The Scout must complete the following:
-
Recognise the prominent constellations visible throughout the year, such
as:
-
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 a basic knowledge of the following stars:
-
Winter: Sirius, Procyon, Betelgeuse, Saiph, Rigel, Aldebaran, Hamal,
Capella.
-
Summer: Deneb, Vega, Altair.
-
Autumn: Merak, Dubhe.
-
Talk to the assessor about their experience of astronomy. This should include
sightings of meteor showers, changes of planetary positions and eclipses.
-
Know the meanings of basic astronomical terms such as axial rotation, synodic
and sidereal periods, opposition, conjunction, meridian, ecliptic and 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 human activity in space.
-
Explain how astronomy contributes to space missions.
