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

Optional:

   Check out a planet sorting game at Windows to the Universe.

Activity 3: Size, Mass, and Gravitational Force

Apollo 15 Hammer and Feather Drop Video Shuttle Launch Videos

Activity 4: Debating Planetary Atmospheres and Temperatures

   US Environmental Protection Agency: Climate Change

   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

Jet Propulsion Laboratory: Solar System Jet Propulsion Laboratory: Missions Solar System Exploration: Missions NASA: Missions Welcome to the Planets: The Explorers

Exploration Four: Search for Life in Our Solar System

Activity 3: Water and Habitability

Article: First liquid water may have been sighted on Mars

Article: Mars: A Water World? Evidence Mounts, But Scientists Remain Tight-Lipped

Article: NASA Announces discovery of evidence for water on Mars

Article: Pictures Support Theory of Water on Europa

Article: Life Could Be Tough on Acid Europa

Images of Earth	Images of Mars	Images of Europa

   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

Data Center: Transiting Method

Activity 3: Search the Web for Recent Discoveries

   List of Extrasolar Planets

   Planet Quest: New Worlds Atlas

Doing Science

Surface Features on Other Worlds: Like or Unlike

Extrasolar Planetary Systems

Craters, Craters, and More Craters

Investigating the Atmospheres of Planets

Extending Your Work

Stargazing Evening: Planning an Observation Session�The Astronomical Society of the Pacific provides a list of things to consider before you host a star party

Starlab

MicroObservatory

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