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Name: _________________________________ Period: _____
Astronomy
Project 2008-2009
Partner #1: ____________________ Phone #: _____________
Partner #2: ____________________ Phone #: _____________
Rough Draft Due Date: ____May 18___________
Topic: _______________________________
Final Draft Due Date: ____May 20___________
You and a partner will be researching one of the following topics of astronomy. You will be creating a poster
or model about that topic to present to the entire class. In addition, you will be telling the class a few facts
about your astronomy project.
Astronomy Choices:
Mercury
Venus
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
Pluto
Asteroid Belt/Meteors/Comets
Constellations
Moons
Galaxies
Black Holes/Supernovas
Model
Construct a three-dimensional model of the specific astronomy project you have chosen. A key that tells the viewer what 3 facts
you have learned. You may use any materials to represent astronomical objects except food or candy.
This is the way your model will be graded:
1 .Model (40 pts)
 The model is 3-dimensional and can stand alone or hang from ceiling and is a good representation of your
astronomical object (10)
 Fact #1 (10)
 Fact #2 (10)
 Fact #3 (10)
2. Key (10)
 Your name(s) (2)
 Astronomical object clearly labeled (2)
 Fact #1 (2)
 Fact #2 (2)
 Fact #3 (2)
Poster
Research your astronomical object on the internet or in the library. Your poster must be at least 12” x 18”. I can provide you with
a 12” x 18” poster board or you may supply your own. Your poster will be worth 50 points as follows:



A colorful drawing of the astronomical object clearly labeled (10 pts)
On the poster describe in 3 paragraphs the three facts you learned about your astronomical objects. There should be no
spelling errors, grammatical errors and the font should be no less then size 24. This may NOT be plagiarized, that means
it should be completely in your own words.(30 pts)
At least two smaller, colorful pictures showing what the astronomical object does (or may) look like. These should be
color photos, or pictures from the computer. (10 pts)
Written Report:
Planets
- Must include the following information:
1. Planet Name-Name Origin
2. Planet Facts 1-Position in solar system, size, mass, length of year,
length of day, gravity at the surface
3. Planet Facts 2-The planet’s atmosphere, temperature range, internal
composition, rings, moons, how a person would fare on the planet,
discovery, unusual features, etc.
4. What time this year would be the best time to see this planet, and
whether or not you would need a large telescope to see it.
5. Work Cited
6. Grammar/ Spelling Errors
Poster Presentation:
- Must include the following information:
1. Planet Pictures:
- Must have 3 different pictures.
- Must be clean, sharp picture.
- This needs to be in color.
- Needs to be clearly labeled.
- Show position of planet in solar system.
2. Presentation Talk:
- All people in group talk
- Voices audible to everyone
- Stand where class can see presentation
Points
Possible
10
Points
Earned
18
24
10
4
4
15
15
100
Total
 The Planet’s Name: What does its name mean? Many planets were named after mythological Gods.
 Position in the Solar System: Where is your planet located (for example, Mars in the fourth planet from
the Sun)? How far from the Sun does it orbit? Is its orbit unusual?
 Rotation on its Axis: How long does it take for your planet to rotate on its own axis? (This is one day on
your planet.)
 Size: How big is your planet? How does it rate in terms of the other planets in terms of size (is it the
biggest, the smallest)? What is your planet’s mass?
 Gravity: What is the force of gravity at the surface of your planet? For example, what would a 100-pound
person weigh on that planet?
 Orbit: How long does it take for your planet to orbit the Sun? (This is one year on your planet.)
 Atmosphere: What is the composition of the atmosphere of your planet? Is it a thick or a thin
atmosphere?
 Temperature: What is the temp. range your planet? How does this compare to the temperature on Earth?
 Composition of Your Planet and its Appearance: What type of planet is it (is it rocky or a gas giant)?
What is its internal composition? What does your planet look like?
 Rings: If there are rings orbiting your planet, describe them and when they were discovered.
 Moons: How many moons does it have, or does it have any?
 How Would a Human Being Fare on Your Planet: On your planet, would a person choke in the
atmosphere, be squashed by the extreme gravity, float with ease, freeze, burn up, or something else?
 Something Special: Is there anything special about your planet? This can often be the best part of the
report, taking you off on interesting topics. For example, are there 100-year-long storms on your planet? Are
there giant volcanoes? Does your planet have a very tilted axis (giving it extreme seasons)? Have spacecraft
visited your planet? If so, what have they discovered? Is your planet in an orbital resonance with another
body?
