I love freebies. A food sample served up at the supermarket, a fishing guide handed out at an outdoor expo, even the toothbrush my dental hygienist gives me after cleaning my teeth — if it’s gratis, I’ll take it!
Needless to say, I’m always on the lookout for astronomy-related freebies. On rare occasions, I’ll hit the jackpot — a telescope rescued from a local recycling facility or an eyepiece donated by a friend who upgraded his set. More realistically, free astronomical goodies come my way in the form of printouts and downloads gleaned from the Internet. Here are a few of my favorites.
The Big Dipper Star Clock. Did you know it’s possible to determine the time of night by noting the position of the Big Dipper relative to Polaris? All you need is a simple device called the Big Dipper Star Clock. While it won’t provide the accuracy of a high-tech timepiece, it’s fun to use and (pay attention, parents, teachers, and Scout leaders) makes a nifty cut-and-paste project for youngsters ages 9 and up. Get instructions and a printable copy at www.pbs.org/seeinginthedark/for-teachers.
Uncle Al’s Star Wheel. A star wheel, or planisphere, is an essential planning tool for the backyard astronomer. If you don’t have a planisphere or you’ve misplaced yours and need one in a pinch, look into Uncle Al’s Star Wheel. Like the Big Dipper Star Clock, Uncle Al’s Star Wheel is available in printout form at the PBS “
Seeing in the Dark” website. Parent, teacher, and Scout leader alert: Uncle Al’s Star Wheel is another fun-to-assemble project for junior astronomers and, once completed, an engaging way for them to learn about the night sky.
