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Educational And Public Outreach Software On Planet Detection For The Macintosh (TM)The possibility of extra-solar planets has been a very popular topic with the general public for years. Considerable media coverage of recent detections has only heightened the interest in the topic. School children are particularly interested in learning about space. Astronomers have the knowledge and responsibility to present this information in both an understandable and interesting format. Since most classrooms and homes are now equipped with computers this media can be utilized to provide more than a traditional "flat" presentation. An interactive "stack" has been developed using Hyperstudio (TM). The major topics include: "1996 - The Break Through Year In Planet Detection"; "What Determines If A Planet Is Habitable?"; "How Can We Find Other Planets (Search Methods)"; "All About the Kepler Mission: How To Find Earth-Sized Planets"; and "A Mission Simulator". Using the simulator, the student records simulated observations and then analyzes and interprets the data within the program stacks to determine the orbit and planet size, the planet's temperature and surface gravity, and finally determines if the planet is habitable. Additional related sections are also included. Many of the figures are animated to assist in comprehension of the material. A set of a dozen lesson plans for the middle school has also been drafted.
Document ID
20020041019
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Koch, David
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Brady, Victoria
(Canyon Elementary School Tucson, AR United States)
Cannara, Rachel
(California Univ. Santa Cruz, CA United States)
Witteborn, Fred C.
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1996
Subject Category
Astronomy
Meeting Information
Meeting: 28th Annual Meeting of Division for Planetary Sciences
Location: Tucson, AZ
Country: United States
Start Date: October 23, 1996
End Date: October 26, 1996
Funding Number(s)
PROJECT: RTOP 186-06-01
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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