NASA Space Based Astronomy Publications

NASA publishes a variety of educational resources suitable for classroom use. The following resources specifically relate to spacecraft and space explor-ation. Resources are available from different sources as noted.

Educational Videotapes

Educational videotapes and slide sets are obtainable through CORE.

Electromagnetic Spectrum: A Symphony of Light
Length: 19:30
Grades: 5-8
Application: Earth Science, Physical Science
The crew of the orbiting Astro-1 Mission (December, 1990) discusses the range of the electromagnetic spectrum and why it is important to climb above Earth's filtering atmosphere to study astronomical objects. Includes a teacher guide. Available through NASA Johnson Space Center.

Hubble Space Telescope, "The Best Is Yet To Come . . ."
Length: 07:15
Grades: 5-12
Application: Astronomy, Physical Science
This program focuses on the human endeavor involved in restoring the Hubble Space Telescope to its original scientific potential on the STS-61 mission. It features the most visually striking moments and interweaves stories from the astronauts.

Starfinder Series
Length: 30 minutes
Grades: 5-12
Application: Earth Science, Physical Science
This 30 part series covers science concepts in a timely and interesting fashion, based on discoveries by the Hubble Space Telescope.

Space Classroom: Assignment the Stars
Length: 27:00
Grades: 5-8
Application: Astronomy, Physical Science
The crew of the orbiting Astro-1 Mission (December, 1990) deliver a live astronomy lesson to middle school students. Students learn about the electromagnetic spectrum and how it relates to an astronomy mission. Includes a teacher guide.

Hubble Space Telescope Slide Set
Astrophysics Division Missions
(1992 and yearly installments)
This slide set features images taken from the Hubble Space Telescope and the Cosmic Background Explorer. Slides also explain NASAUs current and future Great Observatories: the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (CGRO), the Advanced X-ray Astrophysics Facility (AXAF), and the Space Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF).

Astro 1: Seeing the Hidden Cosmos
Grades: 5-8
This slide set describes the story of Hubble Space Telescope's deployment, mirror problem and discoveries. Includes slides on NASAUs Great Observatories and Cosmic Background Explorer. Updated with 1992 and 1993 discoveries.

Educational Software

Educational software is available through the NASA Teacher Resources Center Network and CORE.

Astronomy Village; Investigations in Astronomy, a NASA Educational Product by Classroom of the Future
Software: CD-ROM, Macintosh-based
Grades: 9-12
Application: Astronomy
This multimedia program provides teachers and students with ten investigations in astronomy. Students conduct a scientific inquiry working in teams of three, interfacing in a village setting with a mountain top observatory. The resources available to the team on CD-ROM include: full motion video clips; images from the Hubble Space Telescope and other instruments, audio clips by astronomers, NASA publications, information from astronomy journals and books; and computer animation and graphics.

Hubble Space Telescope Educational Software
by Oklahoma State University (1990)
Software: Apple II and Macintosh (PageMaker 3.02)
Grades: 5-8
Application: Astronomy, Physical Science
This software package chronicles the history of astronomical observations culminating in the Hubble Space Telescope, examines the design and science of telescopes, describes Hubble's instruments, and illustrates how Hubble captures and transmits images from space. Includes fact sheets, lithographs, software, activities, bibliography, models, and evaluation materials.

Publications

Educational and background information publications are available from NASA Headquarters. Please address requests to:
NASA Headquarters
Code FEO-2
Space-Based Astronomy Teacher's Guide
300 E Street, SW
Washington, DC 20546-0001
NASA (1993) Black Holes, Educational Brief, EB-114, NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC.

NASA (1987) The Death of a Star: Supernova 1987a, Educational Briefs, EB-88-1 (S), NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC.

NASA (1992) The Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer Mission, Educational Briefs, EB-108, NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC.

NASA (1992) What is Space Physics? Educational Briefs, EB-106, NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC.

NASA (1992) A Career in Space Physics, Educational Topic, ET-101, NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC.

NASA (1993) Corrective Optics Space Telescope Axial Replacement (COSTAR), NASA Facts, NF-181, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD.

NASA (1993) The Cosmic Background Explorer: Looking Back to the Beginning of Time, NASA Fact Sheet, NASA HqL-354, NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC.

NASA (1991) The Gamma-Ray Observatory, NP-124, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD.

NASA (1991) The Gamma-Ray Observatory: Exploring the Mysteries of Time, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD.

NASA (1990) The Great Observatories for Space Astrophysics, NP-128, NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC.

NASA (1988), How Big is the Universe? Information Summaries, PMS-019, NASA Lewis Research Center, Cleveland, OH.

NASA (1993) Hubble Space Telescope, Operations Control Center, NASA Facts, NF-206, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD.

NASA (1993) Hubble vs New Ground-Based Optics, NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC.

NASA (1992) NASA Restructures AXAF Program, NASA Fact Sheet, NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC.

Color Lithographs

Lithographs are available from NASA Headquarters. (See the address listed under publications.)

HqL-323 Scientific Balloons
HqL-336 HST NGC 2440
HqL-338 COBE Big Bang Cosmology
HqL-375 International Ultraviolet Explorer Studies the Universe
HqL-376 Saturn
HqL-377 Pluto
HqL-378 Venus
HqL-380 Uranus
HqL-381 Moon
HqL-382 Jupiter
HqL-386 Our Star--The Sun
HqL-388 Asteroids: Gaspra and Ida
HqL-398 Hubble Reveals Central Region of an Active Galaxy
HqL-399 Hubble's New Optics Probe Core of Distant Galaxy
HqL-400 HST First Servicing Mission

[Teacher Resources index]


Last modified prior to September, 2000 by the Windows Team

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