Contents:
- Hunt for Alien Worlds
- Planet Quest
- New Activities from Windows to the Universe
- Three Clouds Activity
- Howling at the Moon
- Infrared Astronomy
- The History of Physics
- CFHT Hawaiian Starlight
- The Age of the Universe
- Electromagnetic Spectrum
- Auroras: Paintings in the Sky
- Upcoming Astronomical Events
Hunt for Alien Worlds
Are we alone? That's the hot topic in this neighbourhood of NOVA online,
produced by the US Public Broadcasting Service in conjunction with its
popular science TV series. Setting the mood with a computer-generated image
of an imaginary world, this well organised section details the search for
Earth-like planets orbiting other stars. The articles are fairly
superficial, being aimed at the non-scientist and the young, but are by
specialists who manage the trick of writing in magazine style, while
arousing the reader's curiosity and maintaining accuracy of content. For
those who want to learn more, there are links to the latest research on
extrasolar planets. Amateur astronomers will find tips on backyard
stargazing, with descriptions of the constellations and star maps showing
the positions of recently discovered planets. An informative, easy to
navigate site that's good looking, and should persuade anyone to pull out
their telescope.
Hunt For Alien Worlds.
From the New Scientist Site of the Day
Planet Quest
Created at the Jet Propulsion Labs, this website offers online resources
as well as offline activities for middle school and high school
students. Highlighting the technology of interferometry (a method
employing the interference of electromagnetic radiation to make highly
precise measurements of the angle between the two rays of light),
students can begin to understand how this technology can change our
knowledge of the universe and the search for life on other planets.
Virtual tours, 3D models and animations have been created to more
clearly show students the work being done by JPL.
Grade Level: Middle School, High School
Content Area: Science (Astronomy & Space/Physics) [Dewey #520], History
and Social Studies (Current Events)
Application Type: Resource
Planet Quest
From the NASA JPL site
New Activities from Windows to the Universe: Magnetometer
The University of Michigan's educational site called Windows to the
Universe (last mentioned in the January 6, 1999 Scout Report for Science
and Engineering has added many new lessons to their content. Highlights
of these include activities centered around magnetism. Clicking on
the links to the Student Activity Sheet and reading the Notes to the
Teacher are essential for getting the most out of the activities. To
undertake the magnetism lessons, first follow the instructions to make
the homemade magnetometer. Then, you can do neat activities modeling
real-world uses of a magnetometer instrument, such as exploring Earth's
magnetic reversals. You can explore how magnetic fields of the planets
are measured by creating your own planet, with magnetic poles out of a
paper bag and a few other simple items ("Terrabagga").
Magnetometer
Magnetometer Extensions Activity
Terrabagga Activity Using a Magnetometer
From NSDL Scout Report for the Physical Sciences, January
Three Clouds Activity
The University of Michigan's educational site called Windows to the
Universe (last mentioned in the January 6, 1999 Scout Report for Science
and Engineering
) has
added many new lessons to their content. Highlights of these include
activities centered around cloud formation. Clicking on
the links to the Student Activity Sheet and reading the Notes to the
Teacher are essential for getting the most out of the activities.
Once you've had enough of the magnets, put your head in the clouds with
the Three Clouds activity. This set of three lessons uses items such as
a jugs and jars, a plastic bag, an aquarium thermometer, and an overhead
projector to explore how clouds form and the relationship between the
hydrosphere and human activity.
Three Clouds Activity
From NSDL Scout Report for the Physical Sciences, January
Howling at the Moon
Do we believe everything government tells us? Of course
not. But, we think that some conspiracies would be so
unmanageable that they'd implode faster than an empty soda
can in the Marianas Trench q.v. The fake moon landing is
one of our favorite confabulations. Under this theory,
NASA didn't land on the moon - and its own photos prove
it. Now, to the extent that anyone cares, once we stop
chuckling about how little the hoax proponents actually
know about the science they claim to defend, this sort of
nonsense also makes us angry, because it diminishes not
only the breath-taking courage of people like the
Armstrongs and Lovells of this world, but also the
heart-breaking sacrifices of the Grissoms and McAuliffes.
People (and television networks) who propagate this
foolishness at least owe it to those pioneers to get their
science right. Phil Plait, whose very admirable Bad
Astronomy site has made Netsurfer lists before, tackles
the so-called evidence point by point. Even if you don't
care about the accusations, take a look at the science.
It's instructional in reminding us how very alien even our
own lunar environment is. In his personal pages, planetary
scientist Jim Scotti covers much the same territory,
'though he deals equally with a hoax site.
Bad Astronomy
Scotti Page
Marianas Trench Site 1
Marianas Trench Site 2
Infrared Astronomy
How did a simple thermometer aid in the discovery of
infrared radiation? Linda Hermans-Killam answers that
question and many more in her wonder filled Infrared
Astronomy pages. Did you know that when we finally lifted
infrared telescopes into orbit, we discovered more than
200% new infrared light sources in the universe,
increasing our inventory to 350,000 objects with just one
satellite? Hermans-Killam launches her wonderfully
comprehensive site from the hows and whys of seeing
infrared light, and she soars from there. The graphics are
a real eyeful. You can sense her own love of the subject
from the always comprehensible text that never talks down
to her readers. Show this woman the invisible and she
helps us see the universe.
