During
the day, use the compass to determine the
direction of North.
2.
Find a place that provides the best view
of the northern part of the sky.
3.
Go
outside on a clear moonless night and stand
in the designated spot facing North.
4.
Look
for seven stars that form the shape of a
large dipper.
Note:The bowl of the dipper faces different
directions, even upside down, at different times.
Results A group of stars called the Big Dipper is found.
Why? The Big Dipper is an asterism (a group of stars
that form a shape
within a constellation). Ursa Major (the Great
Bear) is the constellation
that Big Dipper is a part of. Once you find
the Big Dipper, search for the
rest of Ursa Major. It is easiest to find in
the spring, when it is high
above the northern horizon.
For more information about astronomy, see "Janice VanCleave's 203 Icy,
Freezing, Frosty, Cool, & Wild Experiments. (Wiley, 1999).