Information for Educators

1. Imagine the Universe! CD-ROM (12th Edition) - The 12th edition of our CD-ROM is now available. As with previous editions, it contains a capture of the Imagine the Universe! and StarChild sites (from Jan 1, 2008). It also includes Astronomy Picture of the Day for all of 2007, with a revised index and selected pages from previous years APODs. We've also included selections from Blueshift, the podcast from GSFC's Astrophysics Science Division. You can hear an interview with Nobel laureate Dr. John Mather. This is a 2-disc set.
   To order your copy, go to our order form.

2. Space Forensics: Death of a Star - We've developed a new workshop on how scientists collect and analyze the evidence from a cosmic crime scene and solve the mysteries of a supernova. This presentation includes background, activities, and a narrative exploration of scientific problem solving. This presentation is available in our Teachers' Corner.

3. Updated version of "What is Your Cosmic Connection to the Elements?" Poster and Information Booklet - We have updated our poster and information/activity booklet on the cosmic origins of the chemical elements. We've included new information on the role of small stars in the production of heavy elements. Astronomy topics still include the big bang, life cycles of stars, supernovae, cosmic rays, and the chemical compoisition of the universe. Physics topics include fusion and physical principles important in stellar evolution. Chemistry teachers will find information connecting the elements with their cosmic origins. The booklet is complete with 8 classroom activities which use a variety of techniques to re-inforce the material.
   Check out the Cosmic Elements page for online versions of the poster and booklet, the power point presentation of our workshop, and a link to our order form.

4. Updated version of "The Hidden Lives of Galaxies" Booklet - We have updated our information/activity booklet on galaxies and dark matter. We have updated some of the text, especially the discussion of the possible candidates for dark matter, revised some of the classroom activities, added some classroom activities, and provided student worksheets for the activities. The new version is available on-line on our Hidden Lives of Galaxies page, and in hardcopy via our order form.

5. New Lesson Plan: How Far ... How Powerful - We're proud to introduce a new lesson plan on gamma ray bursts, in which students use data from the Keck-II telescope. Students are led through a series of experiments in which they learn about the 1/r² fall-off of light, Hubble's Law, the Doppler shift, and spectral lines. Students determine the distance to the optical counterpart of a gamma ray burst, and compute the total power of the burst. They then compare this power with energetic events closer to home.

   Check out How Far ... How Powerful in our collection of lesson plans.

Where You Can See Us in the Near Future

• National Science Teachers Association Regional Conference, October 30 - November 1, 2008, Charlotte, NC. We'll be presenting a number of our workshops at this regional science teachers conference. Come join us for this collection of workshops.
  • "NASA Spectroscopy Activities, Analysis, and Data in Your Classroom"
    Thursday, Oct 30, at 12:30 PM in Room 207BC of the Convention Center
    We bring the stars down to Earth with Student Hera, which allows students to study objects such as black holes and exploded stars using NASA satellite data.

  • "Space Forensics: Death of a Star"
    Friday, Oct 31, at 9:30 AM in Room 207A of the Convention Center
    A star has exploded! Learn how scientists collect and analyze the evidence from a cosmic crime scene and solve the mysteries of a supernova.

  • "Exploring the Skies with NASA's X-ray Eyes"
    Friday, Oct 31, at 5 PM also in Room 207A of the Convention Center
    Black holes, supernovae, and galaxies! Learn how scientists explore the universe through X-ray light using the international mission Suzaku.

• Teaching and Learning Celebration, March 6-7, 2009 at the Hilton New York in Manhatten. We'll be in the exhibit hall distributing the new 13th Edition of the Imagine CD, along with our other education materials. We've also applied to give one of our workshops. Stay tuned!