Exploring Spectroscopes and Planetary Atmospheres

Lee Pruitt, a science teacher and NASA MAVEN mission ambassador, conducts three educational activities. The first, 'Mars Match,' involves comparing Earth's and Mars' physical features to explore past water presence on Mars. The second, 'Graphing the Rainbow,' teaches building a spectroscope to analyze light wavelengths. The third, 'Goldilocks and the Three Planets,' uses simulations to study planetary atmospheres and habitability.

What is Lee Pruitt's role in the MAVEN mission?

• Astronaut

• Project Manager

• Educator Ambassador

• Mission Scientist

What was the main objective of the Mars Match activity?

• To build a model of Mars

• To compare physical features of Earth and Mars

• To study Mars' atmosphere

• To find life on Mars

What tool is built in the Graphing the Rainbow activity?

• Periscope

• Spectroscope

• Microscope

• Telescope

What is the purpose of a spectroscope?

• To magnify objects

• To measure temperature

• To break light into its wavelengths

• To detect sound waves

What materials are needed to build a spectroscope?

• A tube, two stickers, and a diffraction grating

• A lens, a mirror, and a light source

• A prism, a camera, and a screen

• A glass, a ruler, and a flashlight

What is the main focus of the Goldilocks and the Three Planets activity?

• To explore the surface of Mars

• To study the geology of Venus

• To simulate and compare planetary atmospheres

• To build a model of the solar system

Which planets' atmospheres are compared in the Goldilocks activity?

• Earth, Venus, and Mars

• Venus, Mars, and Saturn

• Earth, Mars, and Jupiter

• Mercury, Venus, and Earth

What can students do after comparing planetary atmospheres in the Goldilocks activity?

• Launch a satellite

• Write a research paper

• Visit a planetarium

• Create their own planet

What is the website mentioned for the Goldilocks activity?

• nasa.gov/maven

• last.colorado.edu/spectra

• mars.nasa.gov

• space.com/planets

What is the ultimate goal of exploring atmospheric characteristics in the Goldilocks activity?

• To determine the most habitable planet

• To study climate change

• To measure atmospheric pressure

• To find alien life