Presented

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• Presented
• by
• Judy Vondruska
• South Dakota State University
• SD Science and Math Teachers Conference
• Huron, SD
• Feb. 6 7, 2009

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• Vision
• To help the citizens of the world rediscover
  their place in the universe through the day and
  night time sky
• Engage a personal sense of wonder and discovery
• Realize the impact of astronomy and basic
  sciences on our daily lives
• Understand better how scientific knowledge can
  contribute to a more equitable and peaceful
  society

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• Why 2009?
• 400th anniversary of the first use of an
  astronomical telescope by Galileo Galilei

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• Cornerstone Projects
• 100 Hours of Astronomy
• Galileoscope
• Cosmic Diary
• Portal to the Universe
• She is an Astronomer
• Dark Skies Awareness
• Astronomy and World Heritage
• Astronomy and World Heritage
• Galileo Teacher Training Program
• Universe Awareness
• From Earth to the Universe
• Developing Astronomy Globally Astronomy for All

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• 100 Hours of Astronomy
• Live observatory webcasts, events, and other
  activities connecting large observatories around
  the world
• 100-hr sidewalk observing event to allow as
  many people as possible to look through a
  telescope
• April 2-5

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• Galileoscope
• http//galileoscope.org
• Alternatives
• 16x Project Star kit from Science First
• http//www.sciencefirst.com/vw_sbctgry.asp?sbctgry
  _cd1001
• Dr. Larry Browning, SDSU
• http//www.engineering.sdstate.edu/physics/people
  /browning.htm

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Consider other activities in celebration of
Galileo

• Have literature class read about him
• all or part of Dava Sobels book, Galileos
  Daughter
• Galileo for Kids by Richard Panchyk and Buzz
  Aldrin
• Galileo A Life by James Reston
• Along Came Galileo by Jeanne Bendick (kids book)
• Have history class investigate what was happening
  in history at the time of Galileo
• Have critical issues/debate class investigate the
  issues surrounding Galileos conflict with the
  Catholic church
• Have science, history, debate, and critical
  issues classes discuss the conflicts between
  science, technology and societal issues
• 2009 is also the Year of Science

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• Cosmic Diary life of an Astronomer
• not about the science of astronomy, but about
  what it is like to be an astronomer
• http//www.cosmicdiary.org/

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• Portal to the Universe
• Single gateway to astronomy content
• http//www.portaltotheuniverse.org/EarlyBirdReg/
• Under construction

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• Objective - to build and maintain an internet
  based, easy-to-handle forum and database, where
  people regardless of geographical location can
  read about the subject, ask questions and find
  answers.
• Project site under construction
• Other resources
• Resource guide,
• http//www.astrosociety.org/education/resources/wo
  menast_bib.html
• History of Women in Astronomy
• http//www.physics.sfsu.edu/gmarcy/cswa/history/h
  istory.html

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• Dark Skies Awareness
• http//www.darkskiesawareness.org/
• Student Project How Many Stars
• worldwide determination of the present night sky
  visibility conditions based on simple
  astronomical observations that can be done with
  the naked eye and within minutes
• http//hms.sternhell.at/hms.php?pagepages/mainla
  ngEnglishcountryWorldwide

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View constellations and report
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Another Star Count Activity

• View the sky through a tube
• Rolled paper, center of paper towel role
• Count the number of stars viewed through the tube
• Have students do this is several locations across
  the sky and average the results
• Calculate the number of total stars visible

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Star Count Activity (contd)

• SAsphere 4pL2
• Asphere pr2
• Note youre calculating for entire sphere.
  Divide by 2 to get number of stars in your
  hemisphere

L
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Another Star Count Activity

• NASA Student Observation Network
• http//www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/son/ener
  gy/starcount/index.html

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• Astronomy and World Heritage
• main objective is to establish a link between
  science and culture on the basis of research
  aimed at acknowledging the cultural and
  scientific values of properties connected with
  astronomy
• http//www.astronomy2009.org/news/pressreleases/de
  tail/iya0803/

