Play > Uncle Al's Sky Wheels

Uncle Al's Sky Wheels

Here is an astronomical tool that will help you find constellations of stars and other things in the sky.
All you need to do is print out the

Sky Wheel Holder (80K pdf)
get Adobe pdf reader software

and the two star wheels currently available:

1. Basic Constellations (60K pdf)
2. Coordinates Star Wheel (1.6 MB pdf)

Note: More Star Wheels come with the "Sky Challenger" set.

See also: Uncle Al's Sky Wheels for the Southern Hemisphere (available in Spanish too)

After you print them, cut them out and assemble them following the directions that are on the printout.
Once you have that in hand, directions below on how to use it will make sense...

Star Wheel Explanation

How to Use the Sky Wheel

To find a constellation in the sky using the Star Wheel, follow these steps:

What date and time of night?
Rotate the Star Wheel in the Star Holder until your desired time of night lines up with the desired date.

Which horizon is the constellation closest to?
Find the constellation on the Star Wheel and note which horizon it is closest to.

How do I make it right-side up?
Orient the Star Holder so that the horizon the constellation is near is at the bottom. This will allow
that part of the sky to look right-side up to you. For example, if your constellation is closest to the northern horizon, flip the Star Holder upside down so that you are reading northern horizon at the bottom of the oval.

How high is the constellation in the sky?
Is the constellation closer to the zenith (center of the map) or closer to the horizon?

What shape is the constellation?
Memorize the pattern of stars in the constellation.

Can I see the constellation in the sky?
Find it!

Uncle Al's Sky Wheels were created by the LHS Hands-On Universe project.

Such a map of the sky which is adjustable for any time and any day is known as a planisphere.
Here are some online...

Planispheres and Starcharts online

SEDS list of Web-based Planetariums -- http://www.sed s.org/billa/astrosoftware.html#www
Skymaps.com -- http://www.skymaps.com
Stig's Sky Calendar & Planisphere -- http://www.skycalendar.com/
Dome of the Sky -- http://domeofthesky.com/foyer.html

---Uncle Al

See the LHS online Star Clock
Make your own Star Clock

Note: The star wheels work pretty much OK for latitudes 30-50 degrees. Below 30 degrees, you start losing parts of the sky that you should be seeing. Could be adapted for higher latitudes by unfastening the cover/holder and refastening it with the fold-line LOWER by an amount that will allow the wheel to sit lower in the window. At north pole, North Star would be centered in the window. Only problem with that strategy is that the month/time scales don't line up right and time inaccuracies will ensue.

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