McGraw Hill
Binary Stars Interactive
A celestial body's distance from Earth makes studying its characteristics much more difficult. Learn how scientists use indirect measures to determine the size of stars. The interactive activity has individuals adjust the size of binary...
Curated OER
How Big Is That Star?
Aspiring astronomers study stars. They compare stars and explain the relationship between radius, mass, and diameter. By creating a star simulation, they discover how a binary star system's orbit can cause changes in the observed...
Curated OER
Time That Period
Physical science starters play with a pendulum in order to experience periodicity. Detailed procedures and a worksheet are included for day one. For day two, learners will use a graphing calculator to help them plot orbit data from a...
Curated OER
Star Systems
Young scholars study a star system and see how the planets move around stars. In this star system lesson students complete an activity and see what an eclipse is.
Curated OER
Stars and Slopes
Young scholars use the slopes of various curves plotted on log-log graph paper to classify stellar objects as binary stars, supernovae, or active galaxies.The data used in this lesson were obtained from X-ray astronomy satellites.
Curated OER
An Eclipsing Binary System with a Precessing Accretion Disk
Students work together to complete an experiment over binary sources. They determine values for the orbital period of certain objects and interpret intensity changes. They also calculate a value for the period of precession of an...
Curated OER
Observational Astronomy
Students research about the characteristics of celestial bodies using a database. In this space science lesson, students collect data such as brightness, apparent color and size by observing the night sky. They share their findings with...
Curated OER
Time That Period!
Students analyze data received from high-energy satellites of various binary star systems' orbital periods or stellar rotation periods.
Curated OER
Chandra Explores Angular Size
For this angular size worksheet, students read about how astronomers determine the size of objects in the sky by using their angular size. Students are given equations that allow scientists to convert the angular size into kilometers....
Curated OER
Falling into a Black Hole
In this black hole worksheet, students solve 3 problems given the equation used to determine the speed of a falling body using its mass, the constant of gravitation and the distance it will travel.
Curated OER
Astronomy Class
In this space science learning exercise, students find the words associated with the basic terms of Astronomy. The answers are located at the bottom of the page.
Curated OER
Seeing Interference Fringes with a Telescope
Students construct an interferometer using a simple telescope. In this physics instructional activity, students explain how light waves create the fringe patterns. They observe patterns made by different objects in the sky and compare them.
Curated OER
Color Recognition
Students envision how space observatories make use of monochromatic filters to collect data on the color of objects in space. They see the actual colors of objects when they are in monochromatic light.
NASA
Nasa: Imagine the Universe: X Ray Binary Stars
Site provides a brief introduction to binary stars. Additional resources for students and teachers on this topic are offered as well as related topics.
Cosmos 4 kids
Cosmos4 Kids: Stars
A great site to find general information on stars and their place in the universe. Click on the topics on the right margin for additional information about stars.
NASA
Nasa: Imagine the Universe: How Big Is That Star
This 2-5 day lesson plan investigates the diameter, radius and mass among several stars in order to understand stellar behavior, particularly in a binary system.
Ministerio de Educación (Spain)
Ministerio De Educacion: Estrellas Binarias Modulo v Unidad 1
In this module you will learn the different types of binary stars.
NASA
Nasa: Imagine the Universe: Neutron Stars and Pulsars
Discover what neutron stars and pulsars are and view pictures of them. Includes links to additional resources and lesson plans.
NASA
Nasa: Imagine the Universe: "Twinkle, Twinkle (Really Fast!), Little Star"
"The Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer has discovered neutron stars that emit streams of X-rays pulsing over 1,000 times a second." Visit this site to read the rest of this article. Site offers additional resources as well as a Teacher's Corner.
NASA
Nasa: Imagine the Universe: Welcome to the World of X Ray Astronomy
Site recounts how X-rays were discovered as well as who discovered them. Offers graphics, links to facts on this topic, a quiz, and teacher resources.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Birth of a Supernova, Type Ia
In this interactive activity from NOVA Online, learn about a type of exploding star - a Type Ia supernova - that is so bright that astronomers can measure the distance to the galaxy in which it resides, and even learn which elements make...
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mit: Open Course Ware: Courses: Physics: Classical Mechanics
College-level online course highlighting the study of classical mechanics. This course focuses on Newtonian mechanics, fluid mechanics, and kinetic gas theory. Course features include a 35 video lecture series by Walter Lewin. Also link...
NASA
Nasa: Imagine the Universe: Supernovae (Advanced)
Supernovae are divided into two basic physical types, including a description of supernova types and how they are classified based on the existence of hydrogen spectral lines. Definitions of key terms are provided.
Ministerio de Educación (Spain)
Ministerio De Educacion: Estrellas Binarias Y Variables Modulo v Unidad 2
In this module you will study about Novae and Supernovae and will learn about the evolution of the binary system.