NASA's Planetary Data System (PDS) archives and distributes data from NASA planetary missions, astronomical observations, and laboratory measurements. The PDS serves different groups, from scientists to schoolteachers. The general public may use the site to access photographs and information gathered on NASA's many missions. Scientists can download data sets in PDS Catalogs, as well as references, ... Full description.

Does any planet have a stronger magnetic field than Mars? Which planets have a greater mass than Jupiter? Which are denser? Which are larger? Users can find out while playing the Solar System Edition of Order It Up! Order it Up measures of size and scale help us understand the magnitude of objects. Once you get the planetary bodies in order, you can unscramble a space photograph. Full description.

Space Sense is a game developed as part of the Windows to the Universe project. Players learn about the planets, galaxies and the universe by answering questions. Every question they answer correctly will boost their rocket toward its destination-leaving the Earth's atmosphere. Each question contains a 'Life Line' button for helpful clues and an 'Open a Link' button that will take users to web page ... Full description.

This site contains a series of visualizations of the sun, moon and Earth System and how they relate to the changing face of the moon. Animations are in the form of Java applets, forms for field observation of the moon, and a collection of exercises and PDF versions of background material. There are practice questions and quizzes that discuss the animations. Full description.

The Moon Phases java applet provides an animated view of the moon, either from Earth, or from above the ecliptic. The animation changes phases and can be seen from a top view, earth view or both. The page also provides vocabulary terms for each of the phases and other interesting information. Full description.

The NASA's Deep Impact Mission is used to teach collaborative decision making. This Starting Point Teaching Collection page describes the highly-developed unit plan involving collaborative problem solving using data. The subject is the launch of a probe to investigate the composition of a comet. The students will engage in quantitative risk analysis, role-playing, persuasive writing and speaking, ... Full description.

"Order It Up" is a free, downloadable computer game described on this Starting Point webpage. This Java applet could be the basis for a great think-pair-share activity about solar system statistics. This website describes the learning goals and context for this exercise, and gives teaching notes and materials, as well as a detailed list of additional programs and websites that could be used to craft ... Full description.

This news article from Space.com reviews older articles on evidence for the impact hypothesis of dinosaur extinction at the end of the Cretaceous. The article contains hyperlinks to older, reviewed articles, digital images of the hypothesized impact and a link where the reader can post their opinion on the hypothesis. Full description.

This site from SERC's Starting Point presents sample Gallery Walk questions about the solar system. Topics examined include snowball earth (driving factors, deglaciation mechanisms, development of life), the composition, structure, fusion process, and features of some stars, the subsolar point, water rich comets, the circle of illumination, seasonal changes, time zones, distinguishing characteristics ... Full description.

At this site, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory provides images of the Sun. Each image contains a description and press release and some contain animations. Images include Earth, the solar system (i.e. asteroids, Io, Mars, the Sun, Comets etc.), stars and galaxies, technology, spacecrafts and telescopes, and the deep space network. Users may also access video of several comets, planets and satellites ... Full description.