Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: What Is the Universe?
The following tutorial is an explanation of what the universe is composed of.
Australian Museum
Australian Museum: The Earth: The Universe
Basic information about the universe, its origin and composition. Also includes information about galaxies, stars, and the sun.
Other
Physics.org: A Grain of Sand Covers 10,000 Galaxies
A fascinating look at how big our solar system really is. Shows how we can only see a tiny bit of our vast universe.
CPALMS
Florida State University Cpalms: Florida Students: What's the Matter in the Galaxy?
A tutorial that looks at the components within a galaxy such as gas, dust, stars and objects that orbit stars. A PDF file of the tutorial is available.
University of Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin: The Constellations and Their Stars
An excellent site dedicated to the constellations and information about the objects which make them up. Contains a great deal of information about various stars, galaxies and other objects, as well as details on how best to observe them.
Kidport
Kidport: Space Science
This complete resource will help students to improve their understand of space exploration. Includes images of the universe, galaxies, stars and planets.
Other
University of Leicester: Spiral Galaxies
Provides a general overview of spiral galaxies, including descriptions of the different classes of spiral galaxy.
Other
University of Leicester: Irregular Galaxies
Provides a general overview of irregular galaxies, including a specific look at type I and type II irregulars.
NASA
Nasa Star Child: The Universe (Level 1)
This site provides an introduction to the origin of the universe for the young child and the Big Bang theory. There is also a song about the Doppler Shift. Vocabulary glossary and printable version available.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Gallery: Structure in the Universe
The Universe is very diverse and contains many unique elements that can be observed in this gallery of pictures.
NASA
Nasa Star Child: The Universe (Level 2)
This site provides a description of the universe and what it contains. Includes links to definitions, activities, and an audio song. Printable version available.
Scholastic
Scholastic: Study Jams! Science: Our Solar System: The Universe
A video and a short multiple-choice quiz on the Universe and what it is made up of.
NASA
Nasa: Imagine the Universe: Got Calcium?
This site has an article on, "The Milky Way galaxy doesn't contain any milk, but it sure does have a lot of calcium. There's enough calcium floating between the stars to fortify trillions about trillions of stars."
NASA
Nasa: Star Child: Elementary Astronomy Unit
Learn everything you can about outer space with this interactive astronomy unit. 2 levels of difficulty with modules on the solar system, the universe, other "space stuff" and a glossary of terms. Links for parents and other great website.
National Earth Science Teachers Association
Windows to the Universe: History & People
Biographies of people throughout history who looked at the sky and wondered what was there. Links to a detailed description of the planets and interactive activities.
Other
University of Leicester: Elliptical Galaxies
Provides a general overview of elliptical galaxies, including a look at what defines an elliptical galaxy, what determines its shape, and it's physical nature.
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Learning Lab: The Universe, an Introduction
Start with the questions all students ask: How big is the universe, how far away are the planets and stars, how did they form and when, how do they move and why? Build on their natural curiosity. The Smithsonian, in cooperation with...
Space Telescope Science Institute
Nasa: Hubble Space Telescope: Universe
At this site from HubbleSite you can discover the universe by taking a look back toward the beginning of time. Site contains links to information on planets, stars, galaxies, and much more.
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: Could Human Civilization Spread Across the Whole Galaxy?
Could human civilization eventually spread across the whole Milky Way galaxy? Could we move beyond our small, blue planet to establish colonies in the multitude of star systems out there? These questions are pretty daunting, but their...
American Museum of Natural History
American Museum of Natural History: O Logy: What Do You Know? Astronomy
Take this ten-question self-scoring quiz to test your knowledge of astronomy facts: age of the universe, why stars and planets are spheres, where other life might exist in the outer space, the Milky Way, and more.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Spin a Spiral Galaxy
This interactive activity from NOVA Online lets you spin a spiral galaxy, including our own Milky Way. It demonstrates that what you can learn from visible light observations of a galaxy is largely determined by the angle from which you...
Ducksters
Ducksters: Astronomy for Kids: Galaxies
Kid's learn about the science of Galaxies. Large groups of stars such as the Milky Way throughout the universe are an interesting part of astronomy.
Mocomi & Anibrain Digital Technologies
Mocomi: How Big Is the Universe?
Provides facts about the Universe, Jupiter, the Milky Way Galaxy, and Superclusters.
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas Mc Donald Observatory: Stars and Galaxies
Do galaxies collide? Apply concepts of scale to grasp the distances between stars and galaxies.