Planetarium Alternate Assignment
Since you can't make it to the planetarium you will visit a few astronomy websites. For each of the seven websites, look around the site and find a news article or recent image or video and read about it. Write one short paragraph describing what you've learned. Each link has a few questions beneath it to guide what you should write.
Put all seven paragraphs in one document and upload that to Blackboard using the link in "Homework and Assignments". If there is any trouble, email me your summary. The deadline for this alternate assignment is the same as for the regular summary.
1. Mars Science Laboratory "Curiosity"
http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/
The Curiosity rover is the most advanced robot to explore another planet. Check out the "What's new?" section for the latest news about Mars.
What did you read about? (weather, terrain, minerals, water)
What do you think about it? (unexpected, don't believe it, want to learn more, boring)
2. Cassini spacecraft
http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/
The Cassini spacecraft is in orbit around Saturn, studying the gas giant and its moons and rings. Check out the "News" section for the latest discoveries, or look through the images and videos for some amazing sights.
What did you read about? (clouds and storms, moons, rings)
What do you think about it? (unexpected, don't believe it, want to learn more, boring)
3. Hubble Space Telescope
http://hubblesite.org/
Hubble is an amazing window into the universe. Check out the "Newscenter" for the latest stories about space, look through the gallery, deepen your understanding of astronomy, or learn about how Hubble discoveries have furthered science.
What did you read about? (constellation, planet, star, nebula, galaxy)
What do you think about it? (unexpected, don't believe it, want to learn more, boring)
4. Astronomy Picture of the Day
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html
APOD has a different and interesting astronomy-related picture every day. Text and links beneath the image provide additional information about the picture.
What did you read about? (constellation, planet, star, nebula, galaxy)
What do you think about it? (unexpected, don't believe it, want to learn more, boring)
5. Space.com
http://www.space.com/ (or check out their reference articles, http://www.space.com/references/)
This is a great news site covering a range of space-related topics. Look at the top headlines or scroll down the page to see the latest articles, and pick something that catches your attention.
What did you read about? (event, object, mission, research result
Why did you pick that article? (already interested, neat pictures, remembered it from class)
What do you think about it? (unexpected, don't believe it, want to learn more, boring)
6. Night sky this week
The night sky is a beautiful sight. Visit one of the following links to learn what you can see this week:
• Sky and Telescope http://www.skyandtelescope.com/
(Put your mouse over "Observing and select "This Week's Sky at a Glance")
• Astronomy Magazine http://astronomy.com/
(Put your mouse over "News&Observing" and select "The Sky This Week")
What planets will be above the horizon this week? Will you see them early in the night or late?
What phases will the Moon be this week? When will it be visible?
Any prominent star clusters/galaxies/comets you could see with binoculars?
Any meteor showers or eclipses?
Let me know if you saw any of these when you looked at the night sky!
7. Zooniverse
http://www.zooniverse.org
Help scientists from your own home! Look through the projects you can volunteer for, pick out one you like, and tell me about it.
What is the project looking for? (finding craters on something, finding planets around another star,etc.)
Why did you pick that project? (galaxy pictures are pretty, exoplanets are interesting, you like Mars the best).