Download Eye on the Sky - Sci-Port

Eye on the Sky
Grades: 4th- 5th, 8th-12th
Program Duration: 30 Minutes
Program Type: Interactive Dome Show
Program Description
The Hubble Space Telescope has expanded our understanding of the Universe and increased our wonderment at its size and
elegance. This live, interactive program will introduce you to the Hubble Telescope itself and wow you with some of the most
magnificent Hubble images. Go deeper and learn what these images reveal about the size and structure of some of the most unusual
objects in the cosmos. The program ends with a bang, as we discuss current theories of cosmology.
Louisiana GLEs and NGSS:
4th Grade
Science
69. Explain how technology has improved our knowledge of the universe (e.g., Hubble telescope, space stations, lunar
exploration) (ESS-E-B6)
5th Grade
Science
47. Identify and explain advances in technology that have enabled the exploration of space (ESS-M-C8)
Space Systems: Stars and the Solar System
5-ESS1-1. Support an argument that the apparent brightness of the sun and stars is due to their relative distances from Earth.
5-PS2-1. Support an argument that the gravitational force exerted by Earth on objects is directed down.
8th Grade
Science
36. Describe the life cycle of a star and predict the next likely stage of the Sun (ESS-M-C1)
48. Communicate ways that information from space exploration and technological research have advanced understanding
about Earth, the solar system, and the universe (ESS-M-C8)
49. Identify practical applications of technological advances resulting from space exploration and scientific and technological
research (ESS-M-C8)
Middle School
Space Systems
MS-ESS1-3. Analyze and interpret data to determine scale properties of objects in the solar system.
High School
Earth Science
23. Identify the evidence that supports the big bang theory (ESS-H-D1)
24. Describe the organization of the known universe (ESS-H-D2)
Space Systems
HS-ESS1-1. Develop a model based on evidence to illustrate the life span of the sum and the role of nuclear fusion in the
sun’s core to release energy that eventually reaches Earth in the form of radiation.
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How the Universe Works
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HS-ESSI-2. Construct an explanation of the Big Bang theory based on astronomical evidence of light spectra, motion of
distant galaxies, and composition of matter in the universe.
HS-ESS1-3. Communicate scientific ideas about the way starts, over their life cycle, produce elements.
Key Terms:
Universe: the totality of known or supposed objects and phenomena throughout space; the cosmos; macrocosm.
Galaxy: a large system of stars held together by mutual gravitation and isolated from similar systems by vast regions of
space.
Black Hole: a massive object with zero volume and infinite mass, formed at the beginning of the universe or by the
gravitational collapse of a star exploding as a supernova, whose gravitational field is so intense that no electromagnetic
radiation can escape. Also called a singularity.
Singularity: (in general relativity) the mathematical representation of a black hole.
Nebula: a cloud of interstellar gas and dust.
Protoplanetary Disk: A flattened, rotating disk of dust and gas that surrounds a young star. It may eventually develop
into orbiting celestial bodies such as planets and asteroids.
Cepheid Variable Star: a variable star in which changes in brightness are due to alternate contractions and expansions
in volume.
Edwin Hubble: United States astronomer who discovered that (as the universe expands) the speed with which nebulae
recede increases with their distance from the observer (1889-1953)
Big Bang: a theory that deduces a cataclysmic birth of the universe (big bang) from the observed expansion of the
universe, cosmic background radiation, abundance of the elements, and the laws of physics.
Infrared: the part of the invisible spectrum that is contiguous to the red end of the visible spectrum and that comprises
electromagnetic radiation of wavelengths from 800 nm to 1 mm
Ultraviolet: Of or relating to the range of invisible radiation wavelengths from about 4 nanometers, on the border of
the x-ray region, to about 380 nanometers, just beyond the violet in the visible spectrum.
Connections to Permanent Exhibits:
This exhibit is located in the Sky High cluster of The Space Center, 1st floor.
Outside of the Peggy and Aaron Selber Space Walk: What nebula is the nursery for some of the most massive
stars in the Milky Way? What nebula is the third star in Orion’s sword?
These exhibits are located in the Deep Space cluster of The Space Center, 2nd floor.
