Astronomy Week 4Astronomy Week 4

Counting CometsCounting Comets

MeteorMeteor

Flash of light Flash of light produced when a produced when a naturally occuring naturally occuring small solid object (a small solid object (a meteroid) enters meteroid) enters Earth’s atmosphere Earth’s atmosphere from space. People from space. People often call meteors often call meteors shooting stars or shooting stars or falling stars.falling stars.

MeteroidMeteroid

Meteroite in the DaytimeMeteroite in the Daytime

FireballsFireballs

A very bright meteor that makes folks say A very bright meteor that makes folks say OOH AHH! If it lights up the world around OOH AHH! If it lights up the world around you.you.

If you see it in the day…take notes!! It will If you see it in the day…take notes!! It will hit earth!hit earth!

Note the time and locationNote the time and locationNote the path of the fireball for Note the path of the fireball for

scientistsscientists

Look UP!Look UP!

Meteors last for a few secondsMeteors last for a few secondsComets for days!Comets for days!Meteors happen all the time, comets once Meteors happen all the time, comets once

or twice each year.or twice each year.

CometsComets

http://www.galaxyexplorers.org/newsletter/comet_fun_facts.asp

Parts of a CometParts of a Comet

Comet DangerComet Danger

Stardust SpacecraftStardust Spacecraft

Looking for CometsLooking for Comets

Remember the sky is 360 degreesRemember the sky is 360 degreesSo work the telescope slowly up/down or So work the telescope slowly up/down or

left/right all the way aroundleft/right all the way around If you find a comet, report it to NASA, you If you find a comet, report it to NASA, you

could win money!!!could win money!!!Cfa-www.harvard.edu/iau/cbat.htmlCfa-www.harvard.edu/iau/cbat.html

Making Indoor PlanetariumsMaking Indoor Planetariums

Large boxLarge boxPaper plate and punch for constellationsPaper plate and punch for constellationsTapeTapeChristmas lightsChristmas lightsSkewersSkewers

Simple Reflex TelescopesSimple Reflex Telescopes

Two plastic magnifying lensesTwo plastic magnifying lensesTwo tubes Two tubes TapeTapePretty paper!Pretty paper!