A Grand Tour of the Solar System & Beyond
Learn from a real astronomer! A virtual journey visiting the Sun, planets, their moons, and debris left over from the earliest times of the solar system's formation.
Kevin Manning
Average rating:
4.8
Number of reviews:(50)
What's included
1 live meeting
55 mins in-class hoursClass Experience
US Grade Kindergarten - 3
A virtual journey visiting the Sun, planets, their moons, and debris left over from the earliest times of the solar system's formation. A detailed look at Pluto as the New Horizons spacecraft took very high resolution images of this elusive and controversial world after waiting 9 ½ years to reach it since launch in January, 2006. What a surprise it turned out to be, having more geologic activity than anyone thought possible. Solar System debris includes a look at comets, meteors and asteroids. Also, a brief introduction to our exoplanet survey.
Learning Goals
1: Earth’s Place in the Universe
Using an orrery and other digitally graphic mechanical models of the solar system, galaxy and universe, positions and motions according to the heliocentric model are represented.
2: The Solar System
Comparative planetology with rocky worlds and gas giants, orbital dynamics, mass, size, moons, role of the sun.
3: Comets, meteors, asteroids and other solar system debris are addressed.
4: Search for extrasolar planets and the instruments used to discover them.
Other Details
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Sources
Sky & Telescope and Astronomy magazines, any books on the solar system.
Joined November, 2021
4.8
50reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
Learn from a real astronomer! I teach exciting astronomy classes about different aspects of the universe using incredible photos, awesome video clips, and fun STEM hands-on activities. My passion about the universe really shows.
• Astronomer and science educator with lots of experience
• Consultant for NASA
• Chandra X-Ray Observatory (space telescope) with the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
• Wright Fellow at Tufts University
• Einstein Fellow working with NASA Headquarters, the US House of Representatives, and the US Dept of Energy Office of Science on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC
• Brookhaven National Laboratory
• I'm an author and written 101 Fun Facts on Astronomy and The Complete Guide to Building Your Own 8-inch Telescope
• Content Expert for Scholastic Library Publishing called Rookie Read-About Science: The Universe for four books entitled Earth, The Moon, The Stars, and The Sun
• Workshops include those made at Tufts University, State University of New York at Stony Brook, the National Science Teachers Association's National Convention, American Association for the Advancement of Science Breakfast with Scientists, and the National Parks Service
• Teaching is an art and requires patience and a thorough understanding of the subject to be able to help someone learn using various approaches and learning styles
• I feel it's important to be yourself and add a little humor because that has been shown through research to help an individual relax and learn better
• I love working with wood and have used it to build telescopes including one that is over ten feet longReviews
Live One-Time Class
$25
per classMeets once
55 min
Completed by 53 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 5-10
1-18 learners per class
