On this page: Astronomy Lessons, FOSS, Science Masters Institute Resources, Daytime Moon Calendar, Planets' Natural Colors, Starry Night, How Many Moons?, Links.
Astronomy Lessons
These activities are designed to support the Madison Metropolitan School District Science Curricula Scope & Sequence (which also matches well with the Wisconsin Science Standards).
Software applications like Starry Night can also be used in support of the Wisconsin Science Standards. Click HERE to find out more.
FOSS Planetary Science Resources
FOSS Planetary Science Resource Page: This page contains links to resources we've gathered to supplement the FOSS Planetary Science Course we use in 8th grade in the Madison Metropolitan School District.
Science Masters Institute
Earth in the Solar System Workshop Resources: This is a collection of links and resources referred to in this teacher workshop conducted June, 2007 and 2009, at the planetarium.
Day-time Moon Calendar
Observe the moon in the daytime with your students! Go to the Daytime Moon Calendar to find out when and where to look.
Planets: True Colors
It's difficult to find a good collection of photographs which show the true or natural color of each of the planets. So, we've created one HERE.
Starry Night Pro
This planetarium-like computer program can be very helpful as a resource and a tool for teachers. Please check out our Starry Night Pro in the Classroom page of tips and settings files which can be downloaded and used in your teaching. Let us know if you'd like help evaluating this and other programs for your needs, and utilizing it in your teaching.
How many moons? (Moon Count)
Teachers, are you having trouble keeping track of the number of moons for each planet? With improvements in technology, discoveries of more and more of the smaller moons have been coming in. Now they are detecting these objects down to only a couple of kilometers in diameter. So how small can these objects be and still be called a "moon"? There is no clear answer, because there is no clean cut-off for the size an object has to be in order to be called a moon. If you want to be safe, you can call them all natural satellites, but it's still okay to call them moons.
There's a great article on this issue on Sky and Telescope Magazine's web site:
What is a Moon? Definition Lags Behind Soaring Satellite Tally
By Robert Roy Britt, Senior Science Writer, posted: 07:00 am ET, 01 April 2003
Here are the latest numbers. We will update them as new moons are found. Numbers between sources may vary. However these numbers are the generally accepted ones.
| Planet | Mercury | Venus | Earth | Mars | Jupiter | Saturn | Uranus | Neptune | Pluto |
| # moons |  | |  |  |   | |  | | |
Links to great sources of information about moons (natural satellites) in the solar system below.
Recent Updates:
- July 26, 2009; 1 more moon for Saturn, discovered using the Cassini spacecraft.
- March 4, 2009; 1 more moon for Saturn, discovered using the Cassini spacecraft.
- October 15, 2007; 1 more moon for Saturn announced over the summer, discovered using the Cassini spacecraft.
- May 4, 2007; 2 more moons for Saturn announced on May 1, discovered using the Subaru telescope.
- April 25, 2007; another moon for Saturn announced on April 13, discovered using the Subaru telescope.
- October 17, 2006; catching up, 9 more moons announced for Saturn back in June using the Subaru telescope.
- February 2, 2006; removed those 2 additional moons for Uranus. They appear to have been previously known moons, perhaps "rediscovered" by HST.
- Summary for 2005: 14 more moons discovered for Saturn; 2 more moons discovered for Uranus; and 2 more moons discovered for Pluto.
- Summary for 2004: 2 more moons discovered for Jupiter; 2 more moons discovered for Saturn; 6 more moons for Uranus, and 2 more moons for Neptune.
- Summary for 2003: 21 more moons for Jupiter; 1 more moon for Saturn; 3 more moons for Neptune.
- Summary for 2002: 11 more moons for Jupiter; 1 more moon for Uranus.
Links for up-to-date information on moons (natural satellites):For more information on these discoveries, and the moons, check out the following web site (it's our favorite source):
http://www.dtm.ciw.edu/sheppard/satellites/
Also, for a great timeline of discoveries of planets and moons (natural satellites) check out this impressive Wiki page:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_discovery_of_Solar_System_planets_and_their_natural_satellites
Links to Teacher Materials on Other Sites
This list will continue to grow: check back often. For a full list of recommended resources on the Internet, go to our
Astro Links page.
- NASA Space Science Education Resource Directory
- This site makes it much easier to find the astronomy-related NASA educational products.
- Mars Resources for the Classroom
- You won't believe the wealth of activities, information, games, lesson plans (etc.) that they've compiled on this web site! While you're there, check out the "Fun Zone" too.
- Mars Resources for the Classroom from Cornell
- More lesson plans and online resources! You'll have to see them to believe them!
- Educational Activities at the Space Telescope Science Institute
- Excellent activities. Check them out!
- Amazing Space Web-Based Activities
- Another section of the Space Telescope Science Institutes site.
- The Space Place (NASA)
- Tons of activities and games! Also, check out their Teacher's Page.
- On-Line High School Astronomy Course
- Supplement your astronomy knowledge by browsing through this on-line textbook.
- The ASTRONOMY CAFE
- "An Internet Resource for the Astronomically Disadvantaged." Astrophysicist and author Dr. Sten Odenwald's unique blend of fact and fun, including the inside story on what it's like to be an astronomer, an "Ask the Astronomer" component, and a survey that you can fill out to see if you have what it takes to be an astronomer.
- NASA Quest
- Dedicated to bringing NASA people, space, and science to the classroom through the Internet.
- Activities About Astrology
- These activities help students to understand the difference between science and pseudo science by investigating some of astrology's claims.
- Space Station Design: The Children's Museum of Indianapolis
- This site allows you (students) to explore human needs Living In Space, and the design of a space station. Also check out the Living in Space: Teacher Resources
- Scale Model Comet
- PDF file lesson plan for an activity in which students (grades 4-8) create a scale model of a typical comet compared to the size of the Earth.
to Madison!