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Which two tools work best for observing stars?

• microscope and telescope

• Binoculars and telescope

• telescope and magnifying glass

• magnifying glass and binoculars

Aiden looked at a constellation of stars without a telescope. Then he looked at the constellation through a telescope. He drew sketches of what he saw below.

Why are the two views different?

• A telescope lets you see more stars because it has a larger viewing area than your eyes have alone.

• A telescope lets you see more stars because it can focus on the dimmer stars that your eyes cannot see.

• You see the stars in better focus without a telescope because there is no glass between your eyes and the sky.

• You see more stars without a telescope because there is no glass between your eyes and the sky.

Scientists classify stars by many characteristics. One of them is their color. Blue white stars are the hottest. Red stars are the coolest. The sun is a yellow star. Which statement is true about the sun?

• The sun has the same temperature as other stars

• The sun is hotter than a blue white star.

• The sun is cooler than a red star.

• The sun is cooler than a blue white star.

Star A and Star B give off the same amount of light. Nancy observes these two stars in the night sky. Star A looks brighter than star B. Which best explains why Nancy sees star A as brighter?

• Star A is closer to Earth than star B.

• Star A is larger than star B.

• Star A is cooler than star B.

• Star A is farther from Earth than star B.

An astronaut in space can see that planets, moons, stars, and Earth all lit up in the sky.

Which of these objects most likely makes its own light and heat?

• moon

• Earth

• star

• planet

Chris is looking at some stars through his binoculars. Some stars appear very bright. Chris knows that stars give off different amounts of light.

What else affects how bright a star appears?

• distance from Earth

• color

• temperature

• shape

Stars are classified by their characteristics. Which of the following is not used to classify stars?

• shape

• color

• brightness

• size

Trey is taking notes after observing stars. Which of the following best describes how Trey might describe the stars he saw?

• streaks of light

• points of light

• beams of light

• waves of light

Aubrey says that the sun is not a star because it is too close to Earth. Joseph says it is a star because it has the same characteristics as stars. Which items below best describe why the sun is a star?

• It makes its own light and heat.

• It is larger than all other stars.

• It reflects light from other stars.

• It is made up of gases and clouds

The picture below shows a group of stars called the Big Dipper.

Some stars in the picture look bigger and brighter than others. What could cause a star to look bigger or brighter than another star?

• The star is closer to Earth.

• The star is closer to the center of the constellation.

• The star is hotter.

• The star has more planets around it.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3