Astronomy Week 4Astronomy Week 4
Counting CometsCounting Comets
MeteorMeteor
Flash of light Flash of light produced when a produced when a naturally occuring naturally occuring small solid object (a small solid object (a meteroid) enters meteroid) enters Earth’s atmosphere Earth’s atmosphere from space. People from space. People often call meteors often call meteors shooting stars or shooting stars or falling stars.falling stars.
MeteroidMeteroid
Meteroite in the DaytimeMeteroite in the Daytime
FireballsFireballs
A very bright meteor that makes folks say A very bright meteor that makes folks say OOH AHH! If it lights up the world around OOH AHH! If it lights up the world around you.you.
If you see it in the day…take notes!! It will If you see it in the day…take notes!! It will hit earth!hit earth!
Note the time and locationNote the time and locationNote the path of the fireball for Note the path of the fireball for
scientistsscientists
Look UP!Look UP!
Meteors last for a few secondsMeteors last for a few secondsComets for days!Comets for days!Meteors happen all the time, comets once Meteors happen all the time, comets once
or twice each year.or twice each year.
CometsComets
http://www.galaxyexplorers.org/newsletter/comet_fun_facts.asp
Parts of a CometParts of a Comet
Comet DangerComet Danger
Stardust SpacecraftStardust Spacecraft
Looking for CometsLooking for Comets
Remember the sky is 360 degreesRemember the sky is 360 degreesSo work the telescope slowly up/down or So work the telescope slowly up/down or
left/right all the way aroundleft/right all the way around If you find a comet, report it to NASA, you If you find a comet, report it to NASA, you
could win money!!!could win money!!!Cfa-www.harvard.edu/iau/cbat.htmlCfa-www.harvard.edu/iau/cbat.html
Making Indoor PlanetariumsMaking Indoor Planetariums
Large boxLarge boxPaper plate and punch for constellationsPaper plate and punch for constellationsTapeTapeChristmas lightsChristmas lightsSkewersSkewers
Simple Reflex TelescopesSimple Reflex Telescopes
Two plastic magnifying lensesTwo plastic magnifying lensesTwo tubes Two tubes TapeTapePretty paper!Pretty paper!