Posted: 01 September 2006 at 5:29am | IP Logged

Here is the night sky scavenger hunt Mallory devised to share with everyone. There is a Northern and a Southern Hemisphere version. It is for the Astrokids and their parents and anyone else who would like to join in. There are constellations, asterisms, and stars to look for. Also, there is no time limit set for this one. Just find a dark spot and look up!

NORTHERN HEMISPHERE NIGHT SKY SCAVENGER HUNT:

1. Big Dipper

2. Bootes-The Herdsman

3. Cassiopeia

4. Hercules

5. Polaris

6. Aquila-The Eagle

7. Milky Way

8. Lyra-The Lyre

9. Cygnus-The Swan

10. Summer Triangle

Bonus: Corona Borealis-The Northern Crown and/or Coathanger Cluster

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE NIGHT SKY SCAVENGER HUNT:

1. Libra-The Scales

2. Milky Way

3. Corvus-The Crow

4. Crux-The Southern Cross

5. Pavo-The Peacock

6. Delphinus-The Dolphin

7. Scorpius-The Scorpion

8. Arcturus

9. Sagittarius-The Archer

10. Centaurus-The Centaur

Bonus: False Cross and/or Coathanger Cluster

Posted: 01 September 2006 at 8:05am | IP Logged

Thanks Mallory, this one is right up my alley. I need to learn where a few of thes are and this will be the perfect way to learn. I'll see if I can do it this weekend, we are supposed to have nice weather.

Posted: 02 September 2006 at 12:06pm | IP Logged

Is there a Latin/English dictionary here on the site for constellation names and other terms? While I know some of the Latin names, others are not familiar to me. I taught myself using the English names.

Thanks, Judy in Chicago

Posted: 04 September 2006 at 7:04am | IP Logged

Hi Mallory,

I am only a kid at heart but your scavenger hunt was perfect for me to learn some of the constelations I do not know. I haven't found a nice place for darksky observation yet so although I have found I nice spot near home that I can walk too it is difficult for me to see objects close to the horizon but by going at different times of the evening I was able to complete the project with one amazing exception. THE MILKY WAY.

It's kind of funny because this should be fairly recognisable but the moon is so bright right now I can only make out the brightest stars without my bins so I couldn't actually see it.

Corey helped me learn to find the "coat hanger" so I got that one. Casseopia, Bootes, Hercules, Lyra, anad Corona Borealis are new to me so it was fun to learn them for this project. So thanks again for the fun project.

Larry

Posted: 04 September 2006 at 11:15pm | IP Logged

No problem Larry! I had fun making it. You have to go putside when it is really dark to see the milky way... I will let that one slide though. Here is your certificate. You can print it out if you like.

2006-09-04_231457_Scavenger_Hunt_completion_Certificate.doc

Posted: 05 September 2006 at 7:24am | IP Logged

Thanks Mallory

Larry

Posted: 09 September 2006 at 6:44pm | IP Logged

Yah its hard to see the Milky Way from anywhere. I made this scavenger hunt for everyone not just astro kids but i see how you could get confused. I hope you will do good! There is no time limit set yet so if you cant' cet it all now thats fine.

Sorry for all of the confusion!!!!

Posted: 12 September 2006 at 4:20am | IP Logged

Well, Mallory, I stopped by to print out your scavenger hunt sheet, too!  I want to have it ready to go when the  for good weather  your mother mentioned over at the Lunar Project kicks in and kicks out the clouds for awhile.

I think this will be a great help as I really need to brush up on the constellations.  There are still some I don't really know well yet.

Posted: 12 September 2006 at 5:08am | IP Logged

Well I was hoping to find all 10 things, minus the milky way, in one night. But I ended up having good luck and bad luck. The bad luck: I waited too long to go out there and Bootes and Corona Borealis were lost behind trees and the gray yuckiness that lurks low in the west here. Also the Big Dipper was behind trees so I couldn't even see that! North is a bad direction from here as far as obstruction goes. BUT, miracle of miracles, the moon had just risen over a building here and was rather soft and hazy looking still. The summer triangle was very high, nearly overhead but slightly to the west and I could actually see a hint of the milky way through Cygnus!! I stayed out about a half an hour altogether and by the time I went to go in the moon had cleared up and brightened and then the milky way was gone.

I found the summer triangle right away of course and after a few moments I could make out all three constellations, Cygnus, Lyra, and Aquila. I even saw Delphinius lurking by Aquila. Cassiopeia was high in the northeast and I even used my bins to find the Andromeda Galaxy from there. I also used my bins to find the coathanger cluster which was upside down. No problem finding Polaris because it's always "right there". I could see the guardian stars too. Hercules gave me some trouble I'll admit. It was kind of low also. I probably wouldn't have found it if it wasn't for Ophiuchus under it. I know that the coffin shape of that is actually three Ophiuchus stars and one Hercules star. So from there I did manage to make out the keystone shape of Herc.

Hopefully tomorrow evening I can go out earlier and find the Dipper and Bootes. Otherwise I will have to wait for the weekend.

