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The Night SkyThe Night Sky

Welcome to America’s Best IdeaWelcome to America’s Best Idea

The National ParksThe National Parks

Chickasaw National Recreation Area www.nps.gov

WelcomeWelcome

This is Chickasaw National Recreation This is Chickasaw National Recreation AreaArea A Combination of A Combination of

Platt National Park andPlatt National Park and Arbuckle LakeArbuckle Lake

We are a National Park Property just likeWe are a National Park Property just like Yellowstone Grand CanyonYellowstone Grand Canyon Yosemite and many othersYosemite and many others

We hope your visit here is fun and safeWe hope your visit here is fun and safe Poison IvyPoison Ivy WaterWater

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Junior Ranger Night Explorer Introduction

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The Night SkyThe Night Sky

You may have noticed the Park is You may have noticed the Park is dark.dark.

National Park Service Night Sky National Park Service Night Sky InitiativeInitiative

“A dark night sky can be sothought-provoking that it is no wonder

that such a sky is associated withso many facets of history, philosophy,

religion, societal development,poetry, song, mathematics, and science.”

Joe Sovick

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The Ancients Believed . . .The Ancients Believed . . .

The Stars Had PowerThe Stars Had Power Today We Have HoroscopesToday We Have Horoscopes

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Where Does the Zodiac Come Where Does the Zodiac Come From?From?

12 Constellations Were 12 Constellations Were ChosenChosen

Because the Sun, Moon and Because the Sun, Moon and Planets “moved“ through Planets “moved“ through them during the year.them during the year.

We will see some of them in We will see some of them in the second part of this Ranger the second part of this Ranger TalkTalk

AriesAries TaurusTaurus GeminiGemini CancerCancer LeoLeo VirgoVirgo LibraLibra ScorpioScorpio SagittariusSagittarius CapricornCapricorn AquariusAquarius PiscesPisces But just exactly But just exactly

what is a what is a Constellation?Constellation?

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E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C AE X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A

What is a Constellation?What is a Constellation?

The Sky is divided into The Sky is divided into Constellations just like the the Constellations just like the the United States is divided up into United States is divided up into States, or how Oklahoma is States, or how Oklahoma is divided into counties.divided into counties.

There are 88 constellations There are 88 constellations (boundaries)(boundaries)

In each constellation there are a In each constellation there are a series of stars that combine and series of stars that combine and have a name.have a name.

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Junior Ranger Night Explorer Constellations

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Why the Big Dipper is not a Why the Big Dipper is not a Constellation.Constellation. It is an ASTERISM.It is an ASTERISM. Sometimes part of a state will have a Sometimes part of a state will have a

special name.special name. Texas’ and Oklahoma’s Texas’ and Oklahoma’s PanhandlePanhandle Missouri’s Missouri’s Boot HeelBoot Heel Michigan’s Michigan’s Upper PeninsulaUpper Peninsula

Sometimes part of a constellation will Sometimes part of a constellation will have a special name.have a special name. Big DipperBig Dipper (part of the Ursa Major (part of the Ursa Major

constellation)constellation) Orion’s BeltOrion’s Belt (part of the Orion constellation) (part of the Orion constellation) The TeapotThe Teapot (part of Sagittarius) (part of Sagittarius)

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Why Look Up?Why Look Up?

CommunityCommunity You know you live in a small town when you You know you live in a small town when you

can walk down the street and name every dog can walk down the street and name every dog you see.you see.

When I look up, I see old friends. I can name When I look up, I see old friends. I can name most of the Constellations I see.most of the Constellations I see.

FamilyFamily Time spent looking at stars, satellites, meteor Time spent looking at stars, satellites, meteor

showers etc is time away from the TV.showers etc is time away from the TV.

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Why Look Up?Why Look Up? Stars and Constellations Moon and Planets Comets - Comet C/2009 R1 (McNaught) Satellites

Space Station Crossings

Meteors Showers

Eclipses Partial Lunar Eclipse at 5:16 AM Saturday , June 26

???????

The Sky This Week and Interactive Star Chart at Sky and Telescope

Satellite Tracker at NASA.

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Losing the Night Sky

Most Americans cannot see the Milky Way.

Many young Americans have never seen the Milky Way.

“Skyglow does not have to be accepted as

an unavoidable impact of growth anddevelopment.”Joe Sovick

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Junior Ranger Night Explorer Dark Skies

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End of Part One

If we could all sit/stand in a tight circle, we will now start the “Looking Up” part of the program.

We recommend sitting on a blanket or chair. Sometimes there is “live stock” on the ground.