Astronomy Section Video

Resources for Teachers

The Venus Transit: THE AU CHALLENGE In NASA CONNECT: Venus Transit, students will learn about the importance of using scale models to represent the size and distance of objects in the solar system and beyond. They will be introduced to the astronomical unit (AU), the baseline distance from the Earth to the Sun, which astronomers use to determine the relative distances from the Earth to other planets, stars, asteroids, and objects in space. They will also discover fascinating facts about the Venus Transit, a celestial and historical event, which helped astronomers determine the scale of the solar system. By conducting inquiry-based and web activities, students will make connections between NASA research and the mathematics, science, and technology they learn in their classrooms.

Venus Transit Challenge Video
Host, Jennifer Pulley, and NASA scientists will pose inquiry-based questions throughout the program. These questions allow the students to investigate, discover, and critically think about the concepts being presented. Thanks to NASA CONNECT�, we have prepared a 7 part version of the NASA video available for viewing here. Students and teachers can view the designated segments so students can answer and discuss the inquiry-based questions. For more information about inquiry-based learning, visit the NASA CONNECT™ web site.

Educator Guide
This hands-on activity Guide is teacher created and aligned with the National Council of the Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Standards and the National Science Education (NSES) Standards. Students will use measurement, ratios, and graphing to construct a model of the solar system and determine the relationship of each planet to the Sun. They will explore the scales needed to represent the size of the planets and the distances to the Sun. We offer this downloadable document courtesy of NASA Connect.

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Part 1

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3'02"

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Kennedy Space Centre; How large is the Solar System? Why we need scale models? What is scaling?

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Part 2

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5'21"

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Maps, scale distances and ratios; Scale models; Exercise - Calculate space shuttle model size.

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Part 3

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4'44"

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Solution: Shuttle model size; Units of Measurement; Really big numbers; The Astronomical Unit as a baseline; The Solar System in AU's; Voyager I - Where and how far?

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Part 4

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3'27"

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Solution: Voyager I; Making a scale chart of the Solar System; How to use the Project Guide; Hands on activity - making a scale model of the Solar System.

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Part 5

Time:

2'18"

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The History of measuring the Solar System; How we measure the Sun-Earth distance.

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Part 6

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4'10"

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The geometry of Parallax; How it works and how you can use the geometry of Triangulation.

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Part 7

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5'25"

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Observing the Transit of Venus 2004, Venus and the Earth - what we know. The Challenge: Is there a better planet than Earth to use to set the Astronomical Unit?

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