I can identify a variety of stars, planets and constellations in a planetarium when a knowledgeable astronomer is there to confirm my findings. But when I'm outside with my kids looking at the real thing, it's a different story. I'm a wishy-washy mess of "umms" and "hmmms" in trying to definitively identify anything beyond the most simple of constellations. I have taken my kids to planetarium shows since they were preschoolers and they have always loved the experience. When my oldest daughter was 5-years-old and I asked her where we lived, hoping she would reply with our street address, she instead said, "Planet Earth."
These days my kids have found the mythology about the night sky particularly interesting and our visits to the planetarium are often prompted when we see a storytelling orientated program offered.
MOON PHASES Even though I'm not always sure I can identify all the stars and constellations in the sky, the phase of the moon is easier to point out. The moon's cycles affect ocean tides and although this is a complicated concept for young children, the basic premise can be explained in the context of visiting the beach in the summer. There is a reason why the waves are moving closer (or further away) from the beach blanket during the day - it's (mostly) because of the moon.
My kids know the best night of the month to view the stars is when there's a new moon. The absence of the moon means there is less light "pollution" so the dimmer stars and planets are easier to find. We're also aware of the full moon during each winter month because there are several cross country ski enthusiasts that plan guided tours on those nights. During the warmer months the Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center offers full moon canoe tours. Knowing the moon phases opens up all sorts of interesting and off-the-beaten-path outdoor adventures for families if you are interested to trying something new.
TELESCOPE NOT REQUIREDMy family has a telescope and we do use it periodically but a simple pair of binoculars works just as well for the kids and don't require an adult's assistance to use. The moon's craters are easily visible through our 7x50 pair of binoculars and the kids can scan the surface by moving their binoculars instead of worrying about knocking a telescope lens off track (a common problem in using telescopes with children). The key to night time viewing through binoculars is choosing an aperture value that allows a higher amount of light to pass through the lens (the second number indicates this value and 50mm works well for us). Prices can vary but an inexpensive pair will still likely appeal to kids who want to get a closer look at the moon, an object easily found through any lens.
MONTHLY SKY CHARTS
Having a chart of stars during the month you are viewing is key to ensuring you can identify what you are looking at. For instance, the Big Dipper (Ursa Major constellation) stands on it's "handle" in the winter on the north horizon while in autumn it appears upright and looks like the dipper it was named after during that season. It's helpful to know the dipper's orientation so you can start at a familiar point of reference before branching out to identify other constellations with the kids. The Maine Sunday Telegram prints a sky chart at the beginning of each month in the Outdoors section of the newspaper.
A COMPASS CAN BE HELPFUL
We use a compass when we're serious about trying to identify specific constellations so we can orientate ourselves precisely to our sky chart. This is not necessary when teaching younger children to identify Ursa Major and Ursa Minor but, it can be helpful in identifying Polaris (North Star) and explaining the basics of how a compass works.
BOOK RESOURCES
There are tons of books you can read to learn more about this subject. And even though I am capable of a more advanced reading level, I have found that the books geared for younger children are the best reference books on my shelf.
* "Stargazers" by Gail Gibbons
* "Exploring the Night Sky: The Equinox Astronomy Guide for Beginners" by Terence Dickinson
* "Bedroom Astronomy" by Klutz
* "Usborne Discovery: Astronomy" by Rachel Firth
VISIT THE EXPERTS
There are a variety of places in Maine where you can bring the family to visit to help you all learn more about the night sky.
* Maynard F. Jordan Planetarium in Orono, www.galaxymaine.com
* Southworth Planetarium in Portland, www.usm.maine.edu/planet
* Starfield Observatory in Kennebunk, www.asnne.org
* Brower Observatory in Whitefield, www.maineastro.com
* Challenger Learning Center in Bangor, www.clcofme.org
ON THE WEB, AND MORE
NASA features a "Month in Exploration" that offers notable historical facts related to space exploration for each month of the year. www.nasa.gov/exploration/thismonth/this_month_main.html
Print out a kid-friendly Star Finder, which is specific to each month: spaceplace.jpl.nasa.gov/en/kids/st6starfinder/st6starfinder.shtml
The International Space Station can be viewed from Maine several times each month. This website offers a region-specific monthly listing of viewing times: spaceflight1.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/index.html
The Skywatch Hotline is updated weekly by the staff at the Southworth Planetarium in Portland. Call (207) 780-4719 to listen to a pre-recorded message about notable happenings in the sky over Maine each week.
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