This fact card discusses the shape of space and how light is affected by the amount of dark matter and energy in the universe. MAP's microwave detection gives us enormous insight into the creation of this matter and energy. Note: this resource was... (View More) published prior to the mission name change from MAP to WMAP (Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe) to honor Dr. Wilkinson. (View Less)

The is one several activities in which students are required to access and analyze actual data from NASA missions, including video interviews with real NASA scientists, to solve a mystery. In this mystery, students explore stars and their... (View More) properties, investigate the different characteristics of stars, and look for trends and patterns to determine what kinds of stars different companies are buying, and why. During the activity, students analyze a list of stars purchased by each company using tools showing a star's luminosity in infrared, x-ray, and visible ranges of light, and tools that plot the stars in different ways. Star Market can be used as a supplemental learning tool to support the scientific method, understanding the life cycle of stars, and learning about the different reasons scientists study stars. It is one several activities within "Space Mysteries," a series of inquiry-driven, interactive Web explorations. Each Mystery in "Space Mysteries" is designed to teach at least one physical science concept (e.g. interactions of energy and matter, structures and properties of matter, energy, motion, or forces), and is accompanied by materials to be used by classroom teachers. (View Less)

This activity is one of several in which students are required to access and analyze actual data from NASA missions, including video "interviews" with real NASA scientists, to solve a mystery. In this mystery, students learn about the force of... (View More) gravity and how scientists analyze data by studying the properties of different objects in space. Live! From 2-Alpha can be used to support instruction about forces and motion, origin and evolution of the universe, and the interaction of energy and matter. This activity is one of several in "Space Mysteries," a series of inquiry-driven, interactive Web explorations. Each Mystery in "Space Mysteries" is designed to teach at least one physical science concept (e.g. interactions of energy and matter, structures and properties of matter, energy, motion, or forces), and is accompanied by materials to be used by classroom teachers. (View Less)

This 28-minute film was created to explain how our current understanding of the Milky Way was reached using many different wavelength of the electromagnetic spectrum. Please note, the link is to a direct download of the video; this is a large file -... (View More) 336 MB. (View Less)

This article contains a series of kinesthetic activities, explaining and demonstrating why stars twinkle and what astronomers can do to minimize it. The activities can be used to demonstrate how Earth's atmosphere distorts starlight and how advanced... (View More) telescope technology (adaptive optics) is used to compensate for this distortion. (View Less)

This interactive, computer-based activity presents a series of inquiries that allow students to discover how the colors, masses, and luminosities of stars are related. Students also investigate how these characteristics influence the life cycle of... (View More) the stars. The concluding activity allows students to use the information learned in the previous activities to determine the eventual fate of our Sun. The activity is part of the Space Mysteries series. (View Less)