Outreach Resources
Astronomy Activities & Resources
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Explorers' Guide to the Solar System [Presentation - Exploring the Solar System]
- Child, Teen, Adult
- 12/7/2007
worlds in our Solar System stretches our minds and excites our imaginations like nothing else. It's the only way to answer some of our deepest questions.
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Exploring Our Solar System [Banner & Activity - Exploring the Solar System]
- Child, Teen, Adult
- 12/7/2007
Explore what planets we can see in the night - and morning - skies, plus the positions of some NASA missions in this fun banner-based activity.
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How Fast Are You Moving When You Are Sitting Still? [Essay - Exploring the Solar System]
- Child, Teen, Adult
- 12/7/2007
Essay by Andrew Fraknoi, detailing how when you are "sitting still" you may actually be moving quite fast! It all depends, of course, on your perspective.
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Our Star: The Sun [Banner - Exploring the Solar System]
- Child, Teen, Adult
- 12/7/2007
Download the artwork below to make a large banner showcasing a one-meter Sun. You can take these files to a local print shop and create a vinyl banner for use with the models in the Scaling the Solar System activity.
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Pocket Solar System [Activity - Exploring the Solar System]
- Child, Teen, Adult
- 8/20/2009
How far apart is everything in our solar system? It can be hard to imagine, but this activity can help! Try out this simple Pocket Solar System activity that is sure to get an "Ah-ha!" moment from your visitors, using just a marker and a strip of paper.
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Scale of the Solar System [Online Resource - Exploring the Solar System]
- Child, Teen, Adult
- 2/5/2008
Keith Enevoldsen's Think Zone hosts a service that allows you to create a scale model of the solar system superimposed on a Google map/satellite image, with the Sun centered on the address you entered.
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Solar System Images from NASA [Handout - Exploring the Solar System]
- Child, Teen, Adult
- 10/13/2007
A set of sheets from NASA, full of fun facts about major objects in our solar system.
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Star Maps Collection: Planets, Supernovas, and Black Holes
- Child, Teen, Adult
- 10/25/2008
Use a star map and mark the current locations of the planets and Moon along the ecliptic. Or find out what stars will someday go supernova. Can't see a black hole? No problem - find them with these Star Maps!
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Worlds of the Solar System: Make a Scale Model [Activity & Handout - Exploring the Solar System]
- Child, Teen, Adult
- 10/28/2008
Use a set of scaled balls and beads to show the relative sizes of the planets, the Moon, Ceres, and Pluto to each other and to the Sun. This permanent model can be used over and over again in many ways. Handout included,and can be downloaded separately.