Chickasaw National Recreation Areawww.nps.gov The Night Sky Welcome to America’s Best Idea The National Parks

Chickasaw National Recreation Areawww.nps.govWelcome This is Chickasaw National Recreation Area This is Chickasaw National Recreation Area A Combination of A Combination of Platt National Park and Platt National Park and Arbuckle Lake Arbuckle Lake We are a National Park Property just like We are a National Park Property just like Yellowstone Grand Canyon Yellowstone Grand Canyon Yosemite and many others Yosemite and many others We hope your visit here is fun and safe We hope your visit here is fun and safe Poison Ivy Poison Ivy Water Water

Chickasaw National Recreation Areawww.nps.gov Junior Ranger Night Explorer Introduction

Chickasaw National Recreation Areawww.nps.gov The Night Sky You may have noticed the Park is dark. You may have noticed the Park is dark. National Park Service Night Sky Initiative National Park Service Night Sky Initiative “A dark night sky can be so thought-provoking that it is no wonder that such a sky is associated with so many facets of history, philosophy, religion, societal development, poetry, song, mathematics, and science.” Joe Sovick

Chickasaw National Recreation Areawww.nps.gov The Ancients Believed... The Stars Had Power Today We Have Horoscopes

Chickasaw National Recreation Areawww.nps.gov Where Does the Zodiac Come From? 12 Constellations Were Chosen Because the Sun, Moon and Planets “moved“ through them during the year. We will see some of them in the second part of this Ranger Talk Aries Aries Taurus Taurus Gemini Gemini Cancer Cancer Leo Leo Virgo Virgo Libra Libra Scorpio Scorpio Sagittarius Sagittarius Capricorn Capricorn Aquarius Aquarius Pisces Pisces But just exactly what is a Constellation? But just exactly what is a Constellation?

Chickasaw National Recreation Areawww.nps.gov E 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 Constellations just like the the United States is divided up into States, or how Oklahoma is divided into counties. The Sky is divided into Constellations just like the the United States is divided up into States, or how Oklahoma is divided into counties. There are 88 constellations (boundaries) There are 88 constellations (boundaries) In each constellation there are a series of stars that combine and have a name. In each constellation there are a series of stars that combine and have a name.

Chickasaw National Recreation Areawww.nps.gov Junior Ranger Night Explorer Constellations

Chickasaw National Recreation Areawww.nps.gov Why the Big Dipper is not a Constellation. It is an ASTERISM. It is an ASTERISM. Sometimes part of a state will have a special name. Sometimes part of a state will have a special name. Texas’ and Oklahoma’s Panhandle Texas’ and Oklahoma’s Panhandle Missouri’s Boot Heel Missouri’s Boot Heel Michigan’s Upper Peninsula Michigan’s Upper Peninsula Sometimes part of a constellation will have a special name. Sometimes part of a constellation will have a special name. Big Dipper (part of the Ursa Major constellation) Big Dipper (part of the Ursa Major constellation) Orion’s Belt (part of the Orion constellation) Orion’s Belt (part of the Orion constellation) The Teapot (part of Sagittarius) The Teapot (part of Sagittarius)

Chickasaw National Recreation Areawww.nps.gov Why Look Up? Community Community You know you live in a small town when you can walk down the street and name every dog you see. You know you live in a small town when you can walk down the street and name every dog you see. When I look up, I see old friends. I can name most of the Constellations I see. When I look up, I see old friends. I can name most of the Constellations I see. Family Family Time spent looking at stars, satellites, meteor showers etc is time away from the TV. Time spent looking at stars, satellites, meteor showers etc is time away from the TV.

Chickasaw National Recreation Areawww.nps.gov 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.

Chickasaw National Recreation Areawww.nps.gov 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 and development.” Joe Sovick

Chickasaw National Recreation Areawww.nps.gov Junior Ranger Night Explorer Dark Skies

Chickasaw National Recreation Areawww.nps.gov 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.