This activity introduces the electromagnetic spectrum. A riddle is proposed and users stroll through an imaginary amusement park to identify the object being described. During the journey, they discover the different types of electromagnetic energy... (View More) and learn about telescopes that see the universe in these different parts of the spectrum. (View Less)

This lithograph contains a photograph of the airborne observatory in flight and provides reference information regarding SOFIA's Mission, the telescope, and observatory operations.

This folder provides an overview of the SOFIA airborne observatory, including information about core science content areas, images and illustrations. It also provides a brief explanation and images showing how observing in the infrared reveals a... (View More) hidden universe. (View Less)

This lithograph features the Kepler Mission Field of View imposed upon a star field that includes the constellations Cygnus and Delphinus. The text includes a description of the mission, the star selection constraints, the location of the field in... (View More) the night sky, distances to the stars in the field, and the layout of the 42 CCD's used in the telescope. An illustration shows the distance of the field from the center of the Milky Way and the size of the field of view. (View Less)

This paper model airplane is designed to resemble the Swift bird, and conveys information about NASA's Swift gamma-ray burst Explorer mission.

This 2-page color fact sheet briefly describes NASA's Kepler mission, its instruments, and ground system. Also included are tables listing the instrument parameters and the major institutions involved. Kepler is a spaceborne telescope specifically... (View More) designed to survey our region of the Milky Way galaxy to detect and characterize hundreds of Earth-size and smaller planets in or near the habitable zone. The habitable zone encompasses the distances from a star where liquid water can exist on a planet's surface. Note: The fact sheets states that the Kepler Telescope was launched in 2007 but did not launch until 2009. (View Less)

This booklet contains information on the Swift Gamma-ray Burst Explorer mission, its scientific objectives and its detectors and other hardware. The booklet includes multiple pages of printed parts and instructions for assembling them into a paper... (View More) model. (View Less)

This is a hands-on demonstration of the communication path between the Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer (EUVE) satellite and a scientist on Earth, where students play the parts of various satellites, ground stations, and science centers. The module... (View More) includes a Java applet animation of the Satellite data flow and background information on the various communication links. The purpose of this lesson plan is to show students how the data are sent and received by making students active participants in the chain of events. This demonstration also allows students to get a feel for the dynamic of satellite communications and orbital motion around the Earth. (View Less)