Feb 5, 2026 | CY, Resource
Students walk on the Orrery to become familiar with it and interpretate what is drawn on the Orrery. They will learn about Resource Link Access the complete activity resource Activity Information Partner Organization: CY Age Range: Education Level: Duration: Big Ideas...
Feb 5, 2026 | Comet, CY, Resource, Solar System
Students first enact planetary motions and discuss their perceptions of speed (fastest, slowest, constant or not). They then measure distances and durations of different motions, organizing data in tables or graphs. From these comparisons, they identify that planets...
Feb 5, 2026 | Big Ideia 1, Big Ideia 3, Big Ideia 4, Big Ideia 7, Comet, CY, Resource, Solar System
Students are guided to move around the Orrery, first along Earth’s orbit, then along the orbits of the other planets, and to identify their own birthdays (one birthday = one year older = one more complete revolution). After moving for the same amount of time along...
Feb 5, 2026 | FHOU, Resource
Students analyze Van Gogh’s painting by identifying astronomical clues (Moon phase, bright object, horizon light) and formulating hypotheses about the observed sky. Using Stellarium, they simulate the sky from a given location and time to match these clues and refine...
Feb 5, 2026 | Big Ideia 10, Big Ideia 4, Big Ideia 6, Exoplanet, FHOU, Resource, Star
Students analyze spectral data of a star over time and measure the shift of absorption lines to determine its radial velocity. They model the periodic variation of this velocity as the effect of an orbiting companion using a sinusoidal function. From this model, they...
Feb 5, 2026 | Big Ideia 3, Big Ideia 4, Big Ideia 7, Big Ideia 8, FHOU, Resource
Students compare astronomical images taken at different dates to identify a moving object among fixed stars. They analyze brightness and positional changes, testing hypotheses about visibility and motion, including retrograde effects. Through this investigation, they...