Here are a few sites to get you started: http://www.nineplanets.org, http://space.jpl.nasa.gov,
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/index.cfm
Moons
Written Report:
- Must include the following information:
1. Names of Moons- definition
2. Moon Facts 1-Name of all moons and to which planet they belong,
year discovered, discoverer.
3. Moon Facts 2-Distance from planet, diameter, orbital period
4. Interesting facts about 4 of the solar system moons
5. Work Cited
6. Grammar Spelling Errors
Poster Presentation:
- Must include the following information:
1. Moon Pictures:
- Must have 2 different pictures of different moons.
- Must be clean, sharp picture.
- This needs to be in color.
- Needs to be clearly labeled.
- Show the phases of Earths’ moon in a lunar cycle. Be sure to include
labels.
2. Presentation Talk:
- All people in group talk
- Voices audible to everyone
- Stand where class can see presentation
Total










Points
Possible
10
Points
Earned
20
20
12
4
4
15
15
94
The Moon’s Name: What does its name mean?
Names of all 137 moons: This information must be presented in paragraph form, not a table. Be sure it
is clear which moon belongs to which planet.
Years discovered: What year was each of the moons discovered?
Discoverer: What are the names of the people who discovered the moons? Again, this information must
be presented in paragraph form, not a table
Distance from planet: How far is the moon from the planet it orbits?
Diameter: What is the diameter of the moon?
Orbital period: How long does the moon take to go around the planet once?
Interesting facts: What is special about 4 of the moons? You can pick which 4. Does it have an
atmosphere? Does it have volcanoes? Could it support life? Is it almost as big as the planet itself?
Moon pictures: Show 2 of the 137 moons in our solar system.
Phases: Be sure to include the sun in your drawing and the words: new moon, waxing crescent, first
quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, last quarter, waning crescent. Include what phase
the moon will be in on May 24.
Meteors/ Comets/ Asteroid Belt
Written Report:
- Must include the following information:
1. Names of Asteroid, Comet, Meteor- definitions
2. Asteroid Facts- Composition, shape, location, interesting facts
3. Comet Facts- Composition, shape, location, interesting facts
4. Meteor Fact- Composition, shape
5. Interesting facts about 2 of the solar system asteroids and 2 of the
solar system comets
6. Work Cited
7. Grammar/ Spelling Errors
Points
Possible
10
17
17
Points
Earned
17
4
4
Poster Presentation:
- Must include the following information:
1. Asteroid/Comet/ Meteor Pictures:
- Must have 2 different pictures of different asteroids.
- Must have 2 different pictures of different comets.
- Must have 2 different pictures of meteor (and/or) meteor
16
impact site
- Must be clean, sharp picture.
- This needs to be in color.
- Needs to be clearly labeled.
2. Presentation Talk:
- All people in group talk
15
- Voices audible to everyone
- Stand where class can see presentation
100
Total
Asteroid
 Composition: From what are asteroids made?
 Shape: What do asteroids look like?
 Origin: From where do asteroids come?
 Location: Where is the asteroid belt located in our solar system?
 Interesting Facts: Does the asteroid belt revolve around the sun? How many asteroids are there? Name
and find images of five or more asteroids in the asteroid belt. What is the largest asteroid? Are there any
asteroids headed our way?
Comet
 Composition: Name the four parts of a comet. From what is each part of a comet made?
 Shape: What do comets look like? What is contained in the nucleus of a comet?
 Origin: Where do comets originate?
 Location: Where are the Oort cloud and Kuiper belt located?
 Interesting Facts: When is the tail of a comet visible? Do comets orbit in a circular or elliptical pattern?
Name and show images of some famous comets that travel through our solar system. Are there any
comets headed our way?
Meteor
 Composition: What are meteors made from?
 Shape: What do meteors look like? What size are they usually? How big can they be?
 Origin: Where do meteors originate?
 Location: Where do you find meteors?
 Interesting Facts: Where are famous meteor impacts on Earth? Name 4 famous meteor impacts on the
moon. How many tons land on Earth each day? Why don’t we notice?
