Blog Post #3: Extrasolar Planets

Extrasolar planets (sometimes called exoplanets) are planets that are found outside of our Solar System. There are four ways that astronomers can detect extrasolar planets. Use the following links to answer the questions in your blog.

Planet Quest (when you get to this site, click on "4 ways to find a planet" on the right side)
1. What are the four ways scientists can detect planets?
2. Which way makes the most sense to you? Explain it.

The Goldilocks Zone
3. Explain the concept of the "Goldilocks Zone."
4. If Gilese 581c does have life, what do you think it would look like? How would it act? Would it be intelligent?
5. Do you believe in aliens? Why or why not? Give me a solid paragraph.

Webquest and 2 Articles

Ch. 22 Webquest
This week we're going to do the webquest a little differently. You can choose one of two options. If you complete the Ch. 22 Webquest: Celtics Version, you can earn a score of up to 100%. If you complete the Ch. 22 Webquest: Pistons Version, you can earn a score of up to 110%. Both webquests have 20 questions, and require the same amount of writing. Checkout both of them before you decide which one you want to do. Please very clearly identify which one you are doing at the top of the page.

2 Articles
Choose one article from Group A and one article from Group B, then answer the 5 questions about each article that you read on a piece of paper.

Group A
Aliens May Exist
20 Years of Hubble

Group B
Is Time Travel Possible?
Pluto's Dwarf Planet Family Could Get Bigger

Questions
1. What is the title of this article? Who wrote it?
2. Who published this article? When?
3. What are three things you learned?
4. What are two things you found interesting?
5. What is one question you still have?

Blog Post #2: Other Planet Atmospheres

For Blog Post #2, you will include a Google Docs Presentation (similar to a Microsoft PowerPoint), and answer some questions. I will show you how to create the presentation, and what needs to go into it during class.

Questions
1. What is the primary gas in the Jovian atmospheres?
2. What is the primary gas in Mars and Venus?
3. If you had to visit one planet, which would it be? Why? Give me a solid paragraph. (consider many factors such as location, temperature, atmosphere composition, and anything else you you feel is important)

NASA @ Home

As you know, I'm not at school today. Make sure that you're good for the sub! Complete the NASA @ Home assignment. If you need help, ask a classmate. Hand it in before you leave. Have a great weekend!

ACP

Here are the Astronomy Choice Project Guidelines.
Here is the Astronomy Choice Project Rubric.

Blog Post #1: Cool Astronomy Topics

Over the next couple of weeks, you will be working on a research assignment called the Astronomy Choice Project (ACP). Details for the assignment will be given during class on Monday. For today's blog post, you will choose 5 topics that sound interesting, and write a paragraph for each. You are not committed to using any of today's choices for your research assignment. Here's the list of choices:

Black holes
Worm holes
String Theory (check Powers of 10 link, then ask Mr. Dunn for help)
Dark matter
Dark energy
Search for aliens (SETI)
Mars
The Moon
Pluto
Hubble Telescope
Titan (one of Saturn's moons)
Apollo missions
Saturn's rings
Big Bang Theory
Telescopes
Ultimate fate of the universe
International Space Station
Kuiper Belt
Milky Way Galaxy
Andromeda Galaxy
Asteroid Belt
Dwarf Planets
Red Giants
Binary Planet Systems
Binary Star Systems

**You can also choose another astronomy-related topic if it is approved by Mr. Dunn**

Webquest and Planet Atmospheres

• First do the Solar System Webquest
• Then begin the Planet Atmospheres Assignment