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Active Time
10-20 minutes
Total Project Time
10-20 minutes
Key Concepts
Light pollution, human impact on the environment
Several white dots forming a constellation on a black ceiling.

Introduction

Can you count the stars in the night sky? People who live in rural areas can see many more stars than those who live in cities. We're all looking up at the same sky— why can some people see more stars than others? Try this activity to find out!

Credits

Ben Finio, PhD, Science Buddies
This activity is not appropriate for use as a science fair project. Good science fair projects have a stronger focus on controlling variables, taking accurate measurements, and analyzing data. To find a science fair project that is just right for you, browse our library of over 1,200 Science Fair Project Ideas or use the Topic Selection Wizard to get a personalized project recommendation.
Next: Materials

Materials

  • Flashlight
  • Black construction paper
  • Scissors
  • Tape
  • Sharpened pencil, needle, or pin
  • Room where you can control the amount of light, preferably with some variation instead of just on/off (e.g. by opening or closing the blinds or a door to another room, with a dimmer switch, or with multiple individual lights)
Next: Instructions

Reviews

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Active Time
10-20 minutes
Total Project Time
10-20 minutes
Key Concepts
Light pollution, human impact on the environment
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