Lesson Plan

The Cosmic Distance Ladder: Parallax

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This The Cosmic Distance Ladder: Parallax lesson plan also includes:

Scientists don't have a ruler long enough to measure to the stars, so they rely on math. Scholars learn to calculate the distance from Earth to a star using the parallax method. They use angle measures from different perspectives to calculate the distance to different planets and then look for patterns in their measurements and calculations. 

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Instructional Ideas
  • Create an interdisciplinary lesson by incorporating geometry concepts
  • Incorporate during a unit on properties of stars
Classroom Considerations
  • Requires a specific set of materials and a large space to work
Pros
  • Provides important background information
  • Includes possible guiding questions
Cons
  • None