The Levitating Astronaut activity uses the amazing power of magnets to help children learn about magnetism and gravity.
- Author:
- Sarah Roberts
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Explains how we believe stars are born, live and die and the different ends to different sized stars.
- Author:
- Institute of Physics
In this 30 to 45 minute activity, children (in teams of 4-5) experiment to create craters and learn about the landscape of the moon. The children make observations on how the size and mass, direction, and velocity of the projectile impacts the size and shape of the crater.
- Author:
- Jaya Ramchandani, UNAWE
One Navajo legend attributes the creation of the primary stars and constellations to "Black God." Today, a famous star cluster, the Pleiades, often appears on the traditional mask worn by chanters impersonating Black God during special ceremonies. In this case study, designed for an observational astronomy class or introductory astronomy class with a strong observational component, students learn about the Pleiades in Navajo cosmology while developing their observation and star map skills.
- Author:
- Teresa M. Schulz
The Sun moves across the sky at an approximately constant rate because of the rotation of the Earth. By measuring how fast the Sun moves, you can work out how big the Sun appears in the sky. All you need are some household items and about 30 minutes on a sunny day.
- Author:
- Edward Gomez, LCOGT
The main aim of this lesson is to show students that distances may be determined without a meter stick—a concept fundamental to such measurements in astronomy. It introduces students to the main concepts behind the first rung of what astronomers call the distance ladder. The four main learning objectives are the following: 1) Explore, in practice, a means of measuring distances without what we most often consider the “direct” means: a meter stick; 2) Understand the limits of a method through the exploration of uncertainties; 3) Understand in the particular method used, the relationship between baseline and the accuracy of the measurement; and 4) Understand the astronomical applications and implications of the method and its limits. Students should be able to use trigonometry and know the relation between trigonometric functions and the triangle. A knowledge of derivatives is also needed to obtain the expression for the uncertainty on the distance measured. Students will need cardboard cut into disks. The number of disks is essentially equal to half the students in the class. Two straight drink straws and one pin per disk. Students will also need a protractor. The lesson should not take more than 50 minutes to complete if the students have the mathematical ability mentioned above. This lesson is complimentary to the BLOSSOMS lesson, "The Parallax Activity." The two lessons could be used sequentially - this one being more advanced - or they could be used separately.
- Author:
- The Pythagorean Theorem: Geometry’s Most Elegant Theorem
Converting a visual to a tactile experience, this activity lets visually impaired students learn about and explore some of the characteristics of our home planet, the Earth.
- Author:
- Lina Canas, Nucleo Interativo de Astronomia
Converting the visual to tactile experience, this activity let visually impaired students to learn and explore about our star, Sun, and its main characteristics.
- Author:
- Lina Canas, Nucleo Interativo de Astronomia
Conditional Remix & Share Permitted
CC BY-NC-SA
As the only planetary body everyone is familiar with seeing in the sky, the Moon has long been an object of fascination and speculation. This unit will teach you about the nearest planetary body to Earth: the missions to the Moon, the basic facts of its composition, the cratering on its surface, and the ancient eruptions that flooded many low-lying areas.
- Subject:
- Astronomy
- Physical Science
- Material Type:
- Activity/Lab
- Reading
- Syllabus
- Date Added:
- 02/16/2011
This activity is a classroom investigation where the students create, in size and distance, a solar system model in proportion to a selected sphere representing the earth.
- Author:
- Sam Greene
Conditional Remix & Share Permitted
CC BY-NC-SA
Detection and measurement of radio and optical signals encountered in communications, astronomy, remote sensing, instrumentation, and radar. Statistical analysis of signal processing systems, including radiometers, spectrometers, interferometers, and digital correlation systems. Matched filters and ambiguity functions. Communications channel performance. Measurement of random electromagnetic fields. Angular filtering properties of antennas, interferometers, and aperture synthesis systems. Radiative transfer and parameter estimation.
- Subject:
- Applied Science
- Astronomy
- Computer Science
- Physical Science
- Material Type:
- Full Course
- Textbook
- Author:
- Staelin, David H.
- Date Added:
- 01/01/2003
This dilemma case, developed for a general astronomy course, provides an introduction to our solar system by highlighting the peculiarities of Pluto. The main character, Dr. Maria Ocasio, is the chair of the Committee on Small Body Nomenclature of the International Astronomical Union (IAU), the organization charged with assigning permanent names to asteroids and comets. After reviewing the scientific facts and historical background on Pluto, Dr. Ocasio is faced with the dilemma of deciding "What is Pluto" by answering the question, "What is a planet."
- Author:
- Teresa M. Schulz
The students will paint and arrange spheres to form a model of the solar system. They will first make models using the plastic spheres of different sizes. Then they will make similar models using clay, cotton, etc., and organize them in the right order from the Sun.
- Author:
- Syeda Lammim Ahad, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology
Conditional Remix & Share Permitted
CC BY-NC-SA
This is an introduction to the study of the solar system with emphasis on the latest spacecraft results. The subject covers basic principles rather than detailed mathematical and physical models. Topics include: an overview of the solar system, planetary orbits, rings, planetary formation, meteorites, asteroids, comets, planetary surfaces and cratering, planetary interiors, planetary atmospheres, and life in the solar system.
- Subject:
- Astronomy
- Physical Science
- Material Type:
- Full Course
- Textbook
- Author:
- Binzel, Richard
- Date Added:
- 01/01/2006
Have you ever wondered what happens to the different stars in the night sky as they get older? The Star in a Box application lets you explore the life cycle of stars. It animates stars with different starting masses as they change during their lives. Some stars live fast-paced, dramatic lives; others change very little for billions of years. The app visualises the changes in mass, size, brightness and temperature for all these different stages.
- Author:
- Edward Gomez, LCOGT
Have you ever wondered what happens to the different stars in the night sky as they get older? The Star in a Box application lets you explore the life cycle of stars. It animates stars with different starting masses as they change during their lives. Some stars live fast-paced, dramatic lives; others change very little for billions of years. The app visualises the changes in mass, size, brightness and temperature for all these different stages.
- Author:
- Edward Gomez, LCOGT
Watch shadows during the course of the day to explore the influence of the Sun’s position in the sky on them, as well as how they change over the seasons. During the next season, repeat the experiment and note the changes from the previous season. Repeat over a period of one year for each season.
- Author:
- Tasneem Rossenkhan, UNAWE
Conditional Remix & Share Permitted
CC BY-NC-SA
This unit looks at how telescopes and spectrographs are designed to improve our ability to observe the universe. You will examine how different technologies have been developed over the last four hundred years to enable us to look deep into space.
- Subject:
- Astronomy
- Physical Science
- Material Type:
- Activity/Lab
- Reading
- Syllabus
- Author:
- The Open University
- Date Added:
- 02/16/2011
Conditional Remix & Share Permitted
CC BY-NC-SA
The emergence of Western science: the systematization of natural knowledge in the ancient world, the transmission of the classical legacy to the Latin West, and the revolt from classical thought during the scientific revolution. Examines scientific concepts in light of their cultural and historical contexts.
- Subject:
- Arts and Humanities
- Astronomy
- Physical Science
- Physics
- World Cultures
- Material Type:
- Full Course
- Textbook
- Author:
- Kaiser, David
- Date Added:
- 01/01/2003