A planisphere is a star map that calculates the positions of stars for any date, time, and location. It represents stars of different brightnesses with different sized dots. Planispheres are specific to latitude and inexpensive to make. They allow users to easily find constellations and planets by rotating the map according to the date, time, and direction being faced. Several northern constellations like Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Cassiopeia, Cepheus, and Draco can be seen throughout a full 24-hour cycle when rotating a planisphere. Websites are available to print homemade planispheres or use virtual online versions.

1. Planispheres
By: Ashley Steffe & Meghan Kennedy

2. What is a Planisphere?
Planispheres calculate the positions of stars for any
day, any time around the world according to date and
time.
Larger dots represent brighter stars, smaller dots
represent dull stars.
They re latitude specific.
Very inexpensive to make and extremely easy to use
for self-discovery.

3. DATE
TIME
Using
Your ZENITH
HORIZON
Planisphere
DIRECTION
ECLIPTIC
you can find planets near this line!!

4. Using your planisphere,
can you find any
common similarities
between these five
constellations as you
rotate it through a full
24 hour cycle?
■ Ursa Major
■ Ursa Minor
■ Cassiopeia
■ Cepheus
■ Draco

5. Northern Circumpolar
Constellations
■ Ursa Major ■ Cephus
■ Cassiopeia
■ Draco
■ Ursa Minor

6. Build Your Own!
There are a variety of websites where you can
print your own planisphere.
http://www.vcas.org/star-wheels.html

7. Virtual Planisphere
Comcast offers a very cool virtual planisphere.
http://home.comcast.net/~erniew/astro/
plani.html

8. Picture References
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/97/Planisphere.jpg/220px-Planisphere.jpg
http://stevenasimpson.com/planisphere.gif
http://www.ne.jp/asahi/stellar/scenes/seiza/chart/cep_c.gif
http://starryskies.com/The_sky/constellations/draco01.jpg
http://www.ne.jp/asahi/stellar/scenes/seiza/chart/cas_c.gif
http://www.greatdreams.com/constellations/ursa-minor.jpg
http://starryskies.com/The_sky/constellations/ursa.major.bear.jpg
http://spaceyuga.com/wp-content/uploads/Circumpolar_Constellations-9.gif