This tutorial traces the history of the telescope, beginning with Galileo's first small refractor, to the era of orbiting space telescopes. Topics include Galileo's trouble with the church over the observations he made with his new instrument, Sir Isaac Newton's invention of the reflecting telescope, and the development of technologies that made it possible to construct increasingly larger, more powerful ... Full description.

These science bulletins from the American Museum of Natural History feature news on space science, astronomy, and astrophysics topics with in-depth feature stories about cutting-edge developments, weekly images from observatories around the world and in space, and and 'Astro Viz', a visualization of astronomical or astrophysical phenomena. Each story features a link to an educators' guide and links ... Full description.

This hands-on demonstration of the communications path between scientists and the NASA Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer (EUVE) Satellite shows how scientific data are downloaded from the satellite. The same demonstration can also be used to illustrate how the instruments on the satellite are commanded by scientists on Earth. It gives students a feel for the dynamics of satellite communications and orbital ... Full description.

This 2-3 week module, based on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Cassini mission to Saturn, uses the mission as a context for learning fundamental science/math concepts. It consists of six standards-based, constructivist lessons, enrichment activities, and supplemental material such as questions and answers, a glossary, and a chart of Cassini's position in the sky. Full description.

This Amazing Space lesson is an interactive card game which helps students learn the properties of comets, asteroids, and the Sun and planets. As students answer questions correctly about the solar system, they collect cards. Background information is provided for teachers. Full description.

The New Millennium Observatory (NeMO) is a seafloor observatory off the coast of Oregon, which studies the relationships between submarine volcanic events and the chemistry and distribution of hydrothermal vents and the biologic communities that depend on them. The research activities at NeMO provide an extraordinary educational opportunity, both from the daily reports from expeditions at sea and ... Full description.

In this lesson plan students will learn the basics about how tornadoes are formed, and where and when they are most likely to occur. They will then study the current research on tornadoes and explore how scientists are trying to predict them. They will learn about the equipment storm chasers use to study tornadoes and will develop their own research plans. Full description.

This lesson plan is part of the Center for Educational Resources (CERES), a series of web-based astronomy lessons created by a team of master teachers, university faculty, and NASA researchers. Students download NASA Hubble Space Telescope (HST) images of the Martian polar ice caps from different times to measure and compare the changing Martian and Earth poles. This lesson contains expected outcomes ... Full description.

Simscience is a website devoted to areas of science where computer simulations are at the forefront of discovery. This interactive activity aids students in understanding structures (particularly dams), fracture mechanics, engineering, hydraulics and geotechnology. This site emphasizes analytical thinking, iterative design, multiple solutions and teamwork. Learning in this activity is mostly collaborative, ... Full description.

Geomorphology from Space is an out of print 1986 NASA publication edited by Nicholas M. Short, Sr. and Robert W. Blair, Jr. designed for use by the remote sensing science and educational communities to study landforms and landscapes. The core of this book is a gallery of space imagery consisting of 237 plates, each treating a geographic region where a particular landform theme is exemplified. Commentary, ... Full description.