This downloadable 46-page activity and resource guide is a collection of puzzles, pictures, poetry and projects designed to stimulate co-learning experiences between children aged 6 to 13 and the adults they learn with. The Guide assumes little or no prior knowledge about the Sun or astronomy in general, and addresses many popular misconceptions. It focuses on four general themes: The Sun as a Star, ... Full description.

These animations illustrate a variety of astronomical and planetary phenomena, such as the celestial sphere and wobble (precession) of Earth, the sidereal day, why the Earth has seasons, phases of the moon, eclipses, and many others. There are also animations of Kepler's laws; Newton's third law; retrograde motion; the physical concepts of work and energy; and relative velocity. Full description.

This section of the Windows to the Universe web site provides information and images about the solar system including detailed information about formation, planets, asteroids, comets, and the Sun. Windows to the Universe is a user-friendly learning system pertaining to the Earth and Space sciences. The objective of this project is to develop an innovative and engaging web site that spans the Earth ... Full description.

Activities at this site include modeling pixels with graph paper, investigating parallax, and calculating the distance modulus of Cepheid variables. Background material includes a discussion about various telescopes and other remote sensing, and the difference between brightness and magnitude of stars. Students are instructed to add the words radio telescope, black hole, Milky Way Galaxy, light year, ... Full description.

In this activity, students gain an understanding of the decision making process that scientists use when designing a satellite. They will discover that satellite designs are constrained by such issues as weight, cost, materials, and feasibility. As they formulate their own satellite design, they will discover the importance of evenly distributing the weight of various instruments and that certain ... Full description.

This section of the Windows to the Universe web site provides information and images about galaxies including detailed information about the Milky Way galaxy, ellipticals, spirals, and irregulars. Windows to the Universe is a user-friendly learning system pertaining to the Earth and Space sciences. The objective of this project is to develop an innovative and engaging web site that spans the Earth ... Full description.

Carbon Cycle of Mars is a Windows to the Universe Exploratour and provides information and images about carbon dioxide and the lower atmosphere of Mars. Windows to the Universe is a user-friendly learning system pertaining to the Earth and Space sciences. The objective of this project is to develop an innovative and engaging web site that spans the Earth and Space sciences and includes a rich array ... Full description.

In this video lecture, Helen Sharman, the first British astronaut, gives an account of her personal experiences on the space station Mir. Using models and film to illustrate key scientific concepts, she discusses the way the Third Law of Newton and convection apply to rockets, space flight, weightlessness and survival. Sharman explains how breathing, eating, using the toilet, and recycling were accomplished ... Full description.

In this activity students find the patterns that emerge when sunspot numbers are plotted over a period of time. Students learn about sunspot variations and the solar cycle, and are able to predict future solar minimums and solar maximums. The required sunspot charts can be downloaded along with the student worksheets. Full description.

Water on Mars is a Windows to the Universe Exploratour and provides information and images about Mars' atmosphere, polar caps, Martian fog, clouds, Martian storms, possible rain, running water, outflow channels, river valley networks, tributaries, map of valleys and networks, lakes and floods, possible shorelines, Mars Pathfinder, Martian rocks, Mars cryosphere, and the water cycle. Windows to the ... Full description.