Tracing the Sky
Star Journal
An observation journal for exploring the patterns of the night sky.
This Journal Belongs To:
Welcome
Your first astronomy adventure
Welcome to Tracing the Sky. This adventure begins with something simple: looking up and getting to know the sky.
You have probably seen the stars, the Moon, and the Sun before. But have you stopped to wonder about them? Do they move across the sky? How do they move? Learning to notice and describe what you see is where our discovery begins.
Long before telescopes and equations, people were learning to recognize patterns in the sky. They watched carefully, grew familiar with what they saw, and returned to see what had changed. You can begin in the same way.
Your first challenges will help you recognize constellations: patterns of stars that help you find your way around the night sky. As these patterns become familiar, you will begin to follow how they move. Then you will explore the Sun, the Moon, and the planets, discovering what they do as time passes.
The goal is simple: to grow confidence and curiosity. You do not need to know all the names or have all the answers. The guided journeys will help you practice, one discovery at a time.
As you get to know the digital sky, the sky outside can start to feel familiar too. One night, you may look up and find yourself saying, “I know what I’m looking at.”
Think of this as learning the map before beginning the journey. There is a whole sky to discover.
Part One
Stars
Watch the stars across hours and days, noticing how familiar shapes remain while their positions change.
Journey 1 · Page 1
Midnight Discovery
Practice drawing the constellations you find, keeping each one turned the same way you see it.
Open Tracing the Sky
Start with the Midnight Discovery journey.
Use a computer to open Tracing the Sky, then explore the midnight sky before you draw.
- On your computer, open tracingthesky.com/go/midnight.
- Start the Midnight Discovery journey.
- After finding all the constellations, choose three that stood out to you. Draw each one below in the same orientation you see in the app.
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Journey 1 · Page 2
Midnight Discovery
Draw three constellations that are present at midnight.
Constellation 01
Name:
Constellation 02
Name:
Constellation 03
Name:
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Journey 2 · Page 3
02:00
Practice looking carefully a second time.
Open Tracing the Sky
Start your second journey.
Use a computer to return to the same sky and practice finding constellations again.
- On your computer, open tracingthesky.com/go/2am.
- Start the 2:00 a.m. journey.
- At this new time, find the same constellations again. Redraw the same three below, copying their new orientation: notice whether each shape has turned, tilted, or still faces the same way.
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Journey 2 · Page 4
02:00
Redraw the same constellations at 2:00 a.m.
Constellation 01
Name:
Constellation 02
Name:
Constellation 03
Name:
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Journey 3 · Page 5
04:00
You have seen the sky change; now notice the pattern.
Open Tracing the Sky
Start your third journey.
Use a computer to check the same constellation set one more time and compare what you see.
- On your computer, open tracingthesky.com/go/4am.
- Start the 4:00 a.m. journey.
- At this new time, find the same constellations again. Redraw the same three below, copying their new orientation: notice whether each shape has turned, tilted, or still faces the same way.
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Journey 3 · Page 6
04:00
Redraw the same constellations as they appear just before dawn.
Constellation 01
Name:
Constellation 02
Name:
Constellation 03
Name:
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Reflection · Page 7
Reflection
Look back at the first three journeys. Think about what you noticed as you returned to the sky at different times. Use the questions to help you write.
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Reflection · Page 8
Reflection
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Outdoor Activity Unlocked · Page 9
Bring It Outside
Track constellations through the night.
Outdoor tool unlocked
Whenever you're ready.
Watch the same constellations at three different hours and sketch how their positions change above your horizon. Try it when conditions allow. You can keep going through the journal in the meantime and return to this later.
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Journey 4 · Page 10
The Center of the Stars
Compare the northern and southern sky.
Open Tracing the Sky
Start the Center of the Stars journey.
Use the app to compare how the northern and southern sky move around you.
- On your computer, open tracingthesky.com/go/star-center.
- Start The Center of the Stars journey.
- Move time forward and backward while watching how the stars travel.
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Journey 4 · Page 11
Northern and Southern Sky
Draw how the stars travel in each direction.
