The Earth orbits the sun every 365.26 days, because of this motion, the stars that are visible at night, change throughout the year.
The Star Finder is a device that will allow you to determine which stars and other objects in space, will be visible on a given date and time.
Video Instructions for using your Starfinder:
Video - Using your Hila Starfinder
Video - Orion a Winter Constellation
Starfinder Construction
Supplies:
- scissors
- paper punch
- glue stick
- paper rivet
- heavy card (cereal box will do)
- thread
- masking tape
- print, then cut out star wheel, time circle and key
- Note: when the PDF print dialog pops up,
choose "Page Scaling - None" or "Fit Actual Size"
- click here for star wheel (PDF File)
- click here for time circle (PDF File)
- click here for key
- 4
keys per page - classroom use
- cut a 19 cm square from heavy card (see next line)
- Important, check the dimension of the "Time Circle" some printers will print to a different size then 19 cm.
- Adjust the size of the heavy card square to match the printed size of the Time Circle.
-
- center star wheel on heavy card
- push paper rivet through center of star wheel and card
-
- glue the corners of the time circle to the heavy card
- (make certain the star wheel is not glued)
- punch out the four holes on the time circle
- pull thread through the holes to create a cross on the star wheel
- tape thread on back
-
- tape key to back of card
- Rotate the star wheel to match the required date and time.
- The edge of the oval opening represents the horizon.
- N, E, W, and S indicate horizon direction.
- The thread cross indicates a spot directly overhead.
-
Select August 20 at 10:00 PM (22:00). Directly
overhead you will find the Constellation Cygnus, low in the South-West
is the Constellation Sagittarius, Hercules is high toward the West and
Ursa Major (the Big Dipper) is above the North-West horizon.
The planets, moon and sun are not included on this chart because they have their own motion against the stars.