Science Module 7, Lesson 02.06 Starry Night

Starry Night

Science Module 7, Lesson 02.06

I will be able to:

-describe the appearance of stars based on distance

-describe how stars appear as points of light due to their distance from Earth

-explain that stars appear as points of light due to their distance from Earth

-explain why the sun is different from other stars

Starry Night

When it comes to the night sky, there is so much to observe. There are over 200 billion stars in our galaxy and from Earth, they all have something in common. They appear as tiny points of light. But why? Let's find out. 

So Tiny, So Far Away

Stars appear as points of light in the sky because they are so incredibly far away from Earth. If we could get up really close to a star, we could see how incredibly large it is! If the star moved away from us, it would get smaller and smaller until it looked like a tiny point of light in the sky. Let's take a look at some other sources of light and see how they appear to change with distance.

Fixed Point of Light

The light from a lighthouse is a fixed point of light. This means that it stays in one position. As you get farther away, the light will not be as bright, but it does not move.

Fixed Point of Light

The light from stars are also fixed points of light. The stars do appear to move as Earth moves, but they are fixed points of light in the sky. 

Multiple Choice

How does the light from the lighthouse change as it gets farther away?

• The light becomes a point of light as it gets farther away.

• The light becomes a planet as it gets farther away.

• The light becomes larger as it gets farther away.

• The light becomes the sun as it gets farther away.

Multiple Choice

How would the light from the lighthouse change if it was closer to us?

• The light would be smaller if it was closer to us.

• The light would be the sun if it was closer to us.

• The light would be larger if it was closer to us.

• The light would disappear if it was closer to us.

Write Like a Scientist

In your Science Notebook, draw a picture of the stars as they appear in the night sky. Describe how your stars look. Why do they look that way?

Describing the Stars

We cannot get closer to the stars because they are so far away. It would take thousands and thousands of years just to reach the first one! They are also too hot to be close to. To understand stars better, we can compare them to other sources of light that we are able to be close to, such as car headlights, flashlights, bonfires, and lighthouses. 

Describing the Stars

Take a look at the two images. Both images show stars as points of light in the night sky. Some of the points of light in one image are larger and brighter than the points of light in the other image.

Practice Like a Scientist

Are you ready to describe the stars in the sky? Print and complete the Describing the Stars activity sheet.

Multiple Choice

Stars appear as fixed points of light in the night sky.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

A star that is very large will always appear brighter than a star that is smaller.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

The sun appears so much larger than other stars because it is so much closer to Earth.

• True

• False

Points of Light

in the Sky

All stars, except for the sun, appear as points of light in the sky. Why is the sun different from the other stars in the sky? Let's find out!

Points of Light

in the Sky

Stars appear to be different sizes because they are different distances from Earth. The farther away a star is from Earth, the smaller it will appear. Only the sun is close enough to appear larger than a point of light in the sky. When a star is far away we can only see it as a point of light in the sky. The sun only appears different because it is so close to Earth!

Write Like a Scientist

In your Science Notebook, explain why all stars except the sun, appear as points of light in the sky.

Near or Far, How Bright You Are!

All stars appear as points of light because they are very, very far away from Earth. If they were closer, they would look like our sun. The sun is a big ball of gas that gives off light. Let's compare how different stars look depending on their distance from Earth. 

Practice Like a Scientist- OPTIONAL

It's time to have some fun creating your very own nighttime sky! Please print the Near or Far activity sheet.

Multiple Choice

The stars look like points of light because __________.

• they are pointy

• they are close to Earth

• they are far away from Earth

• they are close to each other

Multiple Choice

Why does the sun appear so much larger than the other stars?

• It is the brightest star.

• It is the biggest star.

• It is the hottest star.

• It is the closest star to Earth

Multiple Choice

Will a larger star always appear brighter than a smaller star?

• No, if the smaller star is closer to Earth it will appear brighter.

• Yes, the larger star will always appear to be brighter than the smaller star.

• No, if the smaller star is farther from Earth it will appear brighter.

• Yes, the smaller star would be impossible to see.

What is My Assignment?

It's time to show what you know!

Complete the 02.06 Starry Night activity sheet. Submit your work to 02.06 Starry Night.

You can do it!

Multiple Choice

What is the main source of heat and light energy for Earth?

• deserts

• moon

• oceans

• sun

Multiple Choice

Why does the sun emit its own energy?

• because it is made up of gases

• because it is made up of shiny material

• because it is made of strong types of rocks

• because it moves across the sky

Multiple Choice

What makes the sun a star?

• It moves across the sky.

• It appears high in the sky.

• It emits light and heat energy

• takes energy from other stars.

Multiple Choice

Which property shows how stars can be different?

• Attraction to other stars

• shape

• size

• texture

What Did I Learn?

Stars near, stars afar.

Points of light, wherever you are! 

With over 200 billion stars in our solar system, it's no wonder some are so far away. But all that distance makes them appear much smaller than they actually are.  

What Did I Learn?

As the closest star to Earth, the sun appears much larger. It also provides us with light and heat energy so we can survive. And those other stars? They may look like just points of light in the sky, but that's because they are so far away.

Now I can...

-describe the appearance of stars based on distance

-describe how stars appear as points of light due to their distance from Earth

-explain that stars appear as points of light due to their distance from Earth

-explain why the sun is different from other stars

Multiple Choice

How are a red dwarf star and a giant star similar or different?

• They are the same size.

• They always have the same brightness.

• A red dwarf is often brighter than a giant star.

• A red dwarf is dimmer than a giant star.

Multiple Choice

A giant star is larger and brighter than a yellow dwarf star, but the yellow dwarf star is much closer to Earth than the giant star. Which of the following describes how the two stars will appear from Earth?

• The yellow dwarf star will appear larger and brighter than the giant star.

• The yellow dwarf star will appear larger and dimmer than the giant star.

• The yellow dwarf star will appear smaller and brighter than the giant star.

• The yellow dwarf star will appear smaller and dimmer than the giant star.

Multiple Choice

The sun is described as a medium size star because it is ________.

• a red dwarf star

• a yellow dwarf star

• a giant star

• a supergiant star

Multiple Choice

How does the size of the sun compare with the size of a giant star and a supergiant star?

• The sun is smaller than a giant star and a supergiant star.

• The sun is the same size as a giant star and a supergiant star.

• The sun is smaller than a giant star but larger than a supergiant star.

• The sun is larger than a giant star but smaller than a supergiant star.

Multiple Choice

How does the size of an object appear to change as it moves closer to you?

• The object appears smaller.

• The object appears larger.

• The object appears to move faster.

• The object disappears.

Multiple Choice

The sun appears brighter than other stars because it is ________.

• closer than other stars

• farther than other stars

• in the middle of the sky

• larger than other stars

Multiple Choice

What makes the sun appear larger and brighter than the other stars in the sky?

• The sun is the largest star in the sky.

• The sun contains more gases than all other stars.

• The sun emits more light energy than the other stars.

• The sun is closer to Earth than the other stars.