North
Draw the North Star, Polaris. Then choose one constellation and draw where it is at three different times. Label the constellation positions you draw with the time.
South
Face the opposite direction from Polaris. You are now facing south. Choose one constellation and draw where it is at three different times. Label the constellation positions you draw with the time.
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Reflection · Page 12
Reflection
Think about the paths stars travel. Look back at your north and south drawings. What seems different about the path of stars close to Polaris compared with the path of constellations when you face south?
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Reflection · Page 13
Reflection
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Journey 5 · Page 14
The Stars Across Days
Track what first rises before sunrise.
Open Tracing the Sky
Start The Stars Across Days journey.
Use a computer to move through the year and observe the eastern horizon right before sunrise.
- On your computer, open tracingthesky.com/go/star-days.
- Start The Stars Across Days journey.
- Observe the sky right before sunrise.
- Move forward one day at a time, watching carefully for what appears near the eastern horizon.
After completing the journey, review your observations. Record each constellation's name, the date when it appeared near the eastern horizon, and the sunrise time.
| # | Constellation Name | First Date Rising in the East | Sunrise Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | |||
| 2 | |||
| 3 | |||
| 4 | |||
| 5 | |||
| 6 | |||
| 7 | |||
| 8 | |||
| 9 | |||
| 10 | |||
| 11 | |||
| 12 |
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Reflection · Page 15
Reflection
After you finish your table, look back at the order in which the constellations appeared near the eastern horizon.
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Reflection · Page 16
Reflection
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Outdoor Activity Unlocked · Page 17
Bring It Outside
Watch constellations rise and set.
Outdoor tool unlocked
Whenever you're ready.
Choose rising and setting constellations, then compare their positions on three dates at least one month apart. Try it when conditions allow. You can keep going through the journal in the meantime and return to this later.
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Part Two
Sun
Trace the Sun across a day and throughout the year, noticing its daily arc and its changing path among the stars.
Sun Journey 1 · Page 18
From Dawn to Dusk
Draw the path the Sun travels.
Open Tracing the Sky
Start From Dawn to Dusk journey.
Use a computer to follow the Sun through a full day and mark its path.
- On your computer, open tracingthesky.com/go/dawn-dusk.
- Start From Dawn to Dusk.
- Move through the day and drop a marker every 5 minutes along the Sun's path.
- Plot the points you observed below, then connect them to show the Sun's path.
- Record the sunrise time and sunset time.
Sun's Path
Plot the Sun's positions you observed. Connect the points to show the path the Sun traveled.
horizon
Sunrise Time:
Sunset Time:
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Sun Journey 2 · Page 19
The Slow Drift of Dawn
Track sunrise across many days.
Open Tracing the Sky
Start The Slow Drift of Dawn journey.
Use a computer to compare where the Sun rises on different dates.
- On your computer, open tracingthesky.com/go/slow-dawn.
- Start The Slow Drift of Dawn.
- Move forward through the year and make an observation every 5 days.
- On the eastern (rising) side, adjust the time until the selected Sun reads Alt 1°. Mark its position and record the time.
- On the western (setting) side, find the moment when the Sun reads Alt 1° again and record the time.
After completing the journey, go back through your observations. Choose 10 observations that are each at least 20 days apart. For each date, record the time when the Sun is at Alt 1° on the eastern (rising) side and the time when it is at Alt 1° on the western (setting) side.
| Observation | Date | Rising Time (Alt 1°) | Setting Time (Alt 1°) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | |||
| 2 | |||
| 3 | |||
| 4 | |||
| 5 | |||
| 6 | |||
| 7 | |||
| 8 | |||
| 9 | |||
| 10 |
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Sun Journey 3 · Page 20
The Sun's Secret Road
Follow the Sun against the stars.
Open Tracing the Sky
Start The Sun's Secret Road journey.
Use a computer to mark where the Sun appears against the background stars as the days pass.
- On your computer, open tracingthesky.com/go/sun-road.
- Start The Sun's Secret Road.
- Drop a marker where the Sun is every 5 days.
- Notice that each marker stays fixed to the background stars, not to your local horizon.