Infrared Astronomy
History of Physics - Neils Bohr
Yesterday the Neils Bohr archives released 11 documents (intended to be
released in 2012) by Bohr, relating to his meeting with Heisenberg in
1941. If you are interested in the history of physics, it makes
interesting reading.
Neils Bohr Archives
CFHT Hawaiian Starlight
The Hawaiian Starlight pages on the CFHT web site are now
accessible. It aims at showing who we are and what we're doing in
a very visual way while never forgetting the educational side of it.
It includes the "CFHT image of the month" based on the calendar
(with one year shift, so this is from the 2001 calendar). Sure,
you've seen them already but with only a few thousand calendars
produced on paper, there is a large number of people out there
who will enjoy them in this new format.
Along comes the description for the posters and calendars.
Also included is a presentation of the CFHT, and a page
describing the entire Mauna Kea Observatories family.
CFHT Hawaiian Starlight Pages
The Age of the Universe
ASTRONOMERS RESPOND TO CLAIMS THAT THE UNIVERSE IS YOUNG
Material for Teachers About How We Know the Age of the Universe Is Now On Line
In several U.S. states there have been demands
that discussions of the Big Bang and the vast age
of the cosmos be excluded from science curricula
in K-12 classrooms. In response, the Astronomy
Education Board of the American Astronomical
Society (AAS) has put together an article for teachers
on how astronomers know that the universe is old
and that it changes with time.
The article explains the evidence showing that we live in a
universe that is between 10 billion and 15 billion years
old and that both the universe and its contents undergo
evolutionary change. It is designed to help teachers
explain these ideas to their classes and concerned
community members. A list of written and web resources
is also included.
The article grew out of a formal statement on behalf of
the astronomical community issued by the Council of
the AAS in 2000, when the Kansas State Board of
Education in 1999 adopted state standards that
eliminated both evolution and Big Bang cosmology.
While those standards have now been repealed,
following the election of new Board of Education
members, the scientific perspective continues
to be questioned in states and communities around the
U.S. Both the AAS Council, and the Society's
Astronomy Education Board feel that astronomers
have an obligation to assist teachers in sorting out
the evidence supporting our modern view of an ancient
universe. The illustrated article has been posted on the Web at:
The Age of the Universe
It is a special issue of "The Universe in the Classroom,"
a newsletter on teaching astronomy in grades 3-12,
published by the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Electromagnetic Spectrum
Part of the larger Imagine the Universe educational site, the
Electromagnetic Spectrum site is another great resource from NASA. The
site gives clear and easy-to-understand explanations, while providing
keywords throughout the page that are linked to a dictionary of terms
for easy access to further information. Students will enjoy the colorful
illustrations accompanying the text, which vertically follow the
spectrum from radio to gamma rays, while teachers will appreciate the
related lesson plans link that will help reinforce the learning.
Electromagnetic Spectrum
Imagine the Universe is a service of the High Energy Astrophysics Science Archive Research Center at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.
Auroras: Paintings in the Sky [RealAudio, QuickTime]
Taking two to four days to reach the earth, the sun's solar winds and
magnetic particles strike the magnetosphere like a shockwave, causing
the hauntingly beautiful aurora borealis lights. Another great site from
exploratorium.edu, Auroras: Paintings in the Sky showcases these
northern lights, offering the lay person a good introduction to this
mysterious phenomenon. The site has six sections: what aurora's look
like, what makes them happen, what their solar connection is, where you
can see them, what they look like from space, and why they are different
colors. Each link provides non-technical descriptions and incredible
photographs, illustrations, and movies of auroras that make the site
enjoyable and educational.
Auroras: Paintings in the Sky
Upcoming Astronomical Events
- Meteor Showers - Don't forget to watch the Lyrid meteor shower
on the morning of April 22nd. Best viewing time is Midnight to
Sunrise with the peak occuring at 1am on the 22nd. Predictions are 15-20
meteors per hour. Not quite as spectacular as the Leonid or Geminid
showers. It is best to bring along a sky chart to identify the
constellation in this case Lyra and then look in its direction.
See the August 2001 issue of Hoku in the archive to learn more
about watching meteor showers.
- Eclipses - There will be a penumbral lunar eclipse during the
morning of May 26th. It will start at 12:12 am and end at 3:53am. The
moon will be at its darkest at 2:03am. This is unfortunately not quite
as spectacular as a partial or total lunar eclipse.
All times listed above are HST. The link below contains many calendars
and includes a nice section on astronomical events. Check it out!!
Calendars
We gratefully acknowledge the following online sources:
Yahoo's Search Engine, The Scout Report, Netsurfer News, Blue Web'N, and the Librarian's
Index to the Internet.
This page is compiled by Liz Bryson, CFHT Librarian
This page was designed by Lisa Wells, CFHT Observing Assistant
We appreciate your comments and questions.