Constellation: _______________________
Written Report:
- Must include the following information:
1. Constellation Name
2. Constellation Fact 1- Greek Mythology
3. Constellation Fact 2-Name of 3 stars, alpha, beta and gamma stars,
hemisphere seen, time of year to see the constellation.
4. Interesting Facts- Other cultures
5. Work cited
6. Grammar/ Spelling Errors
Poster Presentation:
- Must include the following information:
1. Constellation Drawing:
- As a photo of your constellation would be hard to see, you must
have a neat and carefully drawing of it.
- There should also be an artistic rendering of the constellation.
- This needs to be in color.
- All major stars should be labeled in the drawing.
2. Presentation Talk:
- All people in group talk
- Voices audible to everyone
- Stand where class can see presentation
Total
Points
Possible
5
20
Points
Earned
17
15
4
4
20
15
100
Constellation Name: What is the name of your constellation?
Greek Mythology: Most of the 88 constellations have a Greek story describing why those stars are in the
sky. What is the story of your stars?
Name of 3 stars: Many individual stars have names. What are three star names in your constellation?
Alpha Beta Gamma Stars: Alpha is the brightest star in a constellation, Beta is the second brightest, and
Gamma is the third brightest. Which stars in our constellation are the alpha, beta and gamma?
Hemisphere Seen: Is it visible from the southern hemisphere, northern hemisphere or both?
Time of Year Seen: Can your constellation be seen all year round? Or, is it visible in a specific season?
Other Cultures: Are there any other cultures with a story about your constellation?
Extraterrestrial Volcanoes:
Written Report:
- Must include the following information:
1. Volcanoes- Definition
2. Volcano Fact 1- Active Volcanoes- location-planet/moon, size, type
3. Volcano Fact 2- Extinct Volcanoes- location-planet/moon, size, type
4. Interesting Facts- Volcanism on other celestial bodies
5. Work cited
6. Grammar/ Spelling Errors
Poster Presentation:
- Must include the following information:
1. Volcano Picture:
- Must have 3 different pictures.
- Must be clean, sharp picture.
- This needs to be in color.
- Needs to be clearly labeled.
2. Presentation Talk:
- All people in group talk
- Voices audible to everyone
- Stand where class can see presentation
Points
Possible
10
20
17
15
4
4
Points
Earned
15
15
Total
100
Volcano Definition: As we studied earlier this year, what is the definition of a volcano?
Active Volcanoes: Some extraterrestrial volcanoes are currently still active, still erupting.
Location: Where are these active volcanoes located- which planet or moon?
Size: How big is the volcano?
Type: Is the volcano a cinder, shield, or stratovolcano?
Extinct Volcanoes: Some extraterrestrial volcanoes are no longer active, they stopped erupting.
Location: Where are these active volcanoes located- which planet or moon?
Size: How big is the volcano?
Type: Is the volcano a cinder, shield, or stratovolcano?
Volcanism on other celestial bodies: Volcanism is more than just volcanoes. What other bodies had magma
work its way to the surface to become lava? What forces caused the volcanism?
Supernovas/Black Holes
Written Report:
- Must include the following information:
1. Names of Supernovas and Black Holes
2. Supernova Facts- Description, when does it occur, fusion, names
3. Black Hole Facts- Description, when does it occur, how strong is the
gravity, size, names
4. Interesting facts-Who saw the supernova of 1054 and how did they
explain it? When was the last observed supernova (not in our solar
system)?
5. Work Cited
6. Grammar/ Spelling Errors
Points
Possible
10
17
Poster Presentation:
- Must include the following information:
1. Supernova/ Black Hole Pictures:
- Must have 2 different pictures of supernova (actual or
artist conception).
- Must have 2 different pictures of black holes (real or artist
conception).
- Must be clean, sharp picture.
- This needs to be in color.
- Needs to be clearly labeled.
2. Presentation Talk:
- All people in group talk
- Voices audible to everyone
- Stand where class can see presentation
Total
Supernova:
Description: What is a supernova?
When does it occur?: At what stage in a stars life does this occur?
Fusion: What is the star finishing fusing, and what fuses during the supernova?
Names: Name 3 supernova remnants.
Black Hole:
Description: What is a black hole?
When does it occur?: At what stage in a stars life does this occur?
How strong is the gravity?: How does it compare to Earth’s gravitational pull?
Size: How big and how small can black holes be?
Names: Name 3 known black holes.
17
17
4
4
16
15
100
Points
Earned