- Keep going until the markers begin to reveal the path the Sun follows through the stars.
After the journey, trace the Sun's path. Record each constellation it crossed, plus the dates when it entered and left each constellation. Then note when each constellation first appears rising in the east before sunrise.
| # | Constellation | Start + End Dates | First Seen Rising Before Sunrise |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | |||
| 2 | |||
| 3 | |||
| 4 | |||
| 5 | |||
| 6 | |||
| 7 | |||
| 8 | |||
| 9 | |||
| 10 | |||
| 11 | |||
| 12 |
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Reflection · Page 21
Reflection
Connect the Sun's road to the stars. Look back at your table. The constellations on this path are not random: they are the constellations the Sun appears to travel through during the year.
The constellations along the Sun's yearly road are called the zodiac.
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Reflection · Page 22
Reflection
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Outdoor Activity Unlocked · Page 23
Bring It Outside
Measure noon shadows.
Outdoor tool unlocked
Whenever you're ready.
Measure the same stick's shadow at local noon on six different days and watch its length change. Try it when conditions allow. You can keep going through the journal in the meantime and return to this later.
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Part Three
Moon
Follow the Moon across the sky and begin noticing its path, position, and changing face.
Moon Journey 1 · Page 24
The Moon's Nightly Path
Draw the path the Moon travels.
Open Tracing the Sky
Start The Moon's Nightly Path journey.
Use a computer to follow the Moon through the night.
- On your computer, open tracingthesky.com/go/moon-night.
- Start The Moon's Nightly Path.
- Move through the night and drop a marker every 5 minutes along the Moon's path.
Moon's Path
Plot the Moon's positions you observed. Connect the points to show the path the Moon traveled, then record the moonrise and moonset times.
horizon
Moonrise Time:
Moonset Time:
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Moon Journey 2 · Page 25
The Moon's Path
Record phases and count constellations.
Open Tracing the Sky
Start The Moon's Path journey.
Use a computer to follow the Moon through its phases and compare its position to the Sun.
- On your computer, open tracingthesky.com/go/moon-path.
- Complete The Moon's Path journey.
Go back through the journey and record the date of each Moon phase. For each phase, find the constellation the Moon is in and the constellation the Sun is in. Starting at the Moon, count how many constellations you pass through to reach the Sun in two directions: first from the Moon's light side, then from the Moon's dark side.
New Moon
Waxing Crescent
First Quarter
Waxing Gibbous
Full Moon
Waning Gibbous
Last Quarter
Waning Crescent
| Date | Moon Phase | Number of constellations from light side to Sun | Number of constellations from dark side to Sun |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Moon | |||
| Waxing Crescent | |||
| First Quarter | |||
| Waxing Gibbous | |||
| Full Moon | |||
| Waning Gibbous | |||
| Last Quarter | |||
| Waning Crescent |
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Reflection · Page 26
Reflection
Look back at your constellation counts and think about what the Moon's light tells you. What do you notice about which side of the Moon the Sun is closest to?
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Reflection · Page 27
Reflection
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Outdoor Activity Unlocked · Page 28
Bring It Outside
Test the moon illusion.
Outdoor tool unlocked
Whenever you're ready.
Compare how large the Moon looks near the horizon and higher in the sky using the same simple measuring tool. Try it when conditions allow. You can keep going through the journal in the meantime and return to this later.
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Part Four
Planets
Look for wanderers: objects that shine like stars, but do not keep the same place among the constellations.
Planet Journey 1 · Page 29
The First Planet
Track a wanderer against Taurus.
Open Tracing the Sky
Start The First Planet journey.
Use a computer to search for the bright object that looks like a star but does not move like the stars.
- On your computer, open tracingthesky.com/go/first-planet.
- Start The First Planet.
- Find the object that looks like a star, but changes position against the stars of Taurus.
Draw Taurus first so the stars stay fixed on your page. Then add the planet's changing position in different colors. The planet's position should change; Taurus should stay the same.
Date:
Date:
Date:
Date:
Date:
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Planet Journey 2 · Page 30
The Red Wanderer
Measure Mars moving among the stars.
