The Kepler Star Wheels: Support the International Year of Astronomy Show where in the sky Kepler will be pointing for its 3.5+ year mission. Has sky positions of exoplanets discovered as of June 2009 from Interactive Extra-solar Planets Catalog, maintained by Jean Schneider (CNRS-LUTH, Paris Observatory). Goes with Uncle Al's Hands-On Universe Star Wheels Download the Kepler Star Wheels - includes master for photocopy and assembly instructions:

• Kepler Star Wheels - PDF - 2.5 Mb
  (version June 2009: updated exoplanet positions and clearer colors)
• For a nice set of questions to ask students when using starwheels, see the Using Starmaps investigation from the HOU/GSS book A Changing Cosmos.

Two wheels included:

• one with coordinate grid for plotting additional exoplanet stars
• one without grid for cleaner simpler look - easier to read

Two holders:

• one for mid-northerly-latitudes
• one for higher-northerly latitiudes

See also the Night Sky Network activity: Where Are the Distant Worlds? Star Maps

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