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The
Introduction
You are an
astronaut on a mission to another planet in our solar system. You
will join a crew to gather information about your destination. When
you become experts, you will voyage to this planet. After exploring
it, you will contact Mission Control on Earth by cyber postcard to
communicate your impressions and data.
The Task
Your job is
to collect data about your planet. Your crew of astronauts will work
as a team to collect this scientific information. You will need to
show your data sheet to Mission Control before blast off.
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Pre-flight requirements:
- *Know
your destination (planet)
- *Name
your mission and design a patch (badge)
Data
Collection:
(Print Copy
Here)
- *Namesake
(Who is your planet named after?)
- *Distance
from the Sun (How many kilometers?)
- *Diameter
(What is the distance across is your planet?)
- *Period
of revolution (How long is one year on your planet in Earth
years?)
- *Rotation
period (One day on your planet equals how many hours/days on
Earth?)
- *Moons
(How many? What are their names?)
- *Atmosphere
(What gases are in the atmosphere?)
- *Temperature
(How hot or cold is it?)
- *Composition
(What is your planet made of?)
- *Other
Interesting facts (Special features. Does it have volcanoes,
craters, rings, valleys, etc..?)
Further exploration,
and communication:
While on your journey you will need to know about
and be aware of these outer space terms and topics
- Answer these
questions, choose a favorite topic of interest, and then create
a poster on your topic or make a Power Point. Here are the
questions:
- 1. What is a
Black Hole? Write a description and draw a picture of one
- 2. What is
astrophysics?
- 3. Define a
light year: how far and how fast?
- 4. What is
cosmology?
- 5. What is the
celestial equator?
- 6. What are the
celestial poles?
- 7. What is an
astronomical unit (AU)?
- 8. Define these
space words: a) nebula b) neutron star c)
quasar d) pulsar
- 9. Why do start
seem to move?
- 10. Describe
these types of telescopes: a) optical b) radio c)
infrared (from air balloons) d) gamma/x-ray
11. Is there life on other planets? Why do you answer yes or
no? Give reasons of your answer
Debriefing session:
- Present
your data as a crew to your peers and Mission Control.
ONLINE
RESOURCES:
World
Book Online (subscription only)
NASA's Solar System Exploration: Kids
Planets - Zoom Astronomy
Arty the Part-time Astronaut
Windows
to the Universe
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