Open Tracing the Sky
Start The Red Wanderer journey.
Use a computer to follow Mars as it shifts against the background stars.
- On your computer, open tracingthesky.com/go/red-wanderer.
- Start The Red Wanderer.
- Use the same number of days between each Mars mark.
Choose several of the markers you placed for Mars that are the same number of days apart. Use the measuring tool to measure the distance between each pair of marks, then record what you find.
| Pair | First Point Date | Second Point Date | Days Between | Measured Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ||||
| 2 | ||||
| 3 | ||||
| 4 | ||||
| 5 |
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Reflection · Page 31
Reflection
Look back at the positions and measurements you recorded for Mars. Think about how Mars moved through the stars over time.
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Reflection · Page 32
Reflection
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Planet Journey 3 · Page 33
Jupiter
Track Jupiter against Gemini.
Open Tracing the Sky
Start Jupiter journey.
Use a computer to follow Jupiter as it shifts against Gemini.
- On your computer, open tracingthesky.com/go/jupiter.
- Start Jupiter.
- Find Jupiter as it changes position against the stars of Gemini.
Draw Gemini first so the stars stay fixed on your page. Then add Jupiter's changing position in different colors. Jupiter wanders; Gemini stays the same.
Date:
Date:
Date:
Date:
Date:
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Planet Journey 4 · Page 34
Jupiter's Path
Measure Jupiter moving among the stars.
Open Tracing the Sky
Start Jupiter's Path journey.
Use a computer to follow Jupiter as it shifts against the background stars.
- On your computer, open tracingthesky.com/go/jupiter-path.
- Start Jupiter's Path.
- Move forward by 10 days each time and place marks on Jupiter.
Choose five pairs of Jupiter markers that are 10 days apart. Use the measuring tool to measure the distance between each pair of marks, then record what you find.
| Pair | First Point Date | Second Point Date | Days Between | Measured Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 | |||
| 2 | 10 | |||
| 3 | 10 | |||
| 4 | 10 | |||
| 5 | 10 |
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Reflection · Page 35
Reflection
Look back at the Jupiter positions and measurements you recorded. Think about how Jupiter moved through the stars over time.
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Reflection · Page 36
Reflection
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Planet Journey 5 · Page 37
Mercury
Track Mercury against Pisces.
Open Tracing the Sky
Start Mercury journey.
Use a computer to follow Mercury as it shifts against Pisces.
- On your computer, open tracingthesky.com/go/mercury.
- Start Mercury.
- Find Mercury as it changes position against the stars of Pisces.
Draw Pisces first so the stars stay fixed on your page. Then add Mercury's changing position using different colors. Mercury wanders; Pisces stays the same.
Date:
Date:
Date:
Date:
Date:
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Planet Journey 6 · Page 38
Mercury's Path
Measure Mercury moving among the stars.
Open Tracing the Sky
Start Mercury's Path journey.
Use a computer to follow Mercury as it shifts against the background stars.
- On your computer, open tracingthesky.com/go/mercury-path.
- Start Mercury's Path.
- Move forward by the same number of days each time and place marks on Mercury.
Choose several pairs of Mercury markers that are the same number of days apart. Use the measuring tool to measure the distance between each pair of marks, then record what you find.
| Pair | First Point Date | Second Point Date | Days Between | Measured Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ||||
| 2 | ||||
| 3 | ||||
| 4 | ||||
| 5 |
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Reflection · Page 39
Reflection
Reflect on Mercury's changing motion.
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Reflection · Page 40
Reflection
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Outdoor Activity Unlocked · Page 41
Bring It Outside
Track a visible planet.
Outdoor tool unlocked
Whenever you're ready.
Find a planet in your real night sky and mark how it wanders against the same background stars over several dates. Try it when conditions allow. You can keep going through the journal in the meantime and return to this later.
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Field Guide
Outdoor Activities
Return to these activities whenever the time, weather, and sky are right. They are invitations to explore—not gates between journeys.
Outdoor Activities · Page 42
Track Constellations Through the Night
Watch familiar star patterns cross your real sky.
Find constellations visible tonight. Open app.tracingthesky.com/constellations, set your location, and choose three constellations to look for outside.
