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Activity
Space Telescope Science Institute

Nasa: Hubble Space Telescope: Hubble Is a Reflecting Telescope

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn all about the Hubble Telescope and obtain vital statistics at the same time. Click on links to watch different movies about the Hubble.
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Interactive
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12 Exploration Series: Simulations: Physics: Cassegrain Telescope

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login Required] Learn about the law of reflection by curved mirrors and how the shape and size of a telescope impacts its observing capabilities.
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Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Earth Science: Telescopes

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Overview of types of telescopes.
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Website
Other

Meade Instruments Corporation: How Telescopes Work

For Students 9th - 10th
This page explains in fairly simple terms the basics of telescopes. It includes information on the various types of telescopes and the factors people use to select the correct telescope for them. Meade is a leading telescope manufacturer.
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Handout
University of Maryland

Optics Highlights: The Telescope

For Students 9th - 10th
Part of an anecdotal history of optics and the study of light. Extremely thorough treatment of the invention of the telescope. Includes a short biographical sketch and discusses the work of Isaac Newton which focuses on his contribution...
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Activity
Other

Fraser Valley Astronomers Society: Mirror Making

For Students 9th - 10th
Directions and suggestions for making a parabolic mirror out of epoxy for use in a reflecting telescope. Links provided for sources of epoxy.
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Handout
Science4Fun

Science4 Fun: Telescope

For Students K - 1st
Illustrated discussion of the invention of the telescope with details on Galileo's telescope, the reflecting telescope, and the space telescope.
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Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: Refracting Telescope

For Students 9th - 10th
Wikipedia provides detailed information on refracting telescopes, including an image, technical difficulties, and a hyperlinked list to info on notable refracting telescopes.
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Website
Other

South African Large Telescope Project

For Students 9th - 10th
South African Large Telescope (SALT) homepage describes a multi-national project sponsored by the South African Astronomical Observatory to build a large telescope in South Africa. Visually appealing and written for the lay person.
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Website
Other

Aao: The Anglo Australian Observatory Homepage

For Students 9th - 10th
The Anglo-Australian Observatory located in the center of Australia is a joint venture between the Australian and British governments. Page gives basic information about the observatory and its telescopes. Check out the site map first...
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Handout
Cosmos 4 kids

Cosmos4 Kids: Exploration:telescopes

For Students 3rd - 8th
Learn how telescopes work .. terms like reflection, refraction, different kinds of lens, and more. The brief, to the point text makes this site most suitable for younger researchers.
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Website
University of Wisconsin

The Why Files: 3 2 1 Contact, Don't Touch That Dial

For Students 9th - 10th
A discussion of reflecting telescopes and their use in radio astronomy. The types of information gained from and the research emphasis fueled by such telescopes is described. Site uses Hollywood references and a humorous style.
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Handout
University of Chicago

University of Chicago: Reflector and Refractor

For Students 9th - 10th
From the Yerkes Observatory Virtual Tour web site. Compares and contrasts reflecting and refracting telescopes. A link from the page leads to a second page which explains why most modern research telescopes are reflecting telescopes.
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Website
Ducksters

Ducksters: Physics for Kids: Telescopes

For Students 1st - 9th
Kids learn about telescopes in the science of physics including lenses, mirrors, refracting, reflecting, the history, and the Hubble Space Telescope.
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Handout
Science4Fun

Science4 Fun: Isaac Newton

For Students K - 1st
Brief biographical sketch of Isaac Newton, famous scientist whose discoveries include the law of gravitation, three laws of motion, reflective telescope, and calculus.
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Graphic
Curated OER

Astro Lab: Reflecting Telescopes

For Students 9th - 10th
Get the facts and historical background information on reflecting telescopes, an important astronomical tool. This page has great accompanying photographs, as well as diagrams.
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Graphic
Curated OER

Astro Lab: Reflecting Telescopes

For Students 9th - 10th
Get the facts and historical background information on reflecting telescopes, an important astronomical tool. This page has great accompanying photographs, as well as diagrams.
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Website
Other

Atmos: Optical Design and Analysis Software

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a page written by a member of the Amateur Telescope Makers Association, Massimo Riccardi. It describes a downloadable software program which can be used to analyze and design mirrors to exact specifications.
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Unit Plan
Harvard University

Chandra X Ray Observatory: Video Podcasts: The Incredible Two Inch Universe

For Students 9th - 10th
A set of podcasts outlining a four-step process for understanding the vastness of our universe, from the vicinity of the Earth and Moon, out into distant galaxies. Downloadable instructions and a handout are included, as well as...
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Handout
Enchanted Learning

Enchanted Learning: Inventors & Inventions From the 1700s

For Students 3rd - 6th
Use this site to learn more about early inventors and inventions from the 18th century. This web page offers text and images on various inventors and their inventions. You can also access information about inventors and inventions from...
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Website
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian Libraries:chasing Venus: Observing the Transits of Venus 1631 2004

For Students 9th - 10th
An online website, from a historical perspective, of the study of the transit of Venus between the sun and the earth.
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Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs Teachers: Scientific American: Science in Paradise: Big Dish

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Investigate the science of radio astronomy, and create a model of a curved reflecting dish that will work like the Arecibo detector to detect electromagnetic waves. Explore risk using a risk space grid.
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Unit Plan
Georgia Department of Education

Ga Virtual Learning: Astronomers' Tools

For Students 9th - 10th
In this interactive tutorial students will learn about a few of the instruments used to further our knowledge of the Universe around us.
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Interactive
Walter Fendt

Walter Fendt: Apps Zur Physik

For Students 9th - 10th
This site, in German, offers numerous apps that illustrate common physics principles. Apps are organized into categories: mechanics, oscillations and waves, electrodynamics, optics, thermodynamics, the theory of relativity, physics of...