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Topics
Introduction: What's
Out There? (Classroom)
Students brainstorm a list in answer to the question, "What types of
things do we find in the night sky?"
Top of page -|- The
Moon -|- Comets -|- Asteroids -|- Planets
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Our Closest NeighborÜthe
Moon
- A. The Image Processor
(Computer Lab) -- Students learn how to use the HOU
Image Processing software while exploring characteristics of
craters on the Moon. Image Processor functions: Open, Zoom,
Pixels, Coordinates, Brightness (TERC/LHS)
- B. Crater Game
(Classroom) -- In this game, student get practice
using their Image Processing software to determine diameters
of craters.
- C. Moon Measure
(Computer Lab) -- Students measure the diameter of
a crater and its circumference using Image Processing tools.
- D. Model Craters
(Classroom) To really see more of how craters appear,
students make model Moon craters and see how the pattern of
shadows associated with craters is affected by the angle of
sunlight shining on them. Optional: Cratering ExperimentsÜStudents
toss meteoroids (pebbles) into basins of flour to simulate
crater formation.
- E. Moon Phases
(Classroom) With the Moon being a white polystyrene
ball and the Sun being a bright light at the center of the
room . Each students˙ head is the Earth. Students can also
observe and record the real phases of the Moon over a period
of a couple of weeks.
Top
of page -|- The Moon -|- Comets -|- Asteroids -|- Planets
- Comets (Computer Lab)
- A. False Color Comet
(Computer Lab) -- Students learn the Image Processor
functions: Min-max, color palette
- B. Comet Set -- Earth's
rotation (Classroom) -- Students learn that because Earth
is a spinning planet, when we watch the sky, it looks like
objects in the sky change position.
- C. Comet motion (Classroom) --
Students learn how, since a comet is in orbit around the Sun,
it appears to move with respect to background stars. Optional
activity: ellipse drawingÜthe shapes of orbits.
- D. Modeling CCD Image
Capture (Classroom) -- Students create a model for how
a CCD camera on a telescope is used to collect image information
in terms of number of photons of light captured in each pixel
of the image. Photons are modeled as Styrofoam peanuts and
pixels are represented as cups.
Top
of page -|- The
Moon -|- Comets -|- Asteroids -|- Planets
- Asteroids (Computer
Lab)
Students learn how asteroids can be discovered by comparing two images
of the same place in the sky. They also learn the difference between
an asteroid and a comet.
Top of page -|- The
Moon -|- Comets -|- Asteroids -|- Planets
- Planets
- A. Jupiter's
Moons (Computer Lab) -- Students measure the radius
of the orbits of some of Jupiter's moons.
- B. Jupiter
Rotation (Hoette) -- Students see evidence of rotation
of Jupiter by observing the Great Red Spot.
- C. What Is
It? How Far Is It? (Computer Lab) -- Students review
(or learn) all the types of bodies in the solar system.
They arrange the planets in order and record planet
sizes and distances to the Sun. For this part, students
use the HOU "What Is It? How Far Is It?" web pages--"Nearby
Objects."
- D. Planet Sizes
(Computer Lab) -- The solar system web pages have
all distance and size data EXCEPT for a 5 conspicuously
missing planet sizes (Jupiter, Saturn, Venus, Mars,
Uranus). To find those planet sizes, students must
use their Image Processing software to determine first
the planet size in pixels, and then compute the planet
size in kilometers, once they are given the pixel scale
size (e.g. for Jupiter image 1 pixel = 2200 km)
- E. Moons of
Uranus and Neptune (Computer Lab) -- Students use
proportion and/or algebra to calculate the orbit radius
of a moon.
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