Understanding the Night Sky

Download the PDF and follow the instructions given below:

Star Wheel

Star Wheel Cover

Material required:

• The printout of the downloaded pdf.
• Scission
• Thin double sided tape

Instructions:

On Sheet I

• Do not cut along the horizontal dotted line at the bottom of the sheet I
• Take the Sheet I and cut along the big dashed line along the edge of the months mentioned.
• Pierce through the central oval part of the sheet and cut along the dashed line inside the oval part.
• Fold along the dotted horizontal like at the bottom backward.
• Put thin double sided tape on the extreme edges vertically and peal off the tape cover.
• Paste the flap backward.

On Sheet II

• Cut the dashed line along the circle.

Assembly

• Put the circle in the pocket created in sheet I.

How to use the sky wheel?

To use the sky wheel one needs to follow the instructions mentioned below:

• Go outside in the open field.
• Identify the direction north in your horizon and face it.
• Rotate the inner circle of the star wheel to match the time and date. 
• Rotate the whole star wheel so that the north direction on the star wheel matches the north direction in your horizon.
• Flip the star wheel and hold it above your head. Make sure the time and date and the directions matches.
• Now choose a star in the star wheel and look for the same star in the sky. It will now be easier as you will have a reference position in the sky with respect to the one on star wheel. Similarly you can look at a star in the sky to learn about based on its position in the sky you can find the same star in the star wheel and learn the details.
• By extension, you can spot the constellations in the sky once identified the bright stars.