The Topic:  Astronomy Easier - Astronomy is the study of things found in space such as the sun, planets, moons, and stars.   Harder - Astronomy, one of the oldest sciences, is the study of celestial bodies such as planets, stars, and other objects in space. Astronomers locate objects in the daytime or nighttime skies and measure their magnitudes and motions, searching to find what they are made of and how they create their light.     Astronomy for Kids  http://www.dustbunny.com/afk/ Learn about the planets, see sky maps to find your favorite stars, and get answers to astronomy questions. Similar Website: 2) StarChild: A Learning Center for Young Astronomers http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/StarChild.html   Backyard Astronomy  http://www.myweb-site.com/space/ Here you have the basics of backyard astronomy including the equipment needed.   Constellations and their Stars  http://www.astro.wisc.edu/~dolan/constellations/constellations.html This website describes constellations and gives information on specific constellations and stars; when you can see them, and what they look like. Related Website: 2) Constellation List http://einstein.stcloudstate.edu/Dome/constellns/constlist.html   Earth & Sky  http://earthsky.com More than a daily radio program, this companion site has astronomy articles and the 'Tonight's Sky' feature. Related Website: 2) Astronomy Picture of the Day http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html 3) Skylights from J.B. Kaler http://www.astro.uiuc.edu/~kaler/skylights.html     Visit some of the astronomy websites, then select and complete a project:   Be an Amateur Astronomer. Examine both daytime and nighttime skies. Use The Constellations and their Stars to help you locate and identify as many planets, stars, and other sky objects as possible. Keep a log that records the date of each sighting, its location, and your own description of what you observe. Begin with those objects that you can see with just your eyes, then try using a pair of binoculars and/or a telescope.   Be a Skies Illustrator. Using crayon, watercolor, KidPix, or other art medium of your choice, draw celestial objects such as planets, stars, etc. Write a poem about your astronomical artwork. Display your work.   Take a Field Trip. If you are lucky enough, visit a nearby planetarium or observatory. If this is not possible, then go to a virtual site like (1) Washburn Observatory, (2) Chabot Observatory, (3) Lowell Observatory, (4) Roberto Bondar Planetarium, or the (5) Dreyfuss Planetarium. Write a brief summary of your field trip and post it for other students.   Complete an Astronomy Webquest. Select from these different webQuests:  1) StarGazing http://students.itec.sfsu.edu/edad728/stargaze.html/project.html 2) Astronomy for High School Students http://students.itec.sfsu.edu/edad728/vollert/webquest.html 3) Comet Web Quest http://www.slc.k12.ut.us/webweavers/suea/cometweb.htm 4) Planetary Web Quest http://students.itec.sfsu.edu/edt628/hovey/index.html 5) Searching for Just the Right Planet http://www.memphis-schools.k12.tn.us/admin/tlapages/solar_sy.htm   Websites By Kids For Kids Astronomy for Kids (ThinkQuest Project)  http://tqjunior.advanced.org/3645/ Learn about black holes, comets, stars and the Sun, constellations, eclipses, the Moon, planets, and more at this amazing site created by sixth grade students.   Astronomy (ThinkQuest Project)  http://library.thinkquest.org/26648/ At this Webside, you can find a lot about astronomy: the sun, the nine planets and constellations.   Beyond Our Skies: Discovering the Cosmos (ThinkQuest Project)  http://library.thinkquest.org/29033/ This website includes the history of space exploration, the physics and proposed theories of space and time, and the history and methods of astronomy.   CosmoNet (ThinkQuest Project)  http://library.thinkquest.org/27930/ This site's main focus is theoretical and related to topics such as the Big Bang, the expansion of the universe, and the number of dimensions in the universe; however, it also provides basic information about the formation of planets and stars and the structure of cosmic systems.   CyberSpace! (ThinkQuest Project)  http://library.thinkquest.org/12659/main.html Learn about the solar system, space exploration, and other astronomy matters. The interactive section features quizzes, activities, and a game.   Earthrise: A Tour of Our Solar System (ThinkQuest Project)  http://library.thinkquest.org/25401/ This website provides an in depth view into the inner and outer workings of the planets in our heavens.   Journey into the Heavens (ThinkQuest Project)  http://library.thinkquest.org/28743/ Here you find illustrations of constellations as well a history of the legends associated with each. The site also has information about the formation of stars and solar systems, how stars work, and explanations of white dwarfs, neutron stars, black holes, and other anomalies.   