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Altitude Tracking
Learners estimate the altitude of a rocket during several flights. They create their own altitude tracking devise. They examine and discuss their results at the end of the activity.
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Algebra: Mirror, Mirror on the Universe
Students assess how algebra, telescopes, space exploration and optics are so important in astronomy. They encounter studies on the Hubble Space Telescope, Hubble Deep Field and how algebra helps to determine the effects of contamination...
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Mars Rover Landing Site
For this Mars Rover Landing worksheet, students are given an image of Mars near the Bonneville Crater. Students determine the image scale in the diagram and use it to find the diameter of the Bonneville Crater, the width of the Rover's...
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Can an Astronaut on Mars Distinguish Earth from its Moon?
High schoolers explore the possibility of being on Mars and being able to identify the Earth. In this space lesson plan students complete a set of calculations to see if this is possible.
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Determining the Altitude of Iridium Flares
Students examine what iridium flares are and when they occur. In this iridium flare lesson students complete an activity to see how far overhead Iridium satellites are.
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Searching for life
Students explore the possibility of life on Mars and what that might look like. In this planetary lesson students complete several activities on looking for life on Mars.
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The Io Plasma Torus
In this plasma torus worksheet, students solve 5 problems including finding the dimensions of the Io torus, determining the formula for the volume of a torus, finding the actual volume of the Ion torus and finding the amount of sodium...
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Scientific Data-The Gift That Keeps on Giving!
In this scientific data worksheet, students solve 6 problems related to the data to be collected by the Solar Dynamics Observatory Mission. The problems include finding the number of bytes necessary in discs and drives to store a given...
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When a Ruler is Too Short
Young scholars measure distances using parallax. In this math lesson, students explain how this method helped astronomers with their studies of the solar system. They determine the length of their arm using parallax and compare it with...
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Black Hole Power...X
In this power of black holes instructional activity, students solve 6 problems including finding the surface area of a black hole, determining the amount of matter in the black hole shell, finding the rest mass energy and determining the...
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Color and Spectrum
Students examine the spectra of light sources that have similar colors. In this light lesson students complete an activity using various lights in the classroom and discuss the colors and the heat generated.
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Determining Center of Gravity
Learners complete calculations involving the structure and properties of matter. They engage in a variety of problem solving activities to help them determine the center of gravity.
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Determining Center of Gravity
Students complete calculus calculations involving the structure and properties of matter and determining the center of gravity.
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What's the Frequency, Roy G. Biv?
Students examine the concept of frequency and wavelength. They analyze how frequency and wavelength relate to each other by conducting an experiment involving measuring and timing wavelengths by pulling adding machine tape through an...
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High Mountain Retreat
Learners explore and analyze atmospheric conditions for a high mountain retreat. They examine the relationship between altitude, atmospheric pressure, temperature and humidity at a particular location. In addition, they write reports...
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Ocean Currents and Sea Surface Temperature
Students use satellite data to explore sea surface temperature. They explore the relationship between the rotation of the Earth, the path of ocean current and air pressure centers. After studying maps of sea surface temperature and ocean...
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Craters on the Moon
In this moon craters worksheet, students use a high resolution image of the lunar surface and calculate the image scale in meters per millimeter. They use the image scale to find the largest crater in the image, the smallest crater, the...
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Where Did All the Stars Go?
In this brightness of stars learning exercise, students solve 4 problems given a unit of measurement of cents/second for brightness. Students find cents collected in timed exposures, they find brightness of stars and they determine...
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The STEREO Mission: Getting The Message Across
In this STEREO satellites worksheet, students are given a chart with the intensity of the signals from the satellites received on Earth and the distances of the satellite from Earth. Students convert the intensity at each distance to...
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Seeing a Dwarf Planet Clearly: Pluto
For this dwarf planet worksheet, students use images from the Hubble Space Telescope and they determine the scale of the image, they identify the largest features in the images, they calculate the volume of Pluto and they create a model...
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Monster Functions in Space Science I
In this solar magnetic field worksheet, students are given 2 equations and use them to find the magnetic field strength and the Bp and Bz for given conditions. they express their answer using scientific notation.
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Satellites and Solar Cells
In this satellite and solar cells worksheet, students determine the electrical power generated by the solar cells on the IMAGE satellite. Students solve 3 problems including finding the usable area of the satellite, determining the power...
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The Solar Neighborhood within 17 Light Years!
In this distance between stars activity, 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...
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IBEX Uses Fast-Moving Atoms to Map the Sky!
In this energetic neutral atoms activity, learners solve 3 problems including determining the formula for particle speed, writing the equation to show the relationship between mass, energy and speed and determining the speed of protons...