Astronomy - Observational Astronomy - Observatories

The Kingfisher Space Encyclopedia

Discussion:
Terrestrial observatories
Space observatories - advantages

Activity:
Field trip to our local observatory (terrestrial, obviously)

Astronomy - Observational Astronomy - Radio Telescopes

The Kingfisher Space Encyclopedia
The Telescope by Tamra Orr

Discussion:
How a radio telescope works
Locations, types of objects/information viewed

Activity:
Picture study - parts of the radio telescope

Astronomy - Observational Astronomy - Constellations - Perseus Group

Dot to Dot in the Sky by Joan Marie Galat
First Field Guide to the Night Sky by the National Audubon Society

Discussion:
Constellation group of the Perseus story - identification of its constellations and where they are relative to each other

Activity:
Observation

Astronomy - Observational Astronomy - Constellations - Taurus

First Field Guide to the Night Sky by the National Audubon Society

Discussion:
Recognizing Taurus
Mythology of Taurus

Activity:
Draw Taurus - show how it resembles what it is named for
Explain its location on a diagram of the sky
Identify in sky

Astronomy - Observational Astronomy - Constellations - Leo

First Field Guide to the Night Sky by the National Audubon Society

Discussion:
Recognizing Leo
Mythology of Leo

Activity:
Draw Leo - show how it resembles what it is named for
Explain its location on a diagram of the sky
Identify in sky

Astronomy - Observational Astronomy - Constellations - Andromeda

First Field Guide to the Night Sky by the National Audubon Society

Discussion:
Recognizing Andromeda
Mythology of Andromeda

Activity:
Draw Andromeda - show how it resembles what it is named for
Explain its location on a diagram of the sky
Identify in sky

Astronomy - Observational Astronomy - Constellations - Draco

First Field Guide to the Night Sky by the National Audubon Society

Discussion:
Recognizing Draco
Mythology of Draco

Activity:
Draw Draco - show how it resembles what it is named for
Explain its location on a diagram of the sky
Identify in sky

Astronomy - Observational Astronomy - Constellations - Orion

First Field Guide to the Night Sky by the National Audubon Society

Discussion:
Recognizing Orion
Mythology of Orion

Activity:
Draw Orion - show how it resembles what it is named for
Explain its location on a diagram of the sky
Identify in sky

Astronomy - Observational Astronomy - Constellations - Scorpius

First Field Guide to the Night Sky by the National Audubon Society

Discussion:
Recognizing Scorpius
Mythology of Scorpius

Activity:
Draw Scorpius - show how it resembles what it is named for
Explain its location on a diagram of the sky
Identify in sky

Astronomy - Observational Astronomy - Constellations - Ursa Major

First Field Guide to the Night Sky by the National Audubon Society

Discussion:
Recognizing Ursa Major
Polaris - Ursa Minor

Activity:
Draw Ursa Major - show how it resembles what it is named for
Explain its location on a diagram of the sky
Identify in sky

Astronomy - Observation - Telescopes II

Beyond the Solar System by Mary Kay Carson

Discussion:
Isaac Newton - improving the telescope
Spectroscopes

Activity:
Split white light using a CD

Astronomy - Observation - Telescopes

The Kingfisher Space Encyclopedia
Beyond the Solar System by Mary Kay Carson

Discussion:
How a telescope works
Galileo and Kepler

Activity:
Build a telescope (see Beyond the Solar System)

Astronomy - Observation - Brief History

Beyond the Solar System by Mary Kay Carson

Discussion:
Early observation - Greek, Arab, Chinese discoveries
Ptolemy and Geocentrism
Copernicus and Heliocentrism

Activity:
Build an astrolabe - note position of stars three nights in a row