Camping under the Stars

For many who live in the city, camping is the only time they might have access to truly dark skies - perfect for stargazing! Listed below are suggestions for camping activities which can be done on one's own, as a family or as a group.

Star Charts

With darker skies come more stars - sometimes even the Big Dipper is hard to pick out! Check out both simple star charts and more advanced ones, and be sure to take one with you when you camp. Don't forget your flashlight!

How to find north by the Sun and stars

Contrary to popular belief, Polaris (the North Star) is NOT the brightest star in the sky. Click on this link to learn how to find north by using the stars or the Sun. This can be an important if you are planning on camping in the backwoods.

How to tell time by the Sun and stars

So your watch falls off your wrist into the lake. How can you figure out what time it is, night or day? This link is also useful for fulfilling Guide and Scout requirements. Likewise, a more advanced method is found here.

Satellites and space stations

At dusk and dawn, outside of the city it is not uncommon to see points of light moving across the sky - too dim to be a plane, too slow to be a meteor, but certainly not a star. What is it? Click the link above to find out which satellites (or even the International Space Station) will be overhead for your specific location, and how to look for them.

Tour of the Night Sky

Starting with the Big Dipper, make your way across the sky finding constellations and learning about astronomy using this tour of the stars and accompanying star map.

Constellations including myths and legends

Some of the best campfire stories are the myths and legends behind some of the well-known (and not-so-well-known) constellations. This site has all the constellations, how to find them, when to see them and "how they got there."

Canadian Junior Astronomer Program

This new initiative of the Canadian Astronomical Society invites students of all ages to become a Junior Astronomer. Select from a list of things to find in the sky and on the internet to complete a level, and move from Star, to Nova, to Supernova. The levels can be completed by the whole family or parents can help out the younger ones.

Invent your own constellation

To demonstrate that there is nothing sacred about the star patterns after which the constellations are named (and to have some fun), younger campers can invent their own constellations and make up stories to go with them.

Related links:

• Family astronomy activities
• Observing the night sky
• Planetary data
• Tour the universe

created by the CASCA education Webteam, (2008)