Star light, star bright.... what stars am I looking at tonight?
Have you ever looked up at the sky and wondered what star you were looking at or what the constellation might be? Then, you may want to give stargazing and some basic astronomy a try. Learning the constellations and some of the major stars in them is a great way to get your family involved in science and a great way to introduce your children to astronomy.
Also, researching the origins of the constellation names is a fun way to introduce your children to Greek and Roman mythology.
Once you are able to identify some of the constellations, we find that the Big Dipper (not to be confused with the Little Dipper), Orion, and Casiopea are some of the easier constellations to spot when first learning to locate the constellations in the sky, you can use those constellations to help you find other constellations. Using a star map (or star wheel) is super helpful. Sky and Telescope has a great FREE download that you can print out and assemble - they give instructions on how easy it is to use.
So next time you're looking up to the sky, don't just wish upon a star - find out more about it.