High schoolers determine the difference between a geocentric universe and a heliocentric universe.

Ninth graders investigate and describe ways that human understanding of Earth and space has depended on technological development. They describe and interpret the science of optical and radio telescopes, space probes and remote sensing...

Students explore the scientific revolution. In this scientific revolution instructional activity, students complete activities regarding Ptolemy, Copernicus, and the Church.

In this physics activity, students design and build a multi-range voltmeter. They answer 3 short answer problems about the device.

Students examine total eclipses of the Sun and their limited regions of totality. They explain that this limited view occurs because the Moon is close enough to us for different points on Earth to view it differently.

Students describe a problem and propose alternative strategies for the solution. They use a model or drawing to visualize the solution to a problem. Students identify alternative factors to be considered when examining possible...

Want to stretch your imagination? One good way is to try to imagine how far it is to a distant star. How much farther away is it than the moon is from the earth? In this project, you'll learn one way of measuring the distance without...

[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart explains the significance of Delta Cephei in the constellation Cepheus and its historical significance in determining distances in space. It discusses parallax, standard candles, and the...

Did you know that ancient astronomers could measure the distance to other stars? They could also distinguish between stars and planets. How could they do that without modern technology of telescopes? See if you can discover the link...

Students act as astronomers, studying stars in a patch of sky in our own galaxy. Using simulated data from spectroscopy and other real-world instrumentation, students learn to determine star positions, radial velocity, proper motion, and...

Explore parallax which causes each of your eyes to produce slightly different images. Then imagine yourself an alien and try to predict which images each of your four eyes see.

Investigate the use of the parallax effect for determining distance in space, and explore the arrangement and relative distance of stars in the galaxy. Create a sample star field and transform it into a three-dimensional model.

Students learn about traffic lights and their importance in maintaining public safety and order. Using a Parallax Basic Stamp 2 microcontroller, students work in teams on the engineering challenge to build a traffic light with a specific...

An excellent website detailing how a star's properties can be determined, and how these properties lead to the way a star is classified.

A NASA space scientist provides 98 questions and answers about the sun, the center of our solar system.

Yuan-Sen Ting shows us how trigonometric parallaxes, standard candles and more help us determine the distance of objects several billion light years away from Earth. [5:29]

[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] How to use parallax to measure distances to stars.

This interactive resource from Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics uses images and activities to understand the scope and scale of our universe. Featured are technologies used by generations of explorers.

A great overview of the life of astronomer Tycho Brahe from Wikipedia Encyclopedia. This article discusses his contributions to the world of astronomy, and his building of his observatory called Uraniborg.

This site from The Galileo Project of Rice University contains information relating to Copernicus's sun-centered solar system theory. Pictures are provided throughout this article along with links to additional information.

Lesson plan which details how to have learners determine the distance to an object by sighting it from two different locations and knowing the distance between these locations. As an advanced alternative, trigonometry can be used to...

This illustrated physics tutorial uses animations to attempt to explain to students why images appear.

This comprehensive study guide covers the main terms and concepts needed for an earth science unit on the distance between stars. Review questions are included at the bottom of the study guide.

This site from The Galileo Project of Rice University contains information relating to Copernicus's sun-centered solar system theory. Pictures are provided throughout this article along with links to additional information.