composit of images of the Sun taken by SOHO    How Big, How Far, How Hot, and How Old are Astronomical Objects?

 

  Summary of Activity:
Students and adults alike explore their thoughts about how big, how far away, how hot, and how old various astronomical objects might be. Participants are given a series of photographs and asked to arrange them by size, or by distance, temperature, or age. Discussions follow.

These activities can be used in a classroom, in informal science situations, and even incorporated into scientific lectures.

 
How Big/Far/Hot/Old? (pdf)

The full exercise, where students or participants use scientific practices to investigate answers to simple questions such as what color is the Sun, why is the sky blue, what causes orange sunsets, and why the ocean is blue. Includes demonstrations, discussions, and activities.