Name: ____________________

Palomares 4-H Astronomy
Level 1 Requirements

To qualify, you must complete all of the following requirements:

Requirement	Date	Approved
1. Make (or buy) a star wheel & do the Star Wheel Challenge.
2. Find Polaris (the North Star) in the sky, using the Big Dipper. Why is this star important? _____________________________________________
3. Locate 3 of the following circumpolar constellations, first on your star wheel and then in the sky: Ursa Major ___ Ursa Minor ___ Draco ___ Cassiopeia ___ Cepheus ___
4. Locate, in the sky, 3 of the following constellations or asterisms (star patterns). (Use your star wheel.) Find or make up easy names to help you remember them: Sagittarius ___ Easy name: __________ Scorpius ___ Easy name: __________ Cygnus ___ Easy name: __________ Summer Triangle ___ Easy name: __________ Pegasus ___ Easy name: __________ Andromeda ___ Easy name: __________ Orion ___ Easy name: __________ Taurus ___ Easy name: __________ Gemini ___ Easy name: __________ Leo ___ Easy name: __________ Bootes ___ Easy name: __________ Perseus ___ Easy name: __________ Auriga ___ Easy name: __________
5. Locate, in the sky, 3 very bright stars. Find out their names and constellations (use the star map: Star: _______________ Constellation: _______________ Star: _______________ Constellation: _______________ Star: _______________ Constellation: _______________
6. Do 1 of the following: ___ Observe the Moon with binoculars (or a telescope). Locate at least 2 maria (large flat, dark areas) & 2 craters. Find their names and mark them on your Moon map. ___ Observe the Sun using a pinhole camera or telescope with the proper filter. Sketch any sunspots you see.
7. Complete observing pages for 2 of the following planets, observed through a telescope (include moons if you see any): ___ Jupiter ___ Saturn ___ Mars ___ Venus
8. With help, observe at least 3 of the following with either binoculars or a telescope: ___ A binary or multiple star (e.g. Mizar or Albireo). Which star did you see? _____________________________________ ___ An open star cluster (e.g. the Pleiades, the Hyades, the Beehive). Which one did you see? _______________________ What is an open star cluster? ____________________________ ___ A globular star cluster (e.g. M13 in Hercules). Which one did you see? _____________________________________ What is a globular star cluster? _______________________________ ___ A nebula (e.g. M42 in Orion or the Lagoon Nebula in Sagittarius). Which one did you see? _____________________ What is a nebula? _____________________________________ ___ A planetary nebula (e.g. the Ring or Dumbell nebula). Which one did you see? _______________________________ What is a planetary nebula? (Hint: it has nothing to do with planets!) ____________________________________________ ___ A galaxy (e.g. M31 in Andromeda). Which one did you see? _______________________________________________ What is our galaxy called? _____________________________
9. Do 4 of the following: ___ Find 3 different names, from 3 different cultures, for the Big Dipper asterism (star pattern): a. _____________ Culture: ____________ b. _____________ Culture: ____________ c. _____________ Culture: ____________ During summer, look into the center of our galaxy with binoculars (just to the right of & above the Sagittarius teapot). Search for nebulae and star clusters and multiple stars. Describe what you saw: _____________________________________________ ___ Observe a meteor. Can you tell what direction (i.e. constellation) it appeared to come from? __________________ Observe a satellite, the MIR space station, or the space shuttle. When are the only times these may be visible? __________________________________________________ ___ Enter a project or demonstration in the county fair. ___ Learn 1 myth about a constellation or star (from any culture). Tell the story to someone or draw a picture about it. Which one did you learn about? _______________________ ___ Watch 1 documentary tape or read 1 age-appropriate book about astronomy or visit 1 planetarium show. Which one did you see/read? _____________________________________

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