Umbrella Planetarium

Below are two versions of this activity, one which is suited to younger children, and one more suited to older children due to the use of a sharp object.

Version 1 (younger children)

WHAT YOU NEED:

• Black umbrella
• Glow in the dark stars

INSTRUCTIONS:

Stick glow-in-the-dark stars on the inside of your umbrella.
You could put them in the design of an actual constellation, or just a nice pattern.

Leave the umbrella, inside up, exposed to light for a while.

Turn off the light, hold it above your head, and look at the “night sky”.  This works best when it is dark.

Turn the umbrella around to watch the stars change position as the “night” progresses.

Version 2 (older children)

WHAT YOU NEED:

• Black umbrella
• Sharp object, such as a large needle or skewer
• Light source, such as a bedlamp or bright torch

CAUTION: Adult supervision required for use of sharp object.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Mark the points of light of the stars, either from your own observations or from a printed star chart, on the umbrella with tailors chalk, or similar.

Use your sharp object to pierce the umbrella at these points, with great caution!

Turn all lights off except for your light source, and hold your umbrella over your head, with the light source above if possible… ask an adult to help you.

You can then see the stars, and by turning the umbrella, watch the position of the stars change as "night" progresses.