Twisted Astronomy: Explore Distant Objects in Space

~ Updated to include pictures and information gathered by the James Webb Space Telescope~

Let's explore the universe together, one destination at a time. Each week I will take you on a tour of a unique location in space and show you what it would be like to actually visit these locations. You will get the chance to create drawings and diagrams to help you understand the places we visit.

Learners will participate in the following activities:
~ Listen as I explain foundational information about the location, how we know about the phenomenon, and what it would be like to visit the week's destination
~ Sketch an example of what the location looks like as well as impacts it would have on humans
~ Write important pieces of information about the location, either as labels in drawings or as separate notes
~ Watch a slideshow filled with information, photographs, drawings, and some short video clips to help learners understand what their actual visit would be like
~ Discuss the locations with me and the other learners

Tour Destinations:

School Year 2024-2025

November
~ Exoplanets (Week of Nov. 3-9) Examine the four main categories of planets outside our solar system
~Black Holes (Week of Nov. 10-16) Diagram the parts of a black hole and understand how black holes bend space
~Nebulae (Week of Nov. 17-23) Explore the different types of nebulae, learn why each nebula is different colors, and sketch some well-known nebulae

NO CLASS WEEK OF NOV. 24-30

December
~Neutron Stars (Week of Dec. 1-7) Examine atoms and their parts, and how neutron stars are formed; we will sketch a diagram of the "nuclear pasta" in a neutron star
~Visiting the Big Bang (Week of Dec. 8-14) Understand the Big Bang and the events that happened in the first seconds and minutes after the Big Bang occurred
~ Types of Galaxies (Week of Dec. 15-21) Learn the classification system for galaxies and sketch examples

NO CLASS WEEKS OF DEC. 22-JAN. 4

January
~Gravitational Waves (Week of Jan. 5-11) Understand what gravitational waves are and examine their possible destructive powers
~ How Solar Systems Form (Week of Jan. 12-18) Sketch the stages of development solar systems all go through
~ Dark Matter (Week of Jan. 19-25) Understand the proof for the existence of dark matter
~

February
~ Binary Star Systems (Week of Feb. 2-8) Learn what binary star systems are and sketch the four classifications of binary stars
~Supernovae (Week of Feb. 9-15) Explore Type I and Type II supernovae and the steps a star follows as it goes supernova

Summer 2025

June
~ Exoplanets (Week of June 1-7) Examine the four main categories of planets outside our solar system
~Black Holes (Week of June 8-14) Diagram the parts of a black hole and understand how black holes bend space
~Nebulae (Week of June 15-21) Explore the different types of nebulae, learn why each nebula is different colors, and sketch some well-known nebulae

NO CLASS JUNE 22-JULY 5

July
~Neutron Stars (Week of July 6-12) Examine atoms and their parts, and how neutron stars are formed; we will sketch a diagram of the "nuclear pasta" in a neutron star
~Visiting the Big Bang (Week of July 13-19) Understand the Big Bang and the events that happened in the first seconds and minutes after the Big Bang occurred
~ Types of Galaxies (Week of July 20-26) Learn the classification system for galaxies and sketch examples
~Gravitational Waves (Week of July 27-Aug. 2) Understand what gravitational waves are and examine their possible destructive powers

August
~ How Solar Systems Form (Week of Aug. 3-9) Sketch the stages of development solar systems all go through
~ Dark Matter (Week of Aug. 10-16) Understand the proof for the existence of dark matter
~ Kilonova (Week of Aug. 17-23) Sketch a diagram of two colliding neutron stars, and understand what happens when the stars collide
~Binary Star Systems (Week of Aug. 24-30) Learn what binary star systems are and sketch the four classifications of binary stars

2025-2026 School Year

November 2025
~ Exoplanets (Week of Oct. 26-Nov. 1) Examine the four main categories of planets outside our solar system
~Black Holes (Week of Nov. 2-8) Diagram the parts of a black hole and understand how black holes bend space
~Nebulae (Week of Nov. 9-15) Explore the different types of nebulae, learn why each nebula is different colors, and sketch some well-known nebulae
~Neutron Stars (Week of Nov. 16-22) Examine atoms and their parts, and how neutron stars are formed; we will sketch a diagram of the "nuclear pasta" in a neutron star

December 2025
~Visiting the Big Bang (Week of Nov. 30-Dec. 6) Understand the Big Bang and the events that happened in the first seconds and minutes after the Big Bang occurred
~ Types of Galaxies (Week of Dec. 7-13) Learn the classification system for galaxies and sketch examples
~Gravitational Waves (Week of Dec. 14-20) Understand what gravitational waves are and examine their possible destructive powers