- Choose three constellations that will be visible where you live.
- Go outside and find each constellation.
- Draw each constellation at three different times.
- Write the constellation name on each page and the time in each drawing box.
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Outdoor Activities · Observation 01
Constellation Name:
Time 1:
horizon
Time 2:
horizon
Time 3:
horizon
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Outdoor Activities · Observation 02
Constellation Name:
Time 1:
horizon
Time 2:
horizon
Time 3:
horizon
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Outdoor Activities · Observation 03
Constellation Name:
Time 1:
horizon
Time 2:
horizon
Time 3:
horizon
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Outdoor Activities · Page 46
Watch Constellations Rise and Set
Compare the horizon on three different dates.
Find tonight's zodiac constellations. Open app.tracingthesky.com/zodiac to see which zodiac constellations are in the sky. Then decide which one is rising and which one is setting.
Complete this observation on three different dates, at least one month apart.
Observation Location:
Observation 01
Date:
Time:
Constellation:
Rising Setting
Observation 02
Date:
Time:
Constellation:
Rising Setting
Observation 03
Date:
Time:
Constellation:
Rising Setting
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Outdoor Activities · Page 47
Rising and Setting
Sketch the horizon for each observation.
Observation Location:
Observation 01 Sketch
Sketch the horizon and the direction you looked
Observation 02 Sketch
Sketch the horizon and the direction you looked
Observation 03 Sketch
Sketch the horizon and the direction you looked
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Outdoor Activities · Page 48
Measure Noon Shadows
Watch one shadow change across six different days.
Measure the length of the stick's shadow on six different days. Record the date and shadow length. Bonus: look up and record the sunrise and sunset times for that same date.
| Observation | Date | Shadow Length | Bonus: Sunrise Time | Bonus: Sunset Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ||||
| 2 | ||||
| 3 | ||||
| 4 | ||||
| 5 | ||||
| 6 |
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Outdoor Activities · Page 49
Test the Moon Illusion
Compare how large the Moon looks and measures.
The Moon can look larger near trees, buildings, or the horizon. Test your eyes by measuring it with something simple like your pinky, a pencil eraser, a small coin, or a paper circle held at arm's length.
| Observation | Date | Time | Apparent size | Measured Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low Moon | ||||
| High Moon |
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Outdoor Reflection · Page 50
Reflection
Compare what the Moon looked like with what you measured. Think about whether the Moon's size actually changed.
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Outdoor Reflection · Page 51
Reflection
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Outdoor Activities · Page 52
Track a Visible Planet
Follow a wanderer against your real night sky.
Use the tool to choose a visible planet. Draw the background constellation once so the stars stay fixed, then return on different dates to mark where the planet appears to move.
Find which planets are visible tonight. Open app.tracingthesky.com/planets, choose one planet you can see from your location, and track it against the stars over several dates.
Observation Location:
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Outdoor Activities · Page 53
Visible Planets
Sketch the background stars and mark the planet.
Constellation Sketch + Planet Marks
Draw the constellation first. Each time you observe again, use a different color to mark where the planet is and label that mark with the date.
Date:
Date:
Date:
Date:
Date:
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The journey continues
I hope this journal has helped you see familiar things in a new way. The constellations keep their shapes as the stars sweep across the sky, some circling Polaris and others rising and setting. The Sun traces a daily arc; over the year, its rising and setting points shift and it follows a path through the background stars.
The Moon crosses the sky too, changing phase and moving among the stars from night to night. The planets wander against those same stars, sometimes seeming to slow down or turn back. From our place on Earth, it can look as though everything is going around us.
How do all these motions fit together? How far away are the Sun and the Moon, and how could we measure distances so vast? What does the solar system really look like, and how can we figure that out without ever leaving Earth?
You have already begun building the foundation for exploring these questions. By learning to recognize what is in the sky and describe how it moves, you have taken the first steps toward discovering its distances and structure. The patterns you have traced are clues to a much bigger picture. There are more adventures to discover at tracingthesky.com.
Keep observing, keep wondering, and keep Tracing the Sky!
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