Posted: 13 September 2006 at 3:02am | IP Logged

Crystal candy with whipped cream! Well that is a cool description of the milky way!

I managed to get myself out of bed early (Have to be at work at 1 am.) and go outside while my leftover targets from last night's scavenger hunt were still high enough. I found Bootes easily, due to Arcturus of course, and also found the Big Dipper which was still above the huge northern trees. The sky quality doesn't seem as good as last night but that could be because I didn't really stay out there and let my eyes adjust. I couldn't really see the "crown" of Corona Borealis, just that one biggest star in the middle of it. But that was a bonus one anyways. So I did it! I have completed the Night Sky Scavenger Hunt! AND as an added exciting treat for me, while I was out there I saw a pretty good-sized meteor streaking down toward the south.

Posted: 13 September 2006 at 5:02am | IP Logged

That's great Deb! I'll let Mallory know so she can do your certificate for you. I was just thinking this afternoon that I need to get out there and do the scavenger hunt myself before the rain clouds roll in over the next couple of days.

Posted: 13 September 2006 at 6:02am | IP Logged

Great job Debbie!!! Here is your certificate. I put something special on there. It is different from larry's certificate.

2006-09-13_055939_Scavenger_Hunt_completion_Certificate_of_d ebbie.doc

Posted: 13 September 2006 at 5:04pm | IP Logged

Mallory - from me just a few words - I have followed this but not commented much until now:

You are a brightr shining example for us all!

Great project!  And you are supporting the participants like a real pro.

WOW do we have a very special Astrokid or what????

Posted: 17 September 2006 at 8:29pm | IP Logged

Woo-hoo for me!! Thanks, Mallory!!! And thanks for adding my extra bonus meteor! That was neat.

Ok come on now the rest of yas, get out there and see some sky! It's finally cleared up here after a few days of rain. Early this morning I peeked out front to see the crescent moon and you shoulda seen the beautiful winter stars sparkling out there! They're beautiful.

Posted: 19 September 2006 at 4:49am | IP Logged

Well, I have finally accomplished something astronomical!!  It seems like it's been so long!!!!!  And, it's so beautifully clear out right now.

Ahem...my "Scavenger Report"...

As it it supposed to drop down somewhere between 31 and 34 degrees tonight (and it 's still Summer!) I figured I had better head out early.  So, around 7:15pm I pulled up Starry Night and located where everything should be that I wanted to find.  I grabbed my sweater, Skywatch magazine, bins, scavenger sheet, red light and a pencil, and headed out around 7:45p.  Wasn't long before I headed right back in for my gloves and earmuffs!

I first glanced at the Milky Way.  It was a bit dim right then so I made a note to go back to it before going in. 

I then went for all the ones I definitely knew, and could find easily and quickly:  Big Dipper, Cassiopeia, Polaris, Cygnus, Summer Triangle, Coathanger (I can only find this naked eye if I avert my vision and then it's a blob so I used the bins to really look). 

Next, I used the Big Dipper and Draco to identify Bootes, Hercules, and Corona Borealis.  Since I'm not very comfortable with Bootes and Hercules I spent awhile really looking at them and trying to "see" the constellations.  I did the same thing with Lyra and Aquila. 

By now the Milky Way was quite intense and magnificent in the night sky.  It, the teapot, the spoon, and Corona Australis were so crisp and clear!  Wonderful!!

This was a great exercise, Mallory.  It pointed out to me how really comfortable I am with some constellations and yet woefully unknowing of others, even after all these years!

Thanks!

Oh, I noticed your "angel" quote in your signature and thought you might like this one, too:  We are each of us angels with only one wing, and we can only fly by embracing one another.
--Luciano de Crescenzo

Posted: 21 September 2006 at 5:54pm | IP Logged

Thanks, Deb!

We do have pretty dark skies, fortunately.  We don't have street lights (or rather road lights-not a paved road).  There are some neighborhood lights and we get the glow in the west from Albuquerque, or the cement plant one.  Both are about 20-30 miles away.  Luckily there are hills and mountains between us and them.

I can't imagine going out and having difficulty seeing the Milky Way.  I definitely couldn't live in a big city.  And, I'm getting to the point where I really wouldn't want to live in a little town, either.  We're about 5 miles south of town.  We've a couple of neighbors across the road and a couple to the west.  No one close on the northeast side...yet.  And, there are some days that even this is becoming "too noisy and crowded for us."  Not very sociable, are we?

And, I agree...I think this was a great exercise.  I'm glad Mallory put it up.

Posted: 23 September 2006 at 6:56pm | IP Logged

Your welcome Deb!!! Great job Rebecca! Your discription is sooooo good!!!!! I am very jealous. Here is your certificate!

2006-09-23_185619_Scavenger_Hunt_completion_Certificate_of_r ebecca.doc

Yours is different too!

Posted: 24 September 2006 at 1:35am | IP Logged

Thanks, Mallory!  I love it!

Now, on to the Lunar Project!