 From
Dec 2001 - June 2003, the Eastside Astronomical Society participated
in Project ASTRO, a community outreach program which introduces
students to some exciting events in astronomy and space exploration,
and to help inspire their further interest in science.
Now
in it's 11th year, Project ASTRO (also known as Project
ASTRO/BIO) is a National Science Foundation-funded program developed
by the Astronomical
Society of the Pacific, and administered locally by the University
of Washington, Dept. of Astronomy, with the goal of linking
amateur and professional astronomers with teachers within the
community. Click
here to learn more about Project ASTRO-BIO
Goals
of the Program:
- To
demonstrate that science is fun, exciting, and rewarding, as a
process to investigate and explain natural phenomena
-
To demonstrate the importance of mathematics, perspective, and
pattern recognition, as scientific tools - and how they affect
experimental results.
- To
encourage students' curiosity and interest to imagine, experiment,
and understand physical processes.
- To
encourage students to explore, enjoy, and participate in, stargazing
and learning about the night sky, and astronomy in general.
The
Following Topics Were Presented on the Dates Listed...
 1)
The International Space Station 24-Oct 2002
Discussion:
Space hazards for humans
Demonstration: Gravity experiments and orbits
Activity: Make a model station (pictured at right)
Assignment: Can you see a satellite?
 2)
Meteor Showers and Comets 14-Nov 2002
Info
on this project at: UC
Berkeley - A Comet's Tale
Discussion: Leonid Meteor Shower & Comets
Demonstration: A comet in the classroom
Activity: Cometary artists
Assignment: See a meteor shower
 3)
The Planet Saturn 19-Dec 2002
Info on this project at: Spaceplace
Discussion:The
Saturn System
Demonstration: Strange world of Titan (movie)
Activity: Build a model Saturn (pictured at right)
Assignment: Can you find Saturn?
 4)
The Planet Jupiter 23-Jan 2003
Discussion: The Jupiter System
Demonstration: Slide show and Europa movie
Activity: Imagine life on Europa
Assignment: Can you find Jupiter?
 5)
"The Rover has Landed- Part I" 3-Apr 2003
Discussion: The planet Mars, and what our rover will be
doing
Demonstration: MER video
Activity: Teams assemble and rover assembly begins
Assignment: Name the rover
 6)
"The Rover has Landed- Part 2" 24-Apr 2003
Discussion: Landing site considerations
Demonstration: Pathfinder slides
Activity: Look at MOC and Mars Odyssey images &
continue rover assembly, vote on a landing site, and launch the
Mars Rover !
Assignment: Tracking the rover
 7)
"The Rover has Landed- Part 3" 22-May 2003
Discussion:
We landed!
Demonstration: Video and data from the rover
Activity: Command rover
Assignment: Short essay on what we saw first
 8)
"The Rover has Landed- Part 4" 12-Jun 2003
Discussion:
What we found on Mars
Demonstration: Video and data from the rover
Activity: Final rover commands
Assignment: Short essay on what we found on Mars
|
