Brownies Stargazer
- With an adult you know, have a session out-of-doors at night to look for the North Star and the Plough (the Southern Cross in the Southern Hemisphere).
- Look at the stars through a telescope or field glasses. If you can, visit a planetarium or an observatory.
- Point out two constellations in the sky other than the Plough and know their stories.
- Tell the tester about the phases of our moon.
- Find out something about three planets in our solar system.
- Know why sailors in ancient times needed to know about the stars.
Cub Scouts Astronomer
- Make a model or draw a diagram of the solar system.
- Explain the difference between a star and a planet.
- Identify and find the Pole star and at least three other constellations.
- Find out and present some information about two of the following:
- Comets
- Northern Lights
- Eclipses
- Meteorites
- Sun Spots
- Black Holes
- Asteroids
- Light Years
- Space Exploration
- Observe the moon, if possible using binoculars or telescope, and describe some of its features.
Scouts Astronomer
Recognise the prominent constellations visible throughout the year.
Winter: Orion, Aries, Auriga, Taurus (Pleiades and Hyades), Canis Major, Canis Minor.
Spring: Leo, Bootes.
Summer: Cygnus, Lyra, Aquila, Delphinus.
Autumn: Pegasus and the Circumpolar constellations of Ursa Major and Cassiopeia.
Recognise and show an elementary knowledge of the following stars:
Winter: Sirius, Procyon, Betelgeux, Saiph, Rigel, Alderbaran, Hamal, Capella.
Summer: Deneb, Vega, Altair.
Autumn: Merak, Dubhe.
Keep a diary of your observations through the year, which should include sightings of meteor showers, changes of planetary positions and eclipses.
Know the meanings of elementary astronomical terms such as axial rotation, synodic and sidereal periods, opposition, conjunction, meridian, ecliptic, celestial equator.
Give a general description of the Solar System, the individual Planets and the Galaxy.
Know about landings made or planned on other bodies in the Solar System since 1969 and about man's activities in space.
In addition to the observations made in your diary, keep a record of these activities during the year in question and say how these will contribute towards future space missions.