The Crab Nebula: What does the Chandra X Ray Telescope tell us about the Crab Nebula? What does infrared
radiation tell us? What elements make up the Crab Nebula and how do we know? What is in the center of the
Crab Nebula?
Star Engineer: Go through the life cycle of a star. Check out more information. When you finish take the Star
Quiz by clicking on the Space Brain button.
Our Cosmic Address: Where is our sun in the Milky Way? What is a nebula?
Electromagnet Spectrum Mural: Where does visible light fall on the electromagnetic spectrum? What is
infrared radiation? Which is longer X-ray or gamma rays?
Hubble Space Telescope Mural: Of what is this picture? How many galaxies are there estimated to be in the
universe?
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Deep Space Monitor: (near the restrooms on the second floor) Watch monitor. Report on something you learned from
watching the information on this monitor.
Web Resources:
The Hubble Telescope
NASA
http://hubblesite.org/
HubbleSite is from the Space Telescope Science Institute at Johns Hopkins. This is an amazing website to explore with
all the news releases about the scientific discoveries behind the beautiful Hubble images. You can even make your own
model of the Hubble Space Telescope! Also, there are interactive explanations of how the light gets turned into an
image and sent back to Earth; why the pictures have the stair-step shape, and how infrared and UV data gets turned
into false color.
Big Bang Cosmology Primer
Paul Shestople of Berkeley
http://cosmology.berkeley.edu/Education/IUP/Big_Bang_Primer.html
Basic explanation of the astrophysics of the Big Bang and evidence supporting it.
Edwin Hubble
edwinhubble.com
http://www.edwinhubble.com
This is a site exploring the life of the man who was first to show that the universe is expanding, and is considered by many
to be the father of observational cosmology. In addition to biographical information and resources, we have included
gallery of photographs taken from the Hubble Space Telescope, which was so named in Edwin Hubble's honor.
Pre-Visit Activities
Model of the Hubble Telescope
Have your students build a model of the Hubble Telescope. There are three versions of the Hubble Telescope at
this site. One for elementary students, a second for middle school students and a very difficult version for high
school students.
Download the instructions for 3 different models at the following website:
http://hubblesite.org/the_telescope/hand-held_hubble/
Post-Visit Activities
Galaxy Galore, Games and More: Amazing Space-Formal Education Group of the Space Telescope Science
Institute's Office of Public Outreach
Galaxies Galore, Games and More provides students with an interactive, on-line or off-line lesson that allows for
levels of understanding based on their ability and desire to learn about galaxies. The purpose of this lesson is for
students to gain a general understanding of the structure of galaxies such as their own galaxy (the Milky Way) and
to acquire knowledge about the three main types of galaxies. Within this lesson the elementary student will develop
skills required in scientific inquiry: recognition of pattern, identification of attributes, and classification. This lesson
is applicable for 4th-8th grades.
The lesson plan for these on-line activities may be downloaded from the following website:
http://amazing-space.stsci.edu/resources/explorations/galaxies-galore/teacher/lessonplan.html
The on-line activity may be found at the following website:
http://amazing-space.stsci.edu/resources/explorations/
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How the Universe Works
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Galaxy Hunter: Amazing Space-Formal Education Group of the Space Telescope Science Institute's Office
of Public Outreach
Students can go online and use actual data from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope to study galaxies in deep space.
Produced by the formal education team at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, Md., the
interdisciplinary, Web-based lesson blends astronomy and math skills. A team of scientists, teachers, artists, and
Web programmers developed the interactive lesson to bring the results of cutting-edge astronomical observations
into the classroom. This activity is applicable for 8th-12th grade students.
Download a copy of the lesson plan to go with this activity at the following website:
http://amazing-space.stsci.edu/resources/explorations/ghunter/teacher/index.html
This interactivity is found on-line at
http://amazing-space.stsci.edu/resources/explorations/
Gallery Image Tour: Hubble Site
The interactive feature of this website allows your students to explore the science along with the scenery. The
Image Tours shows Hubble pictures through an astronomer's eyes, pinpointing and explaining key features. The
students just need to point and click through these interactive images to add understanding to the joy of cosmic
sightseeing.
Have your students or pair of students choose one of the solar system or galactic object and then do a video
presentation of their findings.
This image gallery can be found on-line at
http://hubblesite.org/gallery/tours/
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How the Universe Works
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