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Star Navigation Worksheet

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Star Navigation Worksheet

Wiremu, Ruben and Zoe are travelling along the coast on a night-time road trip. They stop at a safe lookout to learn how people can use the sky to find direction. Complete the activities and use the clues carefully.

Use the clues

Stars appear to move across the sky during the night because Earth spins. Some stars and groups of stars can help people work out direction. In the Southern Hemisphere, the Southern Cross can help point towards south. Navigators also notice other clues, such as the Moon, the Sun’s position at daytime, coastlines and the direction of waves. Using several clues is safer than relying on just one.

1.Which group of stars can help a navigator in New Zealand find south?

The Southern Cross
The Big Dipper
Orion’s Belt

2.At night, the Southern Cross helps Wiremu work out which direction is south. Which direction is opposite to south?

North
East
West

3.True or false: Stars seem to move across the sky during the night because Earth spins.

TrueFalse

4.Zoe cannot see the stars because clouds cover the sky. Name one other natural clue she could look for to help with direction.

5.Ruben sees the Southern Cross and also checks the shape of the coastline. Why is it useful to check more than one clue?

6.Complete the sentence: The Southern Cross can help a navigator find .

7.Match each clue to when it is easiest to observe.

Stars
Sun’s position
Coastline

During the day
At night
When it can be seen from the route

8.Imagine you are helping the travellers plan a safe journey after dark. Write two natural clues they could use and explain how one clue might help them.

9.Draw a simple night sky with the Southern Cross and an arrow pointing south. Add one more natural clue that could help a navigator.

Draw and label the clues described in the last question.