The YPOP Solar Classroom is filled with hands-on, solar related
activities. There is
something for everyone. Many of these activities teach you about the Sun
itself.
Others teach a