Make a Constellation Viewer
Bring the night sky indoors with your own star projector!
Long ago, people used stars to tell stories and find their way. This craft helps you recreate constellations and imagine how ancient skywatchers made sense of the stars above.
What You Will Need:
An empty oatmeal can or coffee can with a plastic lid
Push pin or thumbtack
Printable constellation template (or draw your own)
Flashlight
Tape and scissors
Step-by-Step Instructions:
Tape your constellation pattern to the plastic lid.
Use the push pin to poke a hole through each star.
Turn off the lights in a dark room.
Shine a flashlight through the lid to project your constellation on the ceiling or wall.
Try different constellations and even invent your own!
What to Look For:
Can you recognize the constellation when it is projected?
Are some stars brighter or grouped together?
What kind of animal or shape do you see?
Galileo Fun Fact!
Galileo’s telescope helped confirm that stars are very far away — much farther than the planets — and that they do not move around Earth.
Safety Tip:
Be careful when using sharp pins and ask an adult for help with making the holes.
Track Your Star Show!
In your Star Journal:
Date: ____________
Constellation I Made: ________________
Story I Created About It: ______________________
Sketch: [Draw your constellation]
