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Are we alone: the search for planets beyond our Solar System
This exciting resource consists of nine practical activities based upon the search for exoplanets, (planets beyond our own solar system), where life may exist. Aimed at primary children aged 7–11, activities are based around working scientifically and link to many aspects of the science curriculum including; space...
The Transit Method
In this activity, developed by the Institute of Physics, students use a lamp and polystyrene balls to model how astronomers detect exoplanets using the transit method. After completing this activity, students should: *Understand that the transit of a planet in front of its star temporarily reduces the star’s...
Kepler's Third Law
This activity, from the Royal Observatory Greenwich, illustrates Kepler’s Third Law for our own Solar System using graphical methods, with a further look at how the same law can be used to derive information about the orbits of exoplanets around their parent stars....
Day and Night, Seasons
In this activity developed by the Institute of Physics, students model the motion of a planet around a star and investigate how day and night and seasons may be different on other planets. Working in pairs or small groups, students demonstrate night and day and seasons to each other. They can then go on to model...
space:uk - March 2009, Issue 27
From the UK Space Agency, this issue of Space:UK magazine contains news and features on: * The satellite investigating the Earth’s gravity and helping us to understand our changing climate. * A satellite to make broadband available to the remotest corners of the UK. * What are the chances of getting hit by an...
Journey times to alien worlds
Produced by the Royal Observatory Greenwich, this booklet uses the context of exoplanets and alien worlds to develop students understanding of speed, distance and time. Included is an online video that discusses where and how we might find alien worlds. Questions and answers are included that test a student’s...
These videos are excerpts from the We Are Aliens! planetarium show. They provide good starter activities for looking at life within our universe. They explore life within our solar system and the Earth and other planets that may contain life. The exoplanets videos go on to look at the possibilities of life outside...
CS4FN Issue 8
This issue of Computer Science for Fun is entitled ‘Computer Science in Space’, and explores the role of computers in space exploration and astronomy.
It includes articles covering:
• Computer scientists working for NASA
• GPS and computer art projects that love your data
• Computers,...
Naked Astronomy
Produced by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), these naked Scientist podcasts look at physics questions in an amusing but also informative way.
The oldest light in the Universe • The Planck mission which measures the cosmic microwave background. • Mapping the surface of...
Exo-planets
Finding exoplanetsExoplanets are planets outside our own solar system. Find out how scientists use ingenious methods to spot them.
Goldilocks zoneFinding the right conditions to support life is a delicate...