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• Documentary on history of telescope
• http//www.400years.org
• PBS
• April 10, 200910 PM PT/ET9 PM CT/MT

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• Galileo Teacher Training Program
• Goal to create a worldwide network of certified
  "Galileo Ambassadors" by 2012
• http//astronomy2009.org/globalprojects/cornerston
  es/galileoteachertraning/

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• Universe Awareness
• program that exposes very young children in
  under-privileged environments to the scale and
  beauty of the Universe.
• Books, games, hands-on activities, models
  available at
• http//www.unawe.org/joomla/

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• From Earth to the Universe
• endeavors to bring wonderful astronomical images
  to a wider audience in non-traditional venues
• http//www.fromearthtotheuniverse.org/

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• Developing Astronomy Globally Astronomy for All
• project acknowledges that astronomy needs to be
  developed in three key areas professionally
  (universities and research) publicly
  (communication, media, and amateur groups) and
  educationally (schools and informal education
  structures). The focus will be on regions that do
  not already have strong astronomical communities.
• http//www.developingastronomy.org/

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• Astronomical Events this Year
• Feb. 9 Lunar eclipse (visible in U.S.)
• Feb. 17 Venus at its brightest
• Feb. 17 Conjunction of Jupiter and Mars (early
  morning)
• Feb. 24 - Mar. 5 Jupiter, Mercury and Mars all
  close in sky (early morning)
• March 8 Saturn at opposition closest to earth
  (great time to view)
• March 20 Vernal equinox (1st day of spring
  equal day and night)
• March 25 Venus both morning and evening star
  (occurs only once every 8 years)
• April 21,22 Lyrid meteor shower (average about
  20/hr)
• April 22 Moon occults Venus
• April 24 Conjunction of Mars and Venus (early
  morning)
• May 5,6 Eta Aquarids meteor shower (light
  about 10/hr)
• June 21 Summer solstice (1st day of summer sun
  highest in sky longest day)
• July 7 Lunar eclipse (visible in U.S.)
• July 22 Total solar eclipse (not visible in
  U.S.)

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• Astronomical Events this Year
• August 6 Lunar eclipse (visible in U.S.)
• Aug. 10 - Sept. 4 Saturn w/out rings (planet
  edge-on from our view)
• Aug. 12,13 Perseid meteor shower (one of best
  60/hr)
• Aug. 14 Jupiter at opposition closest to earth
  (great time to view)
• Aug. 16 Conjunction of Mercury and Saturn (at
  sunset)
• Sept. 2, 3 Jupiter without moons Galilean
  satellites all behind planet for 2 hours (next
  happens in 2019)
• Sept. 22 Autumnal equinox (1st day of fall
  equal day and night)
• Sept. 22 Close conjunction of Mercury and
  Saturn (early morning)
• Oct. 13 Close conjunction of Venus and Saturn
  (early morning)
• Oct. 21,22 Orionid meteor shower (average
  20/hr)
• Nov. 17,18 Leonid meteor shower (good 40/hr)
• Dec. 13,14 Geminid meteor shower (one of best
  60/hr)
• Dec. 21 Winter solstice (1st day of winter
  shortest day)
• Dec. 31 Partial lunar eclipse (not visible in
  U.S.)

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• Online Tools
• Telescope Simulator and Comparison
• http//www.scopesim.com/
• Google Sky
• http//www.google.com/sky/
• Microsofts World Wide Telescope
• http//www.worldwidetelescope.org/Home.aspx
• Moon phases
• http//stardate.org/nightsky/moon/
• http//www.astro.wisc.edu/dolan/java/MoonPhase.ht
  ml
• http//home.hiwaay.net/krcool/Astro/moon/moonphas
  e/
• Eclipses
• http//eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse.html
• http//www.exploratorium.edu/eclipse/ (live
  webcasts)
• http//www.crh.noaa.gov/fsd/astro/suneclipse.php

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• Book Resource
• Universe by Robert Dinwiddie, et.al.
• Use of Planisphere and SkyGazers Almanac

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