Curated OER
Distances Between Stars
In this distance between stars worksheet, students use the 3-dimensional distance formula and Cartesian coordinates to find the distances of 10 given stars from the sun. They also determine which constellation each star belongs to and...
Glynn County School System
Light, History, Gravity, Distance, Relativity, and Space-Time
Let the star's color be the guide! The color of a star indicates its temperature and its mass and distance affect the gravitational force. The lesson presentations address these concepts as well as how the theory of special relativity...
Curated OER
Demonstrating the Distances of Stars
Students examine the distance from Earth to stars. They create a model to show the arrangement of constellations. They also identify the importance of the parallax effect.
NASA
Just How Far is That Star?
Pupils often wonder how we know the distance to various stars. Starting with a thought experiment and progressing to a physical experiment, they determine the brightness and distance to various stars. The evaluation requires critical...
McGraw Hill
Binary Stars Interactive
A celestial body's distance from Earth makes studying its characteristics much more difficult. Learn how scientists use indirect measures to determine the size of stars. The interactive activity has individuals adjust the size of binary...
Curated OER
Distances to Stars
Students explore the idea of parallax. In this astronomy lesson, students study the distances of stars. They investigate how parallax can be used to determine these distances.
Curated OER
Photometry of Stars and Clusters
Students apply an algorithm to measure the distance to stars in the night sky. In this photometry lesson, students observe stars in the night sky as they measure the distance to them and to the cluster, The Milky Way. They apply the...
Curated OER
Star Count
Fourth graders explore the night sky with their star counter. They to determine the types of stars and the number that can be seen from their local area and share their data via the Internet. They participate in NASA online projects.
Curated OER
A Star to Steer Her By
Students determine their latitude using a protracdtor and/or cross-staff to find the altitude of Polaris.
Mr. E. Science
Stars, Galaxies and the Universe
It takes 225 million years for our sun to travel around the galaxy. The presentation covers astronomical units, light years, telescopes, types of stars, the life cycle of a star, and types of galaxies. This is the last lesson in a...
Curated OER
The Solar Neighborhood within 17 Light Years!
In this distance between stars worksheet, learners plot the distance between the sun and 11 other stars on a 2 dimensional grid using a protractor and a ruler. They determine the distances between various stars and they find the shortest...
Curated OER
Biography of a Star: Our Sun's Birth, Life, and Death
Students examine how astronomers use parallax to determine the distances of stars in the Sun's neighborhood. They construct a pinhole protractor, and measure angles and calculate distances.
Curated OER
Stars
In this stars learning exercise, students determine if 15 statements about stars, constellations, Polaris, light years and the position of the stars are true or false. If they are false, students change the italicized word in the...
Curated OER
Using Parallax to Determine Distances
Students study parallax and what it is used for. For this distance lesson students complete an activity that allows students to get experience using a parallax.
McGraw Hill
Stellar Parallax Interactive
How are scientists able to measure distances between stellar bodies? Turns out it's not very easy! Learners explore the process of trigonometric parallax as the method of determining these distances. They experience the same challenges...
Curated OER
Chart the Stars
Seventh graders find constellation distances and plot the stars. In this star lesson, 7th graders plot the star points for Canis Major. Students use graphing calculators to graph the constellation. Students choose another constellation...
Curated OER
Determining Red-Shift in a Receding Star
Students practice manipulating algebra formulas with more than one variable. They examine the topics of velocity, wavelength and frequency. They determine the amount of red-shift in a receding star.
Curated OER
Distance And Parallax
Students will determine distances to nearby stars using parallax. In this Astronomy lesson plan, students will use a web program, trigonometry, and sketches to determine the distance of stars.
Curated OER
Rotation Velocity of a Galaxy
In this orbit of stars in galaxies worksheet, students are given an equation that models the orbital speeds of stars as they relate to their distance from the nucleus of a galaxy. Students solve 5 problems using this equation and...
Curated OER
Using Parallax to Determine Distances
Students examine the concept of parallax. They determine a method to calculate the distance of objects from their data, participate in a demonstration, and describe how our eyes use parallax to determine the distance of objects.
Curated OER
Perimeters: Which Constellation is the Longest?
High schoolers use diagrams of the constellation Orion and the constellation Ursa Major which show the distances between the stars of the constellations. They calculate the perimeters of each, find the average distance of the stars for...
Curated OER
The Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram
In this astronomy worksheet, students use a Hertzsprung-Russell diagram to examine the relationship between the average temperatures of stars and their absolute magnitude. After viewing the diagram, they complete 10 short answer questions.
Curated OER
Meet the Neighbors: Planets Around Nearby Stars
Students explain why a transiting planet causes a periodic dimming in the light from its parent star. They determine the radius of a planet, and its orbital distance, by analyzing data and manipulating equations. Students compare the...
Curated OER
Constellations
Young scholars investigate the concept of the constellations using many different resources to find information. Then students use the information in order to construct models of the constellations that show the magnitude of their size...