
Explore extreme phenomena in astronomy through a vivid and fun lesson, guided by an instructor with NASA and National Air and Space Museum curriculum experience.
Understand that most extreme phenomena in the universe are stars and that they can be both beneficial and non-beneficial to the universe.
Engage in a warm-up activity that primes you to think about extreme phenomena before the lesson, then describe the appearance of the biggest star.
Explore extreme phenomena in the universe, from black holes, neutron stars, white dwarfs, and pulsars to supernova remnants and red giants, and how stars evolve.
Examine extreme phenomena from black holes and neutron stars to white dwarfs, red giants, and supernova remnants, and explore star life cycles, pulsars, and cosmic recycling in the Milky Way.
Explore assessment questions on extreme phenomena, covering star types, life cycles, supernovae, and black holes, with verbal, paper, or digital responses.
Explore a comprehensive set of assessment questions on extreme phenomena, covering star life cycles, nebulae, black holes, supernovae, and recycled stellar material for new star and planet formation.
Explore cross-curricular activities linking astronomy concepts to history, English research, and other fields, and compare extreme phenomena with natural elements in a descriptive essay.
Explore astronomy as the science of celestial objects beyond Earth, using light to understand distant objects and study stars, planets, galaxies, and the universe's structure.
Explore how solar and lunar eclipses occur, detailing partial, annular, and total solar eclipses, and explain the sun-moon-earth geometry, including umbra and penumbra and the corona.
Explore how meteor showers form when earth passes through comet debris, producing naked-eye shooting stars, and learn to watch by lying down, avoiding screens, and planning dates.
Explore the aurora or northern lights, caused by solar particles guided by Earth's magnetic field, with tips for viewing near the magnetic north pole and photographing green lights.
Explore how Artemis aims to establish a permanent lunar presence, the mission phases, key technologies like the SLS and Orion, and the social questions surrounding this space program.
Extreme Phenomena: Black Holes, White Dwarfs and other Intense Stars takes you on a tour of the universe's most powerful objects - most of which are stars in some form or another. Also included in the tour are pulsars, neutron stars and mega-galaxies. These objects are so space-bending and awesome that they can change time and light itself.
This Course includes great BONUS LESSONS:
What on Earth is Astronomy?
Mini-Lesson: Eclipses
Mini-Lesson: Meteor Showers
Mini-Lesson: Aurora
Project Artemis: America Returns to the Moon
1. Objective
2. Warm-up activity
3. Supernovae
4. Black holes
5. General discussion of density
6. General discussion of different types of light, like X-rays
7. Life cycle of a star
8. Death of a star
9. Composition of a star
10. Similarities and differences between stars and large gas planets
11. Brief discussion and definition of nebulae
12. Star temperature
13. The Sun as a star
14. Red giants
15. Quasars
16. Pulsars
17. White dwarfs
18. Neutron stars
19. Test questions
20. Cross-curricular activities
My name is Tony Ceraso and I will be your instructor. I sometimes run the planetarium and have written curriculum for the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC. I have also written curriculum for NASA’s school visitation program and teach on the college level in NJ.
My goal is for you to thoroughly enjoy this lesson. I love astronomy and I want nothing more out of our time together than for you to have a greater appreciation for the universe through the understanding of this material. Besides the lesson I’m going to preview for you now, the course includes warm up activities, test questions, and cross-curricular activities for you to download as a supplement.