Mysteries of Space and Time (ThinkQuest Project)  http://library.thinkquest.org/12523/ This resource covers black holes, the planets, and many anomalies of space. Discover interstellar phenomena that you didn't even know existed.   Our Universe (ThinkQuest Project)  http://library.thinkquest.org/20632/ Ever wonder what a black hole is? Or a worm hole? Superstrings? Dark matter? Here's a web site that covers all that along with galaxies, nebulae, quasars, and the Theory of Everything.   Planet Quest (ThinkQuest Project)  http://library.thinkquest.org/27322/ The website features research, knowledge, and collaboration for those interested in our solar system.   Web Planetarium (ThinkQuest Project)  http://library.thinkquest.org/3129/ Here's information and a star chart of each of the 25 constellations most commonly seen. Read about new discoveries in astronomy, information on comets, and links to other astronomy pages.   More Astronomy Websites Amateur Astronomy by D. Irving  http://www.irving.org/astronmy/ This site contains information about 'star parties', a virtual tour of Licking Observatory, and links to other astronomy websites.   Astronomy Information Links for Teachers http://astro.fmarion.edu/planet/info.html Here every month you find a brief discussion of a topic in astronomy.   Star Light. Night Light from the Why Files  http://whyfiles.org/shorties/055darksky/ If you have not seen a truly dark sky, you may not know that the urban glow conceals a network of uncountable stars in intriguing constellations.   Nifty Astronomy Facts  http://users.aol.com/usgoju/nifty.html Here is an astronomy facts site; submit your own.   Nine Planets http://seds.lpl.arizona.edu/nineplanets/nineplanets/nineplanets.html The site provides an overview of the history, mythology, and current scientific knowledge of each of the planets and moons in our solar system.   Remote Access Astronomy Project: Remotely Operated Telescope  http://www.deepspace.ucsb.edu/rot.htm This program has been extended to allow high schools to participate by accessing this Website and downloading images and educational programs.   Space Science Hotlist  http://sln.fi.edu/tfi/hotlists/space.html This links-site connects to all kinds of space and astronomy information.   Sky and Telescope Magazine  http://www.skypub.com/skytel/skytel.shtml Since 1941 Sky & Telescope has been the world's leading source of accurate and up-to-date information about astronomy and space science.   Stars Over The Western Trails at Overland Trail  http://www.over-land.com/trstars.html This links-site provides some great starting locations for beginning astronomy.   Websites for Teachers Astronomy Course http://darkskyinstitute.org/astronomy.html Here is an online course on astronomy that is adaptable to most age and interest levels. Similar Website: 2) Space and Astronomy at Athena http://inspire.ospi.wednet.edu:8001/curric/space/index.html   Astronomy Lesson Plans and Activities  http://www.luc.edu/schools/education/science/astroles.htm This is links-site to lots of lesson plans on Astronomy. Other Similar Lesson Plan Sites: 2) Astronomy Monthy Lesson Plans http://www.synapses.co.uk/astro/ 3) Astronomy Activities http://rip.physics.unk.edu/Astronomy/ 4) Awesome Library http://www.awesomelibrary.org/Library/Materials_Search/Lesson_Plans/Astronomy.html   At Discover School .com--Understanding the Universe http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/understanding-theuniverse/index.html Here you can access several great k-12 Astronomy lesson plans.   CERES Project (NASA & Montana State University)  http://btc.montana.edu/ceres/ This site holds an extensive library of on-line and interactive K-12 science education materials for teaching astronomy.   Seeing the Sun in a New Light (Grades 10-12) by D.P. Stern http://www-spof.gsfc.nasa.gov/stargaze/Lsun6new.htm Begin with a general discussion of X-rays before bringing up the Sun. Some student might look up beforehand information about the "Chandra" orbiting telescope. The lesson leads to investigating the solar corona.   Some Basic Astronomy Demonstrations for Early Elementary Ages by W.P. Blair  http://praxis.pha.jhu.edu/~wpb/globe.html Here are astronomical ideas and concepts that can be demonstrated with a few simple materials and a little ingenuity.   Starry Nights by J. Komanapalli  http://www-sci.lib.uci.edu/SEP/CTS/Starry.html Students will participate in a 'star party' and learn about why stars are so important, who discovered constellations, and understand the significance of twinkling stars.   meteor light astrophotography magnitude pulsar astrophysics meteor planet variable star telescope Orion asteroid eclipse astrology pseudoscience sun dwarf star comet light galaxy Big Bang black hole constellation Milky Way cosmology neutron star quasar declination star supernova light-year red shift moon nebulae Polaris universe Ursa Major Big Dipper Little Dipper astrophysics hemisphere cosmos anomaly stellar object heavy elements star charts Ursa Minor observatory       Created by Annette Lamb and Larry Johnson. Updated by Nancy Smith, 9/01.