Work in Progress: Resources to be added and grouped
| Topic | Resources |
|---|---|
| Stellar structure and evolution | |
| Cosmic Rays | |
| Big Bang | |
| Work, Energy and Power | |
| Large scale structures |
Astrophysics Presentation – Parts 1, 2 5.08 MB
A PowerPoint presentation by Keith Burrows for use with the Year 11 VCE Astrophysics Detailed Study in the previous course. The presentation is in five parts in two separate files.
Astrophysics Presentation – Parts 3, 4, 5 6.23 MB
A PowerPoint presentation by Keith Burrows for use with the Year 11 VCE Astrophysics Detailed Study for the previus course. The presentation is in five parts in two separate files.
HR Diagram Powerpoint 6.32 MB
Prepared by David Cotton
Topic outline for Astronomy 28.2 kB
A series of dot points summarising an Astronomy/astrophysics course. Prepared by David Cotton
The Sun’s twin 56.8 kB
A scientific article about a star with very similar spectral features to the Sun. The article was written by Gustavo F. Porto de Mello and Licio da Silva from universities in Brazil, source unknown.
History of Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram 24.6 kB
A one page document with a long paragraph on the history with some discussion questions. Prepared by David Cotton..
Quick and easy Astronomy tasks to engage your class 2.66 MB
A conference workshop by Paul Natoli, Ballarat High School at 2013 Physics Teachers’ Conference (A ppt file).
Paul Fitz-Gerald’s Files
At the 2008 Physics Teachers’ Conference Paul presented a session on teaching the Astronomy Area of Study. These are the documents that he supplied to the Conference Proceedings. Paul teaches at Ivanhoe Girls’ Grammar School.
Paul Fitzgerald’s PowerPoint 3.21 MB
A presentation on Astronomy without a telescope. An extensive range of Paul’s material can be found at here.
Video of partial eclipse (mpg) 2.65 MB
Video of eclipse in Feb 2008 (mpg) 4.78 MB
Cover page for activities booklet 142 kB
List of web links and resources 137 kB
Using an Astrowatch 1.76 MB
Explanatory document.
Astrowatch template (jpg) 2.31 MB
Moon observation experiment: Explanatory document 743 kB
3D image of the Moon (jpg) 49.6 kB
Video of Total Eclipse October 77 (mpg file) 5.59 MB
Tif image of a projection of the earth 26.1 MB
The projection enables the image to be cut out and pasted on a tennis ball.
Tif image of an altitude and aximuth grid 1.35 MB
The grid is used to plot stars of the southern sky
Tif image of a North altitude and aximuth grid 1.4 MB
A grid to plot stars of the northern sky.
Introductory questions for students 968 kB
moon phase diagram 19.2 kB
Russell Downie’s Files
At the 2014 Physics Teachers’ Conference Russell presented a session on teaching the Astronomy to Year 10 with lab based practical work. These are the documents that he supplied to the Conference Proceedings. Russell teaches at PLC.
Cosmo: Start here 104 kB
An introduction to a Year 10 Unit on Astronomy by Russell Downie from PLC.
Cosmo: Student’s Workbook 1.07 MB
The student’s workbook for a Year 10 Unit on Astronomy by Russell Downie from PLC.
Cosmo: Goals and outcomes 64 kB
A statement of the goals of the Year 10 Astronomy unit under each of the three strands as well as achievement standards. Prepared by Russell Downie from PLC.
Cosmo: Lesson 1: What’s out there? Lesson plan 79.8 kB
One page lesson plan for ‘What’s out there?’ .Prepared by Russell Downie from PLC.
Cosmo: Lesson 1: What’s out there? Worksheet 16.4 MB
One page worksheet with 6 full colour images for ‘What’s out there?’ .Prepared by Russell Downie from PLC.
Cosmo: Lesson 1: What’s out there? Powerpoint 2.7 MB
Powerpoint for ‘What’s out there?’. Prepared by Russell Downie from PLC.
Cosmo: Lesson 2: Similar Triangles. Lesson Plan 63.8 kB
One page lesson plan for ‘Similar Triangles’. Prepared by Russell Downie from PLC.
Cosmo: Lesson 2: Similar Triangles. Worksheet 178 kB
Worksheet for ‘Similar Triangles’. Prepared by Russell Downie from PLC.
Cosmo: Lessons 3 & 4: Parallax. Worksheet 33.8 kB
Worksheet for ‘Parallax’. Prepared by Russell Downie from PLC.
Cosmo: Lessons 3 & 4: Parallax. Lesson Plan 369 kB
One page lesson plan for ‘Parallax’. Prepared by Russell Downie from PLC.
