Solar System

The great red spot on Jupiter can be seen by telescopes from Earth AND space probes that have flown past Jupiter. What question could you ask that would help you determine which of those two tools was used to DISCOVER Jupiter's red storm for the first time?

• How many miles is Jupiter from Earth?

• Has a human ever landed on Jupiter?

• Was the storm discovered from the surface of Jupiter, or from space?

• Was the storm first seen from earth or from an image sent from space?

A student wonders what technology was used to take this picture and discover what the surface of Mercury looks like. She asks:

Was this photograph take from Earth or from the surface of Mercury? If it was taken from Earth, I know a telescope must have been used. If it was taken from Mercury, I know that a rover/robot must have been used.

• She should also ask if the picture was taken from space, because it could have been taken by an astronaut who traveled to Mercury

• She should also ask if the photo is color or black-and-white, because it could have been taken by an astronaut who traveled to Mercury

• She should also ask if the picture was taken from space, because it could have been taken by a probe passing Mercury

• She should also ask if the photo is color or black-and-white, because it could have been taken by a probe passing Mercury

A group of astronomers is studying objects that are very distant from our solar system. They are trying to decide if a new device is useful for their research. Which question would most help them decide if the device is useful for their research?

• Is the device larger than other devices?

• Will the device use more electricity than other devices?

• Does this device take longer to build than other devices?

• Can the device gather data from further distances than other devices?

Tags

NGSS.MS-ETS1-3

The United States has landed a device on Mars. Using this device, which question can now be answered that could not be answered before?

• What is the shape and color of Mars?

• How many moons does Mars have?

• What is the soil like on Mars?

• How far away is Mars?

A group of fourth graders were studying a timeline of technological advances in space research. Which of the following questions could the student research to further understand the similarities and differences between the data collected from the technology?

• How has technology improved its quality of photos over time?

• What were the dates that each technology was invented?

• Who were the scientists who invented the technology?

• When was the first space discovery first documented?

Tags

NGSS.MS-ETS1-3

Which of the following questions could be asked to understand how technology has affected observations made about space overtime?

• How are the sizes of technology different from many years ago compared to today’s technology?

• How does the information collected today compare to information collected many years ago?

• Is the technology used today more complex than they were in ancient times?

• When were other galaxies discovered?

Would you predict that Rigel or Betelgeuse would appear brighter from earth?

• Rigel because it is larger and closer to Earth

• Betelgeuse because it is larger and closer to Earth

• Rigel because blue supergiants appear brighter than red supergiants

• Betelgeuse because red supergiants appear brighter than blue supergiant

If both Rigel or VY Canis Majoris could be seen in the night sky, which would you predict would appear brighter from Earth?

• Rigel because it is closer.

• VY Canis Majoris because it is larger.

• Both stars would be equally bright because one star is much closer but the other is much larger.

• There is not enough information to decide because one star is much closer but the other is much larger.

Kate and Sam are outside on a perfectly clear night, looking up at the stars. They are discussing what they learned about stars in science class today. Kate says she is still confused as to why some stars are brighter than others. She asks Sam if he could explain. Which argument is the best to explain why some stars appear to be larger and brighter than others.

• If one star is closer to the earth than another, then it will appear larger and brighter. If two stars are the same distance from the earth, the larger star will appear brighter.

• When a person on earth looks at the stars in the night sky, if one star is further away from the earth than another, then it will appear larger and brighter. If two stars are the same distance from the earth, the larger star will appear brighter.

• When a person on earth looks at the stars in the night sky, if one star is closer to the earth than another, then it will appear larger and brighter. If two stars are the same distance from the earth, the smaller star will appear brighter.

• When a person on earth looks at the stars in the night sky, if one star is further away from the earth than another, then it will appear smaller and brighter. If two stars are the same distance from the earth, the smaller star will appear brighter.

During recess, Tony and Josephine were talking about the sun and stars. Tony told Josephine that the sun is really a star. Josephine asked why it was so big and bright. If the sun is a star why is it so big and bright?

• The sun is not really a star. It is a sun and that’s why it is so big and bright.

• Since the sun is the closest star to the earth, it appears bigger and brighter than the other stars.

• The sun is brighter than all the other stars in the sky, so it looks bigger from the earth even though it is really farther away than most stars.

• The sun is a star, but it is made up of gasses that are much different from the other stars and this makes it appear bigger and brighter than the other stars.