The Night Sky

Vincent went out one night and sketched the positions of some of the patterns of stars that he knew. He went out the next month and carefully sketched the positions of the patterns of stars again. How did the two sketches compare?

• The shapes of some of the patterns would have changed.

• The patterns would be exactly the same shape and in the same place.

• The patterns would be the same, but drawn in different places on the paper.

• The pictures would be very different. None of the constellations would be the same after a month.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Which statement explains why stars appear to move in the same pattern across the sky when viewed from Earth?

• Earth is rotating on its axis.

• The stars are spinning.

• Earth is moving around the stars.

• The stars are moving around Earth.

Antonio has been using his telescope every night to observe the star patterns (constellations). He kept a journal of his observations all year. Which of the following is a correct observation?

• Star patterns change as they appear to move across the sky.

• Different star patterns can be seen in different seasons.

• The star patterns remain in the same position every night.

• The star patterns are brighter at different times of the night.

Tags

NGSS.5-ESS1-2

Ja'leah centers a star in the middle of her telescope’s view and locks the telescope in place. A few hours later, the star appears to have moved. Why does the star appear to move in the telescope’s view?

• Earth rotates on its axis.

• Stars rotate on their axes.

• Earth revolves around the Sun.

• The stars revolve around Earth.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

Danny observes that he can see some star patterns during the winter, but not during the summer. Which motion causes his observations?

• Earth rotating on its axis.

• The stars moving around Earth.

• Earth is revolving around the Sun.

• The stars moving around the Sun.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Aquila is a constellation that people in Florida can see only in the summer.

Why can some constellations be seen only in the summer?

• Earth rotates on its axis.

• Earth revolves around the Sun.

• The Sun sets earlier in the winter.

• The constellations move through the sky.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Throughout the year, the students in fourth grade observed the patterns of stars. They recorded their observations in their science journals. Which of the following is an accurate, or correct observation?

• Star patterns change shape as they move across the sky.

• Star patterns travel across the sky from west to east.

• All the star patterns visible in the summer are also visible in the winter.

• Some star patterns are visible only in the summer and others only in the winter.

Tags

NGSS.5-ESS1-2

Diego was in his front yard observing constellations in the night sky early in the evening. He observed that one constellation, the Big Dipper, was very easy to see from his front yard. Later the same evening, he observed that the Big Dipper could be seen better from the back yard. Which statement correctly explains why the Big Dipper appears to have shifted in the sky?

• The Big Dipper is the only constellation that moves across the night sky.

• The Earth’s rotation on its axis caused a shift in the appearance of the Big Dipper.

• The Big Dipper is a constellation which moves from east to west across the night sky.

• The Earth’s revolution around the sun caused a shift in the appearance of the Big Dipper.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

How many constellations are in the night sky?

• 78

• 88

• 98

• 108