Mission of the Month: March 2007
Seasons and Light

CYFERnet continues the “It’s a Mystery” exploration and looks at light pollution with the “GLOBE at Night” project.

It’s a Mystery!

The world turns, the sun rises. Different every day, but with a rhythm and based on science that has intrigued humans since the dawn of time. Now through May, we invite you to explore the mysteries of time, light and season. If you haven’t already done so, register online to join in the official Mystery competition (which involves locating 10 “mystery sites” based on the time the sun rises/sets and other clues). As part of the Mystery competition, try one or all of the following activities:

Exploring Shadows and Sunlight
By measuring changes in shadows over time, participants notice daily and seasonal patterns and draw conclusions about shadows and sunlight. They even have the chance to create a simple sundial.

Heating Up Direct and Indirect Sunlight
By conducting simulations, participants explore the effects of direct or indirect sunlight on heating of the Earth.

Sundials: Observing and Using Shadows
Similar to “Exploring Shadows and Sunlight,” this Eye on the Sky lesson plan shows youth how to build sundials and observe changes in shadows over the course of one or more days.

Time Enough
Or, try CYFERnet’s Time Enough activity: a look at the sunrise, sunset and daylight times in your community. If you began this activity last month, you can simply print out another data sheet to record new daylight times.

GLOBE at Night

This national science project looks at how the brightness of outdoor lights affects the brightness of the stars (the brighter the artificial lights, the dimmer the stars appear and the fewer we can see). Each March, people across the country stand in their backyards to collect data on the brightness of stars and light pollution. Once the data is combined, we can see differences across the country and from year to year. The 2007 project runs March 8-21. Before you get started, be sure to skim our GLOBE at Night Activity Guide.

Mention or display of a trademark, proprietary product or firm in text or figures does not constitute an endorsement by CYFERnet, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service, or National 4-H Headquarters and does not imply approval to the exclusion of other suitable products or firms.