Go to YourSky. Set up your map for Durham (55N 0E) and set the Date and Time to Universal Time 2009-08-17 18:00:00 ie 6pm tonight.
On Display Options, tick Ecliptic and equator, and Moon and planets but don't tick Deep sky objects of magnitude and brighter
On Constellations: tick Outlines, and Names aligned with horizon? but don't tick Boundaries
On Stars: tick Show stars brighter than magnitude 5.5, and CHANGE Names for magnitude and brighter - to 1.0. don't tick Bayer/Flamsteed codes for mag. and brighter
then just under the map click 'update now'. The background for the map is in blue to show that the sun is up so none of these stars can be seen!
change the Display Options: colour scheme to black on white background and print out your map
1) circle these features on it when you've found them
a) the plough - usra major
b) use the 'pointers' to find the pole star (end of ursa minor)
c) go a similar distance across and find cassiopea (W shape)
d) find the bright stars vega and altair
----------------------------------------------------------------2) redo the map for midnight 00:00:00. print it out and repeat steps a-d.
the background is now black to show its night
----------------------------------------------------------------3) redo the map for 06:00:00. print it out and repeat steps a-d.
----------------------------------------------------------------4) redo the map for 12:00:00. print it out and repeat steps a-d.
----------------------------------------------------------------5) which contellations are always above the horizon ?
which constellations rise and set ?
do the bright stars altair and vega rise and set?
----------------------------------------------------------------6) redo all of the above for midwinter ie a date of 2009-12-22
but include the bright constellation of orion
identify betelgeuse, a bright star in orion
and use the belt of orion to identify sirius, the brightest star in the sky.
at what time is betegeuse due south on this date? how does this compare with the time it is due south today?
at what time is sirius due south on this date? how does this compare with the time it is due south today?
----------------------------------------------------------------7) Take the midnight view of the midwinter sky
how does this change if you change your location to the north pole (90 N, 0E)
how does this change if you move to the equator (0N 0E)
how does this change if you move to the south pole (90 SOUTH!!, 0E)