Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: How Big Are the Planets in Our Solar System?

For Students 3rd - 5th
This activity explores the relative size of the eight planets that circle around the Sun.
Website
PBS

Pbs: Find the Planets

For Students 9th - 10th
Find out how astronomers locate new planets by observing the traits of the stars they orbit. Get some tips at locating stars with the help of star maps.
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: The North (Wall) Star

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Celestial navigation is the art and science of finding one's geographic position by means of astronomical observations, particularly by measuring altitudes of celestial objects - sun, moon, planets or stars. This activity starts with a...
Website
Nine Planets

The Eight Planets: The Sun Solar Wind

For Students 9th - 10th
This Eight Planets site briefly describes solar wind, a low density stream of charged particles emitted by the Sun. It also provides the basics on the sun's composition and additional sun links.
Website
NASA

Nasa Star Child: Mars, the Red Planet (Level 2)

For Students 3rd - 8th
A general introduction to Mars. Includes a glossary of terms and two images of Mars. Many interspersed links to more graphics and more detailed information about the planet Mars. Also includes a printable version and links to other...
Handout
University of Virginia

University of Virginia: How the Greeks Used Geometry to Understand the Stars

For Students 9th - 10th
An article explaining how the Greeks were able to use their science and mathematics to predict where astronomical objects such as the Planets could be found in the nighttime sky even though their underlying premise was that the earth did...
Website
NASA

Nasa Star Child: Space Probes to Venus

For Students 3rd - 8th
A brief discussion of the space probes that have reached the planet Venus.
Website
NASA

Nasa Star Child: Planet Hop

For Students 3rd - 8th
Figure out your age and your weight on all the planets in the solar system using the formulas given here. Then type them into the correct place, and let the computer check to see if you are correct.
Website
Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Australian Broadcasting Corporation: News in Science: Astronomers Find 28 More Exoplanets

For Students 9th - 10th
From ABC News in Science, Maggie Fox's article explores a new string of "exoplanets" discovered orbiting distant stars. This research leads to numerous possibilities, one of which being the existence of planetary systems containing life...
Article
Other

Planetary Science Institute: Building Planets at Psi

For Students 9th - 10th
An article about the Planetary Science Institutes's advanced computer software, which it uses to model the way the solar system may have formed. Includes some insights into the results already obtained.
Unknown Type
NASA

Nasa Star Child: Where Oh Where Does That Little Object Go?

For Students 9th - 10th
See if you can identify the positions of the 9 planets in our solar system. Take an online quiz and get feedback on your answers.
Interactive
Other

Hong Kong Space Museum

For Students 9th - 10th
Besides an introduction to exhibitions and events at the museum, the site provides a guide to stargazing, an astronomy FAQ, space news, virtual tours (see site map) and research resources (including Chinese-English star and constellation...
Website
European Space Agency

European Space Agency: Esa Kids: Our Universe: Supernovas

For Students 3rd - 8th
A basic overview of supernovas. Links to more information about starts, planets and other objects in our solar system and galaxy are included.
Website
Ducksters

Ducksters: Space Science: Astronomy for Kids

For Students 1st - 9th
Kids learn about astronomy, the study of outer space including the stars, planets, comets, black holes, and the Solar System. History and astronomers in this astronomy for teachers and kids section.
Website
Other

Sea and Sky: Celestial Objects

For Students 9th - 10th
Empty space in outer space is not truly empty. Celestial objects fill the space not occupied by planets, stars, and such. This resource identifies these objects and further explains their existence.
Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Beyond the Milky Way

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
When we look at the night sky, we see stars and the nearby planets of our own solar system. Many of those stars are actually distant galaxies and glowing clouds of dust and gases called nebulae. The universe is an immense space with...
Unit Plan
TED Talks

Ted: Ted Ed: The Law of Conservation of Mass

For Students 9th - 10th
Everything in our universe has mass- from the smallest atom to the largest star. But the amount of mass has remained constant throughout existence even during the birth and death of stars, planets and you. How can the universe grow while...
Unit Plan
TED Talks

Ted: Ted Ed: Could Human Civilization Spread Across the Whole Galaxy?

For Students 9th - 10th
Could human civilization eventually spread across the whole Milky Way galaxy? Could we move beyond our small, blue planet to establish colonies in the multitude of star systems out there? These questions are pretty daunting, but their...
Website
Other

Celestia

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides a free space simulation that lets you explore the universe in three dimensions. There is a forum for teachers and lesson plans that help enhance student use of the simulation. A program must be downloaded in order to...
Article
Other

Christopher Crockett: The Astronomy Word of the Week Is "Barycenter"

For Students 9th - 10th
While astronomers and philosophers have long mused on the possibility of other solar systems, the first planets confirmed to orbit a star other than our Sun weren't found until 1992. The reason it took so long is that it's really hard!...
Article
American Museum of Natural History

American Museum of Natural History: Carl Sagan and the Quest for Life in the Universe

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief biography of American astronomer and science advocate Carl Sagan.
Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Stargazing for Satellites

For Students 3rd - 5th
Did you know you can see many satellites with the naked eye? Try this activity and find out for yourself!

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