The Milky Way and Other Galaxies in the Universe

Our solar system is immense, but it gets lost in the vastness of our Milky Way Galaxy. Look at our place in the galaxy and our galaxy’s place in the universe. Examine the different kinds of galaxies including galaxy collisions and the black holes in the center.

This Course includes the following 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

The Milky Way and Other Galaxies

1. Objective

2. Warm-up activities

3. Perspective

4. Definition and characteristics of a galaxy

5. Description and location of the Milky Way

6. Galaxy clusters, as well as the number of galaxies and stars in the universe

7. The local group of galaxies

8. Dwarf galaxies and Magellanic Clouds

9. Hemispheres

10. Seasons and Earth’s axis

11. Types of galaxies: spiral, irregular, elliptical

12. Logarithmic spirals and universal recurring patterns

13. Types of galaxies: barred spiral and lenticular

14. Causes of galactic shapes

15. Black holes and supermassive black holes

16. Observing galaxies in different lights, such as infrared

17. Scientist Edwin Hubble

18. Cepheid variable stars

19. Dark matter and dark energy

20. Star clusters

21. Nebulae: emission, planetary and reflection

22. Naming conventions

23. Test questions

24. 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.