Virtual Astronomy & Space Academy
Exciting Astronomy Classes are 45 minutes to 1 hour for students in grades K-12 (Ages 5-17) and include fun and challenging hands-on activities.
Class Class Description
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Exploration of the universe from the very small to the very large, looking at matter from subatomic particles to superclusters of galaxies, and the entire universe. It's a virtual journey throughout the cosmos describing celestial objects and how they were formed as well as their relative sizes compared with each other. Truly exciting images and video segments will keep you engaged.
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Ever see the craters on the Moon, cloud belts and moons of Jupiter, or the ice crystal rings of Saturn before? An introduction of telescope types, function, performance, and accessories will help participants choose a telescope wisely. We can build a high performance telescope from the Galileoscope telescope kit.
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Using NASA's MicroObservatory, participants will learn how to access robotic telescopes, take photographs of planets, galaxies, and nebulae and use image processing tools to bring out detail in these photos the same way that professional astronomers do. Gathering images of a selected object from different domains of the spectrum and adding data can form a cosmic quilt block. All students blocks can be adjoined together to form both a cyber cosmic quilt and a physical quilt when printed onto fabric and sewed together.
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In spite of what you've heard, read or watched on TV, we have absolutely, irrefutably walked on the Moon, and we're going back in 2024. We've found water on the Moon, and plans to build lunar stations there are underway. The rovers we've sent to Mars are paving the way for human exploration there. Fun hands-on activities make this a real hit.
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Are there parallels between the oceans of the world and space with the myriads of objects throughout the universe? Astronomers are finding evidence of water everywhere they look throughout the universe. From shallow to deep, let’s explore the untold regions throughout the cosmos.
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The Bible tells us that God created the heavens and the earth. This account in Genesis is continued throughout scripture. There is absolutely no disparity between what the Bible says and what is known in science. This wonderful portrayal of the beauty, symmetry and harmony of the universe will surely keep you at the edge of your seat the entire time.
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Will the asteroid Apophis hit the earth on Friday, April 13th, 2029? Were we really supposed to be doomed on December 21st, 2012? Did men really walk on the Moon during the Apollo program? These and many other stories, mythologies and fantasies about the universe will be addressed in the light of a modern understanding of the universe and its mechanisms.
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What causes a solar or lunar eclipse? What is a transit and a conjunction? Sometimes objects in space appear to collide with each other, though they are really far apart from each other. Here we will explore the natural causes of these and other celestial events. Many fascinating photos and video clips will serve to illustrate these occurrences.
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What differentiates these "small bodies" as remnants of the solar system's formation? Comets as omens of disaster and other superstitions are debunked. Ever seen a meteor streak across the sky, or better yet a meteor shower? What about the impending danger of asteroids or comets colliding with the earth? Several interesting pictures and illustrations serve to uncover these mysteries.
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When you wish upon a star, wouldn't it be good to know which star it is and what constellation it lies in? Objects in the night sky can be pinpointed with a little understanding of the celestial sphere and its coordinates. Hands-on activities using star charts will serve to bring the point home.
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A virtual journey visiting the Sun, planets, their moons, and debris left over from the earliest times of the solar system's formation. A detailed look at Pluto as the New Horizons spacecraft took very high resolution images of this elusive and controversial world after waiting 9 ½ years to reach it since launch in January, 2006. What a surprise it turned out to be, having more geologic activity than anyone thought possible. Also, a brief introduction to our exoplanet survey.
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Let's become acquainted with the night sky and learn some of the brightest stars and major constellations! Build a planisphere or starfinder to help locate these. We'll see how small and large the universe truly is, and examine celestial objects that reside overhead. The wonders of the universe are waiting for you to explore.
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