Astronomy

Explaining Eclipses & Exoplanets

Display this demonstration to talk about eclipses, exoplanets and companion stars!

Planet Deformation

Construct a planet and watch how the rotation of the planet changes the shape!

Straw Landing

This demo will show what happens to the surface of a moon or planet when a rockets lands. 

Cakeraters

Falling space rocks collide with the surface of planets and moons to create impact craters which can be found all over our solar system

Gravitational Waves in Jello

Movement of massive objects in space create gravitational waves that travel outward in spacetime and bend light along the way. We detect these waves by using lasers and watching changes in how light moves through space. This demo uses clear jello and a laser to show how collisions create ripples that radiate outward from the source, which are able to bend light.

Fabric of the Universe Part 2

After completing Part 1, explore solar system formation, tides, and planetary rings using a spandex sheet.

Eclipses: Earth-Moon-Sun Model

This demonstration uses a model of the earth-moon-sun system to explain why eclipses occur. This demo is useful for illustrating why total solar eclipses are rare. 

Composition of the Universe

This demonstration briefly explains the history of the universe using jars and colored beads. The jars represent matter/objects and the beads represent the composition of those objects.

Fabric of the Universe

Explore forces in a gravitational field using a spandex sheet and marbles.

This demonstration shows how gravity can be interpreted as the bending of spacetime due to massive bodies. Participants can identify gravity interactions, observe how the shape of the spandex corresponds to mathematical models, and make inferences based on object size, shape, and mass.

After completing this demonstration, present Part 2 to explore solar system formation, tides, and planetary rings. 

Pinhole Projector

Construct a pinhole projector to introduce participants to the basic properties of light. This tool can then be used to view eclipses or other bright sources.