American Museum of Natural History
Being an Astronomer: Neil deGrasse Tyson
An interview delves deep into the life of famous astronomer Neil deGrasse Tyson.
Urbana School District
Gravitation
Introduction your class to famous astronomers with a presentation that also covers Newton's Laws of Gravitation, Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion, both uniform and nonuniform gravitational fields, and how to calculate the gravitational...
Curated OER
Exploring the Sky: Reading Maria's Comet
Discover the science behind astronomy. After reading the book Maria's Comet, which is about a young woman who breaks new ground by becoming a female astronomer, young learners practice reading comprehension with...
Curated OER
Please Ex-Planet
Seventh graders create a model of an earth centered solar system and a model of the sun centered solar system. As a class, they discuss why the earlier astronomers believed their model and why it changed when evidence arose that this...
American Institute of Physics
African Americans in Astronomy and Astrophysics
A two-part lesson focuses on the contributions to the fields of astronomy and astrophysics of two African Americans: Benjamin Banneker and Dr. George Carruthers. In part one, scholars learn about Benjamin Banneker by examining his...
Curated OER
Herschel Infrared Experiment
Students perform a version of the experiment of 1800 by the famous astronomer Sir Frederick William Herschel.
Curated OER
Who Am I? Famous Scientists
In this scientists worksheet, students read a brief synopsis of a scientist, then try to identify the person, 12 total. Worksheet contains links to additional activities.
NASA
Discovering Some of Your “Yardsticks” Are Actually “Meter-sticks”
The Milky Way gets great reviews on Trip Advisor — 100 million stars. The activity allows scholars to rethink their assumptions and prior knowledge. Pupils observe a set of two lights at equal distance and brightness, but they believe...
Curated OER
A Star Sheds a Comet Tail!
In this comet tails and stars worksheet, students read about the star Mira and the vast clouds of gases it emits. They use a photograph from the Galaxy Evolution Explorer satellite to solve 5 problems about the scale of the image, the...
Curated OER
The Wanderers: Planets of Our Solar System
In this planets worksheet, students read a detailed 3 page text about the planets in our solar system. Students then complete 21 true/false and multiple choice questions about planets.
Curated OER
Exploring the Big Bang with the LHC
In this Big Bang Theory worksheet, students read about how scientists simulate the original Big Bang conditions using atom smashers. Students solve 4 problems given about the Big Bang. They find the average collision energy of particles...
Curated OER
Busting More Myths Using the Scientific Method
Use the Mythbusters model to jazz up your scientific method lessons!
Curated OER
Star Search
Seventh graders explore stars. In this star lesson, 7th graders apply generalities about space objects to constellations and explore the differences between radio waves and light waves by answering essential questions in their research.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Harcourt: Biographies: Benjamin Banneker
A great biography of the astronomer and inventor Benjamin Banneker that includes additional links to supplemental material for further research.
Famous Scientists
Famous Scientists: Antony Hewish
Learn about Antony Hewish, a radio astronomer who won the Nobel Prize for Physics for his work on the development of radio aperture synthesis and its role in the discovery of pulsars.
Famous Scientists
Famous Scientists: Arthur Eddington
Learn about English astronomer, physicist, and mathematician, Arthur Eddington. He is noted for his groundbreaking research work in astrophysics.
Famous Scientists
Famous Scientists: Edwin Hubble
Learn about Edwin Hubble, an American astronomer who is known for playing a vital role in the development of extragalactic astronomy.
Famous Scientists
Famous Scientists: Tycho Brahe
Learn about this 16th century astronomer who was known for his accurate and comprehensive astronomical and planetary observations.
Famous Scientists
Famous Scientists: Anders Celsius
Learn about the life and work of Anders Celsius, the Swedish astronomer who proposed the Celsius temperature scale which bears his name.
Other
Astromador: Astronomia Para Amadores
This resources focuses exclusively on astronomy. It's packed with historical facts about space exploration, famous people who pioneered the study of stars and planets. It features chronological list of space exploration, current news,...
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mit: Open Course Ware: Courses: Physics: Introduction to Astronomy
A university-level introduction to basic astronomy. Includes course readings, assignments, exams, and study notes with links to images and to biographical profiles of famous astronomers.
Other
University of Cambridge: Tycho Brahe
The Department of History and Philosophy of Science at Cambridge University provides biographical information on Tycho Brahe, the most famous obervational astronomer of the sixteenth century.
Florida State University
Florida State University: Science, Optics & You: Nicolaus Copernicus
Biography of Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543), the scientist who first put forward the theory that the Sun was the center of the universe.
Florida State University
Florida State University: Science, Optics & You: Anders Jons Angstrom
Biography of Anders Jonas Angstrom (1814-1874), a Swedish physicist who pioneered the field of spectroscopy. He was also well known for his work in mathematics and astronomy.