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1. 2. 3.

I can name the kinds of objects in the universe. I am familiar with the MicroObservatory Image Archive I can make careful observations of images

* You will soon take your first images of astronomical

objects by controlling the MicroObservatory telescopes, which will take images overnight.

* First you must think about what type of objects to

choose as your target

* You will find out some information about what it

means to be that type of object.

* You will sharpen your observing skills while finding

out some interesting facts about these distant objects.

1. 2. 3.

Rodigo, Gautier, Filippo the bit players Rafaela, Joo, Daniel, Barbara the stars Martin, Lucca, Filipe the nebulae

4.

Marco, Lucas, Emiliano the galaxies

* Use your device to go to

http://mo-www.harvard.edu/MicroObservatory/

* Click on Recent Image Search. These are the most

recent images taken by MicroObservatory images and where the images you request will be kept. Image Archive link.

* Now scroll to the top of the page and click on the * From here, click on the name of the category of
object given to you (for example Galaxies).

* Locate two images within your category that you would

like to examine further.

* On your chart paper write as many detailed observations

as possible about each image in the next 10 minutes.

* Make simple observations * What seem to be stars in many of the images should be

described as small round dots in the image. Some round dots appear to be slightly larger than others. think something you see in the image may be.

* Describe what you see in the image and not what you

* Read the information about your category of

object in the Notes, Description column on the Cosmic Cast of Characters table. present to the larger group along with your observations.

* Prepare two interesting facts from the table to

* You have five minutes to write questions that

have come up after making many detailed observations. present to the class.

* Each group must write at least one question to

* Report your observations one group at a time * Report two interesting facts one group at a
time

* Share at least one question, either about your

groups category of objects, or their own.

asteroid: also called minor planets or planetoids, are a class of astronomical objects. The term asteroid is generally used to indicate a diverse group of small rocky celestial bodies in the solar system that orbit around the Sun. billion: The cardinal number equal to 109, or a one with nine zeroes after it. black hole: A region of space resulting from the collapse of a star with a gravitational pull so strong that from a certain distance, not even light can escape it. comet: loose collections of ice, dust, and small rocky particles in the Solar System that orbit the Sun and, when close enough to the Sun, exhibits a visible coma (or atmosphere) and/or a tail both primarily from the effects of solar radiation upon the comet's nucleus. The nucleus itself measures a few kilometers or tens of kilometers across, and is composed mostly of rock, dust and ice. Comets are nicknamed dirty snowballs. galaxy: Any of many very large groups of stars, gas, and dust that constitute the Universe, containing an average of 100 billion (1011) stars and ranging in diameter from 1,500 to 300,000 light-years.

globular cluster: A system of stars, generally smaller in size than a galaxy, that is more or less globular (like a globe) in shape. lightyear: The distance that light travels in one year. Milky Way: The galaxy which is the home of our Solar System together with at least 200 billion other stars and their planets. million: The number equal to 106, or a one with six zeroes after it. The Moon: The natural satellite of Earth. nebula: A diffuse mass of interstellar dust or gas, or both. A nebula can be visible as luminous patches or areas of darkness depending on the way the dust and gas absorbs or reflects light given off either inside or outside the cloud. The Sun: A star that is the basis of the solar system and that sustains life on Earth, being the source of heat and light. supernova: A special event at the end of massive stars lives in which the star explodes and shines millions of times brighter than it had during its lifetime. Only stars about 10 times the mass of our sun will die in this way. universe: All matter and energy, including the earth, the galaxies, and the contents of intergalactic space, regarded as a whole.

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