3D Constellation

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Objectives

Visualize how stars in a constellation may look like if viewed from a different angle than what we see here on Earth.

Suggested Age Range

Ages 9+

Activity Level

Intermediate

Activity Duration

20 min

Materials

1. String – approximately 13 feet total
2. 8.5×11 inch piece of cardboard or foam board
3. Black marker or crayon 
4. Aluminum foil, cut into 13 four-inch squares
5. Tape
6. Ruler
7. Pen or pencil to poke holes in the cardboard
8. Constellation template—optional to print
9. Optional: Yarn needle for threading string

Stars of Pegasus

Instructions:

1. Print a copy of the Pegasus constellation template. Glue or tape the whole page to the cardboard or foam core board.
   Alternatively, you can trace the constellation onto a piece of cardboard or foam core board.
   Optional: Color in the background to look like outer space.
2. Poke holes through the board where the “stars” appear on the template.
3. Starting with star #1, measure a piece of string to the length indicated on the table above and add 3 inches. Cut.
   Examples:
   For star #1 (Enif) measure 0 inches + 3 inches, then cut. String #1 should be 3 inches long.
   For star #2 (Baham), measure 11.5 inches + 3 inches, then cut. String #2 should be 14.5 inches long.
4. Tape one end of string #1 to a four-inch square of foil. Crumple the foil into a ball around the string. Make the foil ball as tight as you can.
5. Poke the free end of string #1 through the hole on the cardboard for star #1.
   Now find Star #1 on the chart above. This star is named Enif. In the right-hand column of the table, you’ll see that Enif gets a string 0 inches long.
   Pull the string through the hole until the foil ball is 0 inches from the board. Tape the string in place on the backside of the board. For star #1, this means to pull the string until the ball hits the board and tape the string down in the back.
6. Repeat steps 3-5 for all 13 stars. Be careful not to let the strings get tangled together as you work.
7. Optional: Hang your mobile with string. Poke four new holes through the cardboard, each about an inch in from the four corners. Cut two more pieces of string, each about two feet long. Pull one piece of thread down through one corner hole and then pull it up through the nearest corner hole. Tie the two ends together, then repeat for the other two holes. Tie the two loops together so the board hangs flat.
8. Hang your mobile from a nail in a doorway, or tape it to the ceiling. Now stand under your mobile and look up. What do you see? Now, look at your mobile from the side. That’s what Pegasus looks like from space. Now, look at your mobile from the side. That’s what Pegasus looks like from space. Some stars are really far away from Earth, like Enif, and some stars are closer to Earth, like Iota Pegasi.