Explore the heavens with STELLARIUM

This free download puts a planetarium on your desk top.

Ask the Astronomer

Do you have questions about astronomy?
Just Ask the Astronomer for the answer!

ORIGIN OF THE EARTH

The Smithsonian brings you this interactive look at "How to Make a Planet".

Deep Time lets you explore the history of the planet.

What Happened to Mars?

Once, the fourth planet from the sun had and atmosphere and liquid water. Now, it's an arid wasteland. What happened?
The Curiosity rover is looking for answers.

A NASA space probe is studying the solar wind around the planet.

Astronomy Reading List

Deepen your knowledge of Astronomy and have some fun. These fiction and non-fiction works are organized according to units in the course. Let me know if you want to substitute an essay or book review for an assignment in the course.

Where did the Moon come From?

There have been several theories for the origin of the Moon. The strongest data currently supports the "Giant Impact" theory. See the links below for more.
https://www.psi.edu/epo/moon/moon.html

http://phys.org/news/2012-10-massive-planetary-collision-zapped-key.html

http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/questions/question38.html

Moon Phases Animation

This animation from PBS will help you understand the phases of the Moon.

Every Space Shuttle Launch, all at once!

Click Here

Learn what causes the seasons

Are seasons caused by the Earth's orbit, or by something else?
Use this interactive to learn more. Change the planet's angle, stop and start time, look at temperature changes, and more. Click Here

Here is another one.

What Causes Tides on Earth?

This Nova website explains: Click Here

Phases of the Moon

This interactive animation helps you understand the phases of the Moon. You can pause and restart time. Click Here

Learn about Eclipses

Examine solar and lunar eclipses.

Explore the Solar System

Click here to try out this 3-D simulated solar system.
You can

• Search the objects
• Change speed
• Zoom in and out
• Click & drag to change point of view
• Turn music on and off