The universe is limitless! It contains stars, solar systems, galaxies, black holes and much more. Universe looks at these wonders-all incredible, all unique and all just a small part of a larger entity. Students will explore some big questions about the universe, including: How was it formed? How big is it? How can we explore the far reaches of the universe? They’ll learn about light years and the electromagnetic spectrum and take a close-up look at a gamma ray telescope. A fun, hands-on activity will demonstrate why it seems so dark in space
The Sun is the closest star to Earth. It provides heat and light which makes life on Earth possible. Sun shows students what this center of our solar system is all about - how big it is, what it’s made of, how old it is and how long we believe it will continue to burn. Students will examine the individual layers of the Sun and learn about solar activity, including sunspots, solar flares and prominences.
It seems impossible that we can really study stars. They all seem so small and so far away-except for one. the Sun! Stars will show students the many amazing ways scientists look at the stars and how they can use what they see to answer questions like: What are stars made of? How far away are they? How old are stars? Students will learn about the life span of stars and the various stages they pass through, from protostar to main sequence star to red giant and eventually white and black dwarfs.
There are many ways to explore space. In Space Exploration, students will learn about the human quest to discover what’s out there. Students will see the challenges and benefits of space exploration, including the development of rocket science, a look back at the ‘Space Race’ and a history of manned space travel. A special section on the Saturn V rocket will give students insight into the extraordinary measures taken to put us on the Moon, including a fun, hands-on activity that will let them build their own rocket-complete with fuel!
The Moon is Earth’s closest neighbor in space - the only other member of our solar system that humans have actually visited. This video answers key questions about the Moon, like: What keeps it revolving around the Earth? Why do we see only one side of the Moon? What is the origin of the Moon? Students will learn about how the Moon has been studied throughout history-including recent lunar missions-and about its phases, eclipses and how it causes tides on Earth
