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Investigating Planets
Here are some digital resources you may use with this Unit of the Investigating Astronomy Curriculum.
Exploration One: Important Planatery Characteristics
Activity 1: Group the Planets and Moons
Part 1: Looking at Hands
Is Pluto Currently Considered a Planet?
Check out the following and then investigate on your own.
Optional:
Check out a planet sorting game at Windows to the Universe.
Activity 3: Size, Mass, and Gravitational Force
Activity 4: Debating Planetary Atmospheres and Temperatures
US Environmental Protection Agency: Climate Change
The Global Warming Debate
PBS NOVA/Frontline Interviews: The Debate
PBS NOW: Debating “Global Warming”
Wikipedia: Global Warming
Wikipedia: Global Warming Controversy
NASA’s Earth Observatory: Global Warming
NASA Goddard: Global Change Master Directory
Exploration Two: Distances to and Among the Planets
Activity 3: Kepler’s Laws
Kepler’s Laws I, II, and III
Exploration Three: Explorations of the Planets and Their Moons
Activity 2: Mission Particulars
Exploration Four: Search for Life in Our Solar System
Activity 3: Water and Habitability
NASA: Visible Earth
Earth Observatory
NSSDC Photo Gallery: Earth
NSSDC Photo Gallery: Mars
NSSDC Photo Gallery: Europa
JPL Photojournal
Marsquest: Rover Images
Exploration Five: Extrasolar Planets
Activity 2: Transiting Method of Finding Extrasolar Planets
Activity 3: Search the Web for Recent Discoveries
Extrasolar Planets Encyclopaedia
Planet Quest: New Worlds Atlas
Going Further
Unit Review: Extending Your Work
Recommended Resources
Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP)—the largest general astronomy society in the world
Astronomy Magazine—a monthly magazine for amateur astronomers
Sky and Telescope—a monthly magazine providing articles and information on all aspects of astronomy, space exploration, telescope equipment, and amateur telescopes
Jet Propulsion Laboratory—builds and operates many of the unmanned spacecraft responsible for exploring our solar system
NASA: Astrobiology—NASA's Website for information on searching for life in the universe
Binocular Stargazing by Mike D. Reynolds (Stackpole Books, 2005, ISBN:0811731367)—an easy-to-use guidebook for observing the sky with binoculars
The Planets by Dava Sobel (Viking Adul, 2005, ISBN-13:978-0670034468)—a book of essays on the latest scientific knowledge about the planets, blended with popular culture, mythology, astrology, literature, music, and more
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