Key Terms
This is a tool that makes far-away space objects appear closer and clearer.
Telescope
The Moon phase when the whole face is lit and visible from Earth.
Full Moon
These patterns of stars are often used to name and find groups of stars in the sky. Give one reason why people learn constellations.
Example answers: to find directions, to mark seasons, for stories and culture.
The bright star nearly above Earth’s North Pole that helps people find north.
Polaris (North Star)
The Moon phase when we cannot see the Moon from Earth because the lit side faces away.
New Moon
If a constellation is visible low in the southern sky in winter, explain why it might not be visible in summer.
Because Earth orbits the Sun, our night-time view of space changes with the seasons so some constellations are not in view.
The movement of Earth spinning on its axis that causes day and night.
Rotation
The phase that comes after waxing crescent and before waxing gibbous.
First Quarter
Name one way ancient travelers used stars to help them travel.
They used the position of certain stars (like Polaris) to find direction/navigation.
A group of stars that form a pattern in the sky.
Constellation
The phase that comes right after full moon as the lit portion begins to shrink.
Waning Gibbous
Explain how some constellations can help people know about seasonal changes (one clear example).
Example: When a certain constellation appears in the evening sky, it might signal planting time or animal migrations in that region.
The name for all of space and everything in it (planets, stars, galaxies, matter, energy).
Universe
Name the four main phases in order starting with New Moon.
New, First Quarter, Full, Last Quarter
Describe why constellations appear to move across the sky each night (use the idea of Earth’s motion).
Because Earth rotates each night and also orbits the Sun, star positions shift across the sky from night to night and season to season.