Ranger for the National Park Service at Cape Cod National Seashore. The National Park Service protects lots of things; animals, plants, history, and even more. We even protect the night sky! Stars have always been so important to people. When was the last time you looked up at the stars? How did it make you feel? People have used stars for so many important things to navigate, to know when to plant crops and even to entertain us. People all over the world and all throughout time have looked up at the stars and made up stories about them. Today, you can be a part of that too. Let's use this craft to learn more about the stars. Here's what you'll need some thick paper, scissors an empty toilet paper tube, a rubber band, a toothpick, a flashlight, led ones work best, and maybe an adult to help. First, you'll need to cut a circle out of the thick paper. It should be larger than the toilet paper tube. Then take that circle and place it over one of the openings of the toilet paper and tie it on with a rubber band. Next, take your toothpick and poke holes into the paper. These will be your stars! You can do an existing constellation or you can make your very own unique design. Finally, shine your light through the tube and make your own night sky. Good job making the projector. So why do we need to protect the night sky? We're losing it! When lots of people use lots of light, it creates something called light pollution. The more light pollution there is, the harder it is to see the stars at night. Here's what the stars look like with more light pollution. And here's what the stars look like with less light pollution. Look at how different they can be. We all need to work together to protect the night sky. Park Rangers do an important job, but the night sky is so big, we need everyone's help. You can help protect the night sky by turning off your lights at night, especially outside lights. Thank you for learning about the stars with us!
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Join ranger Katie as she explores the stars while also building your own light up constellation projector.
Materials needed: Thick Paper Scissors Empty Toilet Paper Tube Rubber Band Tooth Pick Flashlight For more information about astronomy at Cape Cod National Seashore For more activities at home |
Last updated: November 25, 2022