This lesson is suitable for intermediate-level learners. After listening, test your knowledge with our quiz.
Learning notes
Different phrases you can use while stargazing:
- Last month, I went on a stargazing tour.
- Wow, that view of the Milky Way is out of this world!
- You can see the Southern Cross clear as day!
- Quick, catch that shooting star! Did you make a wish?
- I really enjoy stargazing during a meteor shower.
Colloquial expressions:
The phrase under the stars means being outside at night, with the sky stretching above you.
If you are over the moon, you are very happy.
If something is out of this world, it is amazing or impressive.
When something is clear as day, it’s very easy to see, understand or notice.
To catch a shooting star means trying to see a star before it disappears.
Someone is shooting for the moon when they are aiming really high or trying to achieve something big, even when it seems impossible.
Vocabulary:
Stargazing means looking at the stars for fun.
An observatory is a building where people study the sky, planets, and stars. It usually, has huge telescopes and all sorts of equipment for looking at things in the sky that are far away.
A galaxy is a huge collection of billions of stars, dust and gas.
The Milky Way is the galaxy we live in.
The Southern Cross is a small group of stars shaped like a cross. You can only see it from this part of the world, the Southern Hemisphere, and it’s on the Australian flag.
A shooting star is a tiny of space rock called a meteor that burns up and so looks very bright as it falls through the sky.
A meteor shower is when lots of shooting stars appear in the sky together for a short period of time.
A comet is a mass of frozen gases, rock, and dust that go around the sun.
A superstition is a belief that something can bring good or bad luck, even though there’s no real proof for it.
Astronomy is the science studying space, stars, planets, galaxies, and everything in the universe.
Astrology is not science, but the idea that the position of stars and planets can influence your personality or future.
A horoscope is a forecast of a person's future based on the position of the stars and planets when they were born.
Transcript:
(Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript)
SBS acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country and their connections and continuous care for the skies, lands, and waterways throughout Australia.
You know that feeling – there's nothing better than sitting out on a warm night under the stars. Maybe you’re on the beach, in the bush, or even in your own backyard.
I'm Josipa. Spending a night under the stars is about slowing down, looking up and feeling a bit of magic in the air, isn’t it?
You might’ve heard the phrase ‘under the stars’? It simply means being outside at night, with the sky stretching above you.
Imagine this: last month, you went on a stargazing tour. A lovely aunty – that's the respectful way to address or talk about an older Aboriginal woman – shared some incredible stories. In her culture, the stars were like a map. People used them to find their way and for hunting. Fascinating, right?
So you think, ‘I want to share this.’ You invite your friends to go stargazing with you. And just so we’re clear, stargazing is really just looking at the stars for fun. You can lie on the grass in your backyard, or, if you want to get fancy, go to an observatory. That’s a special building where people study the sky with giant telescopes and all sorts of gear that help you see things way, way up there.
So, there you are, heading out to the mountains with your friends. Allan’s packed the picnic, Claire’s got a massive thermos of tea, and you’ve thrown in the blankets… plus your notebook, because you know you’re about to pick up some new phrases for talking about the night sky.
Claire
Wow, that view of the Milky Way is out of this world!
Allan
Yeah, you can see the Southern Cross clear as day… well, night.
Claire
Ha! Oi, quick, catch that shooting star! Did you make a wish?
Allan
Too slow; it’s gone. What did you wish for? Actually, nah, don’t tell me or it won’t come true!
Claire
Not saying...but it starts with “winning” and ends with “lotto.”
Allan
Shooting for the moon huh? Classic Claire.
Do you ever try out a new English phrase with your friends or at work and feel really proud of yourself? That feeling of being so happy—you could say you’re over the moon.
Claire was over the moon when she realised that she could actually see the galaxy we live in. A galaxy is a huge collection of billions of stars, dust and gas.. She said,
Wow, that view of the Milky Way is out of this world!
The Milky Way is the galaxy we live in. You can see it on a clear night when there are no clouds especially in the outback, way better than in the city because there is less light from buildings.
Claire said that the view of the Milky Way was out of this world. If something is out of this world, it is amazing or impressive. For example, the blueberry cake Allan brough in his picnic basket was out of this world too.
Then Allan said,
Yeah, you can see the Southern Cross clear as day… well, night.
The Southern Cross is a small group of stars shaped like a cross. You can only see it from this part of the world, the Southern Hemisphere, and it’s even on the Australian flag, so it has a special place in our hearts. The next time you are out at night… take a look up and see if you can find it.
Allan said he can see the Southern Cross clear as day. When something is clear as day, it’s very easy to see, understand or notice. It’s so obvious that you can’t miss it. Of course, he was being a little bit funny because, of course, you can only stargaze at night!
You can use this expression in all sorts of situations. For example, can you think of times when you’ve noticed a friend was upset, even though they didn’t say anything? It was probably clear as day.
Claire then said,
Ha! Oi, quick, catch that shooting star! Did you make a wish?
When Claire shouts, “Catch a shooting star!” she doesn’t mean grab it because, well, that’s impossible. A shooting star is actually a tiny of space rock called a meteor that burns up and so looks very bright as it falls through the sky.
To catch a shooting star means to try to see the ‘star’ before it disappears. Have you ever tried stargazing during a meteor shower? It’s like a fireworks show, but in space.
A meteor shower is when lots of shooting stars appear in the sky together for a short period of time. Claire also asked Allan if he made a wish when a shooting star passed across the sky, he replied,
Too slow; it’s gone. What did you wish for? Actually, nah, don’t tell me or it won’t come true!
People from many cultures believe that seeing a shooting star can bring luck. That’s a superstition, of course.
A superstition is a belief that something can bring good or bad luck, even though there’s no real proof for it.
Some people also believe that any wish that you make on a shooting star, you should keep a secret. They think that if you say your wish out loud, it will lose its magic and so it won’t happen — that’s another superstition!
You may not believe in superstitions, but you can still make a wish when you see a shooting star.
At the end of the dialogue Allan said,
Shooting for the moon huh? Classic Claire.
Here, Allan is teasing Claire a little.
You can say that someone is shooting for the moon when they are aiming really high or trying to achieve something that is very big, even when it seems impossible. It’s a fun way to say that someone is dreaming big.
I’m shooting for the moon every time when I try to explain the difference between astrology and astronomy. I know the words, but I always mix them up!
Maybe if I explain them to you, I’ll remember it forever? Here I go - shooting for the moon once again.
Astronomy is a science. It’s about studying space, stars, planets, galaxies, and everything in the universe. Scientists use telescopes and all sorts of equipment to understand how the universe works.
Astrology is not science. It’s the idea that the position of stars and planets can influence your personality or future. People who believe in astrology make or read horoscopes. A horoscope is a forecast of a person's future based on the position of the stars and planets when they were born.
You might enjoy reading horoscopes, even if you don’t really believe them.
Paul Nicholson and Lily O'Sullivan voiced the characters of Allan and Claire, and Professor Lynda Yates was our educational consultant.
