"The Guiding Stars"- HCS Supplemental Resources

The Guiding Stars

HCS Supplemental Resources

Astronomy

Astronomy is the study of stars, planets, and other objects. Astronomy has long helped humans navigate, or find their way. 

The Vikings

Thousands of years ago, ships of Viking explorers left Norway. The Vikings did not have compasses or any modern tools. Instead, they observed the location of objects in the sky. They knew that the North Star is always in the same place in the night sky.

Explorers

Explorers used the North Star and many other stars to help them navigate. The stars are a set distance away from one another. Explorers observed which stars were visible. This information helped them know where they were in the world.

The Compass

Other early explorers, like the Chinese, did have tools to help them navigate. One important tool invented in China is the compass. A compass has a magnetized needle that always points north. Over time, explorers have developed other important tools. Many of these tools use astronomy. 

The Astrolabe

The astrolabe is a tool that helps tell time and location. Astrolabes have existed for centuries. Explorers started using them in the 1500s. An astrolabe takes measured observations of the Sun, stars, and planets in the sky. This tool let explorers find their exact latitude on Earth.

The Sextant

Another tool is called a sextant. It helped explorers measure the distance between an object in the sky and the horizon. This helped them calculate distances and know how far they had traveled.

The Telescope

The sextant was invented in 1730, and it worked together with another important tool—the telescope. The telescope, which Galileo invented in 1609, helped explorers make detailed observations about the night sky. 

Mapping the World

The telescope allowed explorers to make detailed maps of the stars which led to more precise navigation. Thanks to these tools and the explorers who mastered their use, humans soon mapped the world. 

Multiple Choice

_____ is the study of stars, planets, and other objects.

• Biology

• Astronomy

• Meteorology

• Chemistry

Multiple Choice

Astronomy has long helped humans _____, or find their way.

• navigate

• learn

• walk

• fly space ships

Multiple Choice

The Vikings did not have compasses or any modern tools. Instead, they observed the location of objects in the _____.

• ocean

• weather

• sky

• bottom of their ships

Multiple Choice

Explorers used this star to help them navigate.

• Shooting Star

• Meteor

• South Star

• North Star

Multiple Choice

Explorers observed _____ which were visible. This information helped them know where they were in the world.

• Meteors

• UFO's

• stars

• asteroids

Multiple Choice

A _____ has a magnetized needle that always points north.

• astrolabe

• compass

• sextant

• telescope

Multiple Choice

An _____ takes measured observations of the Sun, stars, and planets in the sky. This tool let explorers find their exact latitude on Earth.

• compass

• astrolabe

• sextant

• telescope

Multiple Choice

A _____ helped explorers measure the distance between an object in the sky and the horizon. This helped them calculate distances and know how far they had traveled.

• sextant

• compass

• astrolabe

• telescope

Multiple Choice

The _____ helped explorers make detailed observations about the night sky.

• compass

• sextant

• telescope

• astrolabe

Multiple Choice

The telescope allowed explorers to make detailed _____ of the stars which led to more precise navigation.

• pictures

• screen shots

• GPS

• maps

Assignment

On a piece of notebook paper, answer the questions at the bottom of page 2 of the Discovery Education article, "The Guiding Stars". Upload your answers when you have finished.