UK Astronomy Badge

A few weeks back I received my second exchange in the The Great Astronomers Badge Swap.

The Astronomer's Badge from the 12th Winchester Cubs in the UK (Winchester District).

This is a great example of how to make earning a badge fun and shows a creative way to overcome the challenges of the UK's famously cloudy skies. We face similar challenges here in Toronto during the fall and winter.

The requirements for this badge are:

1. Make a model or draw a simple diagram of the solar system.
2. Explain the difference between a planet and a star.
3. Identify three constellations.
4. Find out about and present some information on the two of the following: Planets, Comets, the Northern Lights, The Sun, Eclipses,Meteorites, Black holes, The Moon, Light years, Space exploration or any other space related subject.
5. Observe the moon, if possible using binoculars or a telescope. Describe some of its features.
6. Know how to locate and identify the Pole star or Southern Star. Know how explorers used it to navigate and plot courses.

Their approach:

1. They played a simple relay game where the cubs had to put the planets in the correct order from the sun. Then we made 3D models of the planets to hang up in their scout hut. They discussed how far apart to hang them to maintain scale. They thought Jupiter would have ended up about 100km away from the hut!
2. Each of the cubs explained the difference between stars and planets and gave an example. It was interesting to see how many different correct answers they could give!
3. With lots of cloudy nights their opportunities to actually observe the night sky were limited. They ended up constructing representations of constellations using candles and tin cans with holes. The Cubs were challenged to identify the constellations shown. They talked about some of the meanings behind the names for constellations.
4. Each cub came up with different information about objects in space. They also played a true/false game with some facts.
5. The Cubs did this at home. Drawing a picture or writing about what they saw. One even wrote a rather good poem!
6. The Cubs practised finding north. Everyone drew a diagram at home to illustrate it. They also visited a local hands-on science centre, and saw some of the shows in the planetarium which the everyone really enjoyed.Badges were presented the day of the outing.

Thanks to Scouter Emma (Riki-Tiki-Tava)!

Please click on the BadgeSwap label below to see other related badges and entries.

Skies Badge - South Africa

Here are the requirements:

This week the I received my first exchange in the The Great Astronomers Badge Swap.

The Skies Badge from the 9th Benoni Cubs in South Africa.

1. Identify TWO constellations and the Southern Cross
2. Make a pinhole planetarium and show THREE constellations
3. Identify FOUR cloud types
4. Visit a planetarium or spot a satelite and record the time of sighting and its path across the sky.

My thanks to Akela Joy!

Please click on the BadgeSwap label below to see other related badges and entries.

The Great Astronomers Badge Swap

I'd like to propose a modest project. To gather a collection of one of each astronomers badges from Scouters across the world.

Phase one would be a virtual collection. Please send me a digital photo of the badge and a photo or scanned image of the badge requirements. Please include group information and address. I'll put the collection together and make it available later. I'm thinking that I'll use the information in a Google map (like the map of the Solar System in Toronto in Astronomical Distances). And I'll track progress below.

Later it would be very nice to arrange a physical collection. I'd be willing to send a Canadian Astronomers badge to other Scouters that send me one from their country. But I want to coordinate this on a first come first serve basis so I don't have a bunch of folks send badges from the same place. If you are interested in this second phase, please contact me by email to coordinate an exchange.

Anyone wishing to send me one from their country can contact me at the email address on the sidebar (its obscured as an image so I don't get buried in spam) using the E-mail Me link under Contact and the GuestBook widget on the sidebar.

Thanks - Mang!

Note: contact information will not be published.

Progress Updates:

1. Astronomer Badge - Canada.
2. Skies Badge - South Africa
3. UK Astronomy Badge 
   

Please click on the BadgeSwap label below to see other related badges and entries.

Astronomers Badge

Image courtesy of NASA, the Comet is a bonus, click on image for more info
(Credit: Alessandro Dimai at the Col Druscie Observatory)

The 433rd has been working on the astronomer badge. The (paraphrased) requirements include:

1. Showing how to use the pointer stars (Merak and Dubhe) of the Big Dipper to find the Polaris (the North Star - the comet in the photo shows the way).
2. Using a star chart and finding 5 constellations, see Planispheres.
   
3. Learning and relating star lore (classical or aboriginal), see the Wolf Moon for one example.
   
4. Knowing and describing 3 (astronomical) features of the sky, such as comets, asteroids, planetary rings, strange quasi-moons, or other news.
   
5. Knowing about the phases of the moon and tides, see the Tides Game.

Earning an astronomer badge automatically counts for Black Star requirement A11 (finding the north star and 3 constellations).

Requirement 1 is paramount as it can be used to find direction!

Some easy constellations to find (in the northern hemisphere) include:

• Circumpolar (stars that are always up - click the link for a nice animation)


• Ursa Major (the big dipper)
• Ursa Minor (the little dipper)
• Cassiopeia

• Winter Group (look due south around 8pm Feb 10th)


• Orion
• Auriga
  
• Gemini
• Canis Major

• Summer Group


• Cygnus
• Lyra
• Aquila
  
• Hercules
• Scorpius

I would be interested in hearing from Cubs outside of Canada about astronomy requirements in their badges and awards. In particular, I would love to hear from Scouters in the southern hemisphere.

Update: Above I noted that Cubs can double dip on requirements for the Black Star. It turns out they can actually triple dip as the Winter Cubbing badge has a requirement to find the North Star and three night sjy objects!

Update: If you are a Cub leader outside if Canada, please also read The Great Astronomers Badge Swap.  And please click on the BadgeSwap label below to see other related badges and entries.