News & Resources

Dark Sky Wheel [Handout & Activity - Big Astronomy] (English and Spanish)

Dark Sky Wheel [Handout & Activity - Big Astronomy] (English and Spanish)

  • Nighttime Event
  • Outside Venue
  • Target Audience
  • Adult, Teen
  • 09/09/2020

Have you ever been under a very dark sky? How did it feel? 

Dark skies are a precious natural resource. Astronomers, both professional and amateur look for clear dark skies for observing the night sky. More than 70% of all large ground-based telescopes in the world are located in the mountains and high deserts of Chile because they have some of the darkest skies in the world. 

Find your view tonight on the Dark Sky Wheel. These wheels have 2 sides: Orion is useful from about January - March, and Scorpius can be used from June - August, and even longer in the southern hemisphere.  
 
The stars in Orion and Scorpius are legendary in cultures around the globe. The skies have held a fascination and a place of reverence for all of human history. We are losing our cultural connection to the night sky through light pollution. Find out what other legends people from around the world have about these celestial neighbors. 

This resource is part of the Big Astronomy Toolkit.

Page last updated March 25, 2021

 


Video

Losing the Dark

Starry skies are a vanishing treasure because light pollution is washing away our view of the cosmos. It not only threatens astronomy, it disrupts wildlife, and affects human health. The yellow glows over cities and towns seen so clearly from space are testament to the billions spent in wasted energy from lighting up the sky.