Out of this world, astronomical LINKS for students

ESPECIALLY FOR KIDS
Amazing Space really is an amazing web site! Here you can find out what light and color say about the stars, learn about the objects that make up the Solar System, or train to be a scientist by enrolling in the "Hubble Deep Field Academy." http://amazing-space.stsci.edu/

Starchild is a learning center for young astronomers. Become an expert on the solar system, the universe and other space facts. http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/StarChild.html

NASA KIDS offers an interactive way to learn about NASA's science activities. It is especially designed for kids.
http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forkids/kidsclub/flash/index.html

At Astro-Venture, brought to you by NASA, you can complete training in basic astronomy, geology, and biology and design a planet. http://astroventure.arc.nasa.gov/teachers/teach.html

Read the fascinating stories about the astronomers from The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, http://www.childrensmuseum.org/cosmicquest/fieldguide/astronomers.html
and from Women in Astronomy. http://webs.wichita.edu/lapo/wia.html

Click here to view the Horsehead Nebula and other awesome photos in the Star Lab gallery.http://www.questacon.edu.au/html/horsehead_nebula.html

The Crab Nebula.
credit: FORS Team

WHAT'S UP IN SPACE TODAY?
If you are the curious kind look at What's Happening in Space Today for the current report about the state of the sun, auroras, and space events. http://www.windows.ucar.edu/spaceweather/more_details.html.

A map of current day and night regions on the earth. http://www.fourmilab.ch/cgi-bin/uncgi/Earth/action?opt=-p

Astronomy Picture of the Day Every day a new picture or image of the universe is placed here, with a brief explanation and links to background information. http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html

Visit the daily report about the sun - earth environment at Space Weather. http://www.spaceweather.com/

Telescopes from the ground up...Explore the history of telescopes, from Galileo to NASA's Great Observatories. http://amazing-space.stsci.edu/resources/explorations/groundup

MORE ABOUT THE SOLAR SYSTEM

Here are the "Everything you'll ever want to know" sites for:
asteroids, stars, comets, black holes, galaxies, and constellations.
http://www.windows.ucar.edu/

Are you ready to answer these challenge questions from the Space Trivia Quiz? http://observe.arc.nasa.gov/nasa/fun/space_trivia/space_trivia.html

If you still have unanswered questions you can Ask An Astronomer http://coolcosmos.ipac.caltech.edu//cosmic_kids/AskKids/index.shtml

RECENT DISCOVERIES - 2003 to 2006

...August, 2006...Pluto is no longer a planet...It is now called a dwarf planet...Read more

...Is there a 10th planet beyond Pluto? http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/29jul_planetx.htm?list165102

...New Moons for Pluto.... A recent Hubble Space Telescope observation has revealed two new moons orbiting Pluto, the smallest planet in the solar system. http://amazing-space.stsci.edu/news/
...New Moon Names http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/newsdesk/archive/releases/2006/29/

...One of Saturn's moons might have volcanic activity!!! There might be geysers!! Watch a video about this amazing find...! http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/saturn/moons/enceladus.html&edu=elem

Cosmic Opportunities for Teachers

ACTIVITIES AND LESSONS
A good place to start your exploration of topics and resources about space is NASA's Spacelink, an aeronautics and space resource for education.

Take a look at three Daytime Astronomy Lessons from NSTA at the site called "Astronomy with a Stick." http://www.nsta.org/awsday

The Teacher's Corner at NASA KIDS has helpful suggestions for teaching. http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forkids/home/info_for_teachers.html

17 integrated elementary group activities about space are presented at The Space Place. http://spaceplace.jpl.nasa.gov/teachers_page.htm

Here a a few activities for teaching space weather brought to you by NOAA. http://www.sec.noaa.gov/info/School.html

Galaxies Galore resources for teachers from Amazing Space gives additional information about galaxies. http://amazing-space.stsci.edu/galaxies-galore/teacher/grabbag.html

Astro Venture...Design a Planet Educator's guide http://astroventure.arc.nasa.gov/teachers/pdf/AV-DesignaPlanet.pdf

If you don't have any time to look at any other links, then this is the place for you. Windows on the Universe is the ultimate web site about space. The site offers the choice of appropriate educational levels; beginner, intermediate, or advanced. It is brought to you by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR). ©1995-1999, 2000 The Regents of the University of Michigan; ©2000-01 University. http://www.windows.ucar.edu/

Telescopes from the Ground up Teachers' Page from amazing space. Explore the history of telescopes,
from Galileo to NASA's Great Observatories.
http://amazing-space.stsci.edu/resources/explorations/groundup/teacher/index.html

USEFUL DAILY SPACE DATA
The sunrise, sunset, moonrise, moonset and twilight time tables for your location from the Navy can be a useful classroom tool. Also included are important dates, positions of the sun and moon, and eclipse information. http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data

This Phases of the Moon calendar shows the phases of the moon for each day of current, future and past months. http://googol.best.vwh.net/moon/

Look here for times when you can get a glimpse of The International Space Station and The Space Shuttle. http://www.hq.nasa.gov/osf/station/viewing/issvis.html

Discover the Electronic PictureBooks and tutorials from STScI (Space Telescope Science Institute). The Electronic PictureBooks contain full color images and informative text designed with powerful navigational tools. The library is continually growing with subjects such as geography, planetary science, astrophysics, There are views of Earth and images taken by the Hubble Space Telescope. http://www.stsci.edu/exined/

Don't miss these Hubble Space Telescope public images! http://oposite.stsci.edu/pubinfo/pictures.html

For more outstanding photos try, the Planetary Photo Journal from NASA. http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/

Here is information about Idaho's Planetariums.

Comet Hale-Bopp

Comet Hale-Bopp
credit: A. Dimai, Col
Druscie Observatory.

OUR SOLAR SYSTEM
The Nine Planets Tour of the Solar System, brought to you by SEDS (Students for the Exploration and Development of Space) is complete source of information about the solar system. http://www.seds.org/nineplanets/nineplanets/nineplanets.html

The Solar System Simulator views the Solar System from various spacecraft. You pick the view. http://space.jpl.nasa.gov/

Here is an interactive lesson about the orbits of the planets. http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/solar_system_level1/activity/planet_go.html

This is the complete web site about Mars missions with a variety of links. http://www.seds.org/spaceviews/pathfinder/marslinks.html

Amazing Space has information about comets that includes lesson plans. http://amazing-space.stsci.edu/comets/teacher/grabbag.html

No Escape: The Truth about Black Holes contains information and lesson plans. NASA brings you simulations
of Black Holes. http://amazing-space.stsci.edu/blackholes/teacher/grabbag.html

If you're looking for information about constellations this site can help you. Also, here is a mapping activity. http://www.r-clarke.org.uk/constellations/constellations.htm

Final Explorations for Amateur Astronomers

The FACTS The GLOSSARY The RESOURCES