The stars rise and set just like our sun, and for people in the northern hemisphere, the Big Dipper circles the north star Polaris once every 24 hours. Would you like to learn how to tell time by the stars?


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6 Responses to “Telling Time by the Stars”

  1. The current TIME = the clock reading MINUS twice the number of months after March 6.

    If it is April 6, then you are subtracting 2 from the time you read on the clock. If it’s May 6, then subtract 4. Does that make sense?

    Also note that if it “daylight savings” (usually March – Nov), then you have to account for that extra hour as well. Try it tonight and see how you do!

  2. I don’t get how you did the correction factor. Can you explain it? Thank you!

  3. Yes, you are right! That sentence needs to be corrected. I’ve have fixed it – thank you!

  4. djbigelow5866 says:

    Instead of, “When they are directly below the Big Dipper,…” should it say, “When they are directly below the North Star,”?

  5. Probably the big dipper – the little dipper is harder to see (stars are fainter in the little dipper constellation). Great job!

  6. emilyannejon says:

    The other night I saw the big dipper above my house! 🙂 (it may have been the little dipper?)