Cosmo: Lessons 3 & 4: Parallax. Powerpoint 1.01 MB
Powerpoint on Mt Stromlo for ‘Parallax’. Prepared by Russell Downie from PLC.
Cosmo: Lesson 5: Colour, Temp, Content and Speed. Worksheet 968 kB
Worksheet on colour, etc. Prepared by Russell Downie from PLC.
Cosmo: Lesson 6: Inverse Square Law. Lesson Plan 38.4 kB
One page lesson plan on Inverse Square Law. Prepared by Russell Downie from PLC.
Cosmo: Lesson 6: Inverse Square Law. Worksheet 69.1 kB
Worksheet on Inverse Square Law. Prepared by Russell Downie from PLC.
Cosmo: Lesson 6: Inverse Square Law. Problems 91.7 kB
Problems on Inverse Square Law. Prepared by Russell Downie from PLC.
Cosmo: Lesson 7: H – R Diagram Worksheet 113 kB
Worksheet on H – R Diagram. Prepared by Russell Downie from PLC.
Cosmo: Lesson 7: H – R Diagram Questions 65.6 kB
Questions on H – R Diagram. Prepared by Russell Downie from PLC.
Cosmo: Lesson 8: Cepheids. Lesson Plan 234 kB
One page lesson plan on Cepheids. Prepared by Russell Downie from PLC.
Cosmo: Lesson 8: Cepheids. Worksheet 157 kB
Worksheet on Cepheids. Prepared by Russell Downie from PLC.
Cosmo: Lesson 8: Cepheids. Questions 1.12 MB
Questions on Cepheids. Prepared by Russell Downie from PLC.
Cosmo: Lesson 8: Cepheids. Powerpoint 851 kB
Powerpoint on Cepheids. Prepared by Russell Downie from PLC.
Cosmo: Lesson 8: Cepheids. Video 13.4 MB
Video on Cepheids. Prepared by Russell Downie from PLC.
Cosmo: Lesson 9: Expanding Universe. Worksheet 326 kB
Worksheet on Expanding Universe. Prepared by Russell Downie from PLC.
Cosmo: Lesson 9: Expanding Universe. Activity 244 kB
Practical Activity with elastic on Expanding Universe. Prepared by Russell Downie from PLC.
Classroom Activities
Astronomy Resources 22 kB
A list of books and lab resources that may be of use in implementing the Astronomy and Astrophysics Detailed Studies in the previous curriculum.
Astronomy Websites 28.2 kB
A list of websites that may be of use in implementing the Astronomy and Astrophysics Detailed Studies in the previous curriculum.
Astrophysics 68.1 kB
An updated (Feb 2004) version of the text of the talks given by Keith Burrows at St.Kevin’s (Sept 03) and STAVCON (Nov 03) and Physics Teachers Conference (Feb 04). It describes an approach to teaching this detailed study in the previous course.
Light Intensity and Distance 22 kB
A practical activity submitted by Russell Downie. This prac uses a photographic slide of many dots that are projected onto a target of a set size. The slide set is available from Peter Mansell Fax 9808 5998 at a cost of $8.
Parallax 125 kB
A practical activity submitted by Russell Downie.
Victorian Space Science Education Centre
At Strathmore Secondary College offers programs for VCE Physics students.
Swinburne Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing
Offers virtual 3D tours; a regional program is available.
Useful Websites
Victorian Space Science Education Centre
At Strathmore Secondary College offers programs for VCE Physics students.
Interactive Applets
Interactive Applets for Video: Galileo-Battle for the heavens.
CLEA website
Includes good downloadable exercises
The Universe Forum: A comprehensive, but archival NASA site
The Universe Forum is the national centre for the teaching and learning about the structure and evolution of the universe. Sponsored by NASA and based at the Harvard-Smithsonian Centre for Astrophysics, the world’s largest centre for astrophysical research, the Forum uses the unique resources of NASA’s space science research program to create exciting learning experiences for students, teachers and the public. This is an archival site. The Universe Forum’s role as part of NASA’s Education Support Network concluded in September, 2009. Please visit NASA at http://nasascience.nasa.gov/ for current information about NASA’s science, education, and public outreach activities.
Black body radiation applet
The applet show an Intensity vs frequency graph. The temperature is controlled by a slide control. The intensity graph changes shape against a background of the visible spectrum. The scale on the intensity axis changes to keep the graph within the screen.
Galaxies Galore, Games and More
A range of attractively presented activities for primary and lower secondary students. Teacher notes included.
American Astronomical Society
This site can access some useful educational sites of web-based courses, teaching strategies, demos, practical activities as well as software and applets. The site also gives access to sophisticated astronomy and astrophysics journals.
Committee on the Physics of the Universe
The US National Academy of Sciences’ Broad Physics and Astronomy has set a committee with the task of “identifying the observational, experimental and theoretical routes to understanding the birth and destiny of the universe, the laws that govern it, and even the nature of space and time”. The committee published its report in 2000. Their plans and minutes of meetings are also available.
National Schools Laboratory (UK)
This UK website offers schools in the UK and Ireland free access to the Liverpool Telescope. However the website does have some useful resources including activities, worksheets and information for students.
Deep Space in the Classroom Materials by Jeff Stanger
Material prepared by Jeff Stanger of Sydney Girls High School as part of the ‘Deep Space in the Curriculum’ project: An initiative of Macquarie University on using the Faulkes Telscope Project with ASISTM funding to develop curriculum materials for Australian Schools. There are 6 teaching modules.
NASA Science, Education, and Public outreach
NASA site for current information about their science, education, and public outreach activities.
Useful Video Websites
Spitzer’s Spin on Stars
Spitzer’s Spin on Stars. Watch this NASA video explaining the similarities between spinning stars and spinning skaters. The stars with dust clouds spin slower – similar to a skater with extended arms. Video courtesy of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. (2.5 min)
Destiny – The Sun’s Fate
Like other stars of its type, our Sun will eventually become a planet-engulfing red giant (2 min video)
Time and Temperature: The Sun
Our sun is a medium-sized star. Eventually, the supply of hydrogen fuel will run down and the star will die. In the process of dying, the sun will go through stages, including becoming a red giant, core fusion and status as a white dwarf (2:15 min)
Star Size Comparison: Youtube
A Youtube video (2:35 min)that shows the comparative size of the stars using realistic images of rotating planets and stars. It starts with the moon, moves through the planets, then the sun, followed by about a dozen stars of increasing size, finishing with the largest stars known. The video finishes with the questions, how long would it take an aircraft to fly around the largest star. Answer over 1000 years.
NASA Multimedia Video Gallery
There are a range of search categories including: Moon & Mars, Solar System, Technology, Universe, etc. There are about 60 videos listed under ‘Universe’
Google Earth: Sky
With Google Earth’s new Sky feature, you can: i) Browse around and zoom in to distant galaxies and nebulae, ii) View constellations and the movements of the planets, iii) Hear astronomy podcasts and read celestial research from expert sources and iv) Create and share your own imagery, placemarks and more.
Powers of 10
The Website for the famous ‘Powers of 10’ video. They have established a Powers of 10 Video Response Competition with announcements to be made at the end of January 2011.
IT Applications
Stellarium – open source planetarium
Stellarium is a free open source planetarium for your computer. It shows a realistic sky in 3D, just like what you see with the naked eye, binoculars or a telescope. It is being used in planetarium projectors.Its features include: default catalogue of over 600,000 stars, extra catalogues with more than 210 million stars, illustrations of the constellations, images of nebulae (full Messier catalogue), realistic Milky Way, very realistic atmosphere, sunrise and sunset, the planets and their satellites.The interface has: a zoom, time control, fisheye projection for planetarium domes and spheric mirror projection for your own low-cost dome.It also features equatorial and azimuthal grids, star twinkling, shooting stars and eclipse simulation.
Neave Planetarium
Explore the sky and stars through your web browser. Click and move your mouse to look around the sky. Point at a star or planet to reveal its name, its constellation, its brightness and distance in light years or astronomical units. You can adjust your time and your viewing location to view the sky from any part of the world.
Cybersky
Cybersky for Windows is a planetarium program. It can be purchase for about US$34, but a trial version is available. Some of its features are:* View maps of the sky as seen from any location on the Earth at any moment from 15,000 BC to 15,000 AD.* Display constellations, about 2.5 million stars, over 5,500 deep-sky objects, the Milky Way, the Sun and Moon, planets, moons of other planets, asteroids, comets, and meteor showers.* Display proper-motion vectors.* Display the cross-section of the Earth’s shadow at the distance of the Moon, which lets you see the circumstances of lunar eclipses.* Display the paths of the Sun and Moon, planets, asteroids, and comets with respect to the background stars and the horizon.* Display equatorial, horizontal, ecliptic, and galactic coordinate-system lines.* Save maps to files.* Use night-vision mode.* Use the animation feature to watch objects move across the sky, solar and lunar eclipses take place.
Sky Globe 604 kB zip
A free astronomy sky program providing a view of the sky from anywhere at any time. It enables fast forward to show the motion of the planets and stars over any time period. This version opens up with the view from Melbourne. Although originally shareware the originators seem to have vanished so it is effectively free. Unfortunately there is an intermittent error that occurs on opening. If this occurs close the program and try again, it should open after a few tries. If you know how to fix the problem send us an email.
Mercury Motion 13.9 kB zip
This app simulates the conjunctions of Mercury and why they are not regular.
Useful Websites
Astronomical Society of Victoria
The Astronomical Society of Victoria is based in Melbourne, Australia and includes city and many country members. The Society attracts people with astronomical interests, from a wide range of ages and with a wide range of abilities and interests.
Faulkes Telescope Project
The Faulkes Project provides access to a global network of robotic telescopes for schools to use. An extensive range of quality activities and multimedia resources.
Heavens Above website
A website on current information about the International Space Station (ISS).
Hubble Telescope NASA website earlier version
It features sections on its technology, operations and multimedia resources. The last time it was updated was late 2009.
Hubble Telescope STSCI website
A website of the Formal Education Group of the Space Telescope Science Institute’s Office of Public Outreach. This is a more newsy website, but it has a useful section for teachers.
Hyperphysics
An encyclopedia of physics including a section on Astro and relativity. Very useable, simple and complete.
Sloan Digital Sky Survey
Up to date pics of great things eg the most distant objects etc.
A range of effective applets on spectral analysis
Applets and investigations on Stars and Galaxies from a ‘Exploring Earth’ website. This is one of about 30 chapters covered on this website.
American Astronomical Society
This site can access some useful educational sites of web-based courses, teaching strategies, demos, practical activities as well as software and applets. The site also gives access to sophisticated astronomy and astrophysics journals.
NASA Astrophysics Data System
This site has two components, an abstract service and an article service. The article service convers over 40,000 journal articles, including historical articles.
Star Size Comparison: You tube
A Youtube video (2:35 min)that shows the comparative size of the stars using realistic images of rotating planets and stars. It starts with the moon, moves through the planets, then the sun, followed by about a dozen stars of increasing size, finishing with the largest stars known. The video finishes with the questions, how long would it take an aircraft to fly around the largest star. Answer over 1000 years.
NASA Multimedia Video Gallery
There are a range of search categories including: Moon & Mars, Solar System, Technology, Universe, etc. There are about 60 videos listed under ‘Universe’
Google Earth: Sky
With Google Earth’s new Sky feature, you can: i) Browse around and zoom in to distant galaxies and nebulae, ii) View constellations and the movements of the planets, iii) Hear astronomy podcasts and read celestial research from expert sources and iv) Create and share your own imagery, placemarks and more.
National Schools Laboratory (UK)
This UK website offers schools in the UK and Ireland free access to the Liverpool Telescope. However the website does have some useful resources including activities, worksheets and information for students.
Deep Space in the Classroom Materials by Jeff Stanger
Material prepared by Jeff Stanger of Sydney Girls High School as part of the ‘Deep Space in the Curriculum’ project: An initiative of Macquarie University on using the Faulkes Telscope Project with ASISTM funding to develop curriculum materials for Australian Schools. There are 6 teaching modules.
NASA Science, Education, and Public outreach
NASA site for current information about their science, education, and public outreach activities.
Hubble Ultra Deep Field in 3D: You tube
A YouTube video (4:17 min) with narration.
Profiles of Women in Astronomy
This webpage has links to various female astronomers; including Henrietta Leavitt and Maria Mitchell. There are also links to other notable women in history if you are looking for some positive role models for female students.
Eyes on the Sky
National Science Foundation(US)website of videos and photos on observational astronomy as well as information on future challenges.
Cap Journal: Communicating Astronomy to the Public
An on-line Journal of quality, about 40 page, that comes out about three times a year.
Asteroid Watch
NASA website that features, images, videos, audios, interactives and downloads.
Sun Trek
SunTrek is a UK website designed for students. It explores the Sun and its effect on Earth. There are images, videos, activities and classroom resources. The style is more suited to junior secondary, but should engage older students.
Women in Astronomy
An Introductory Resource Guide to Materials on Women in Astronomy. There is information of 16 female astronomers from the past and 17 living astronomers. There is also an extensive list o written resources, websites. The website is by the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, so it has useful general astronomical resources.
The Guide to Backyard Astronomy
A comprehensive set of links to a diverse range of resources covering i) History of Astronomy, ii) Equipment needed for amateur astronomy, iii) Stargazing from your own home, iv) Guides to stars, constellations and planets, v) The finest views of stars of the World, vi) Some useful links (27 in all). Recommended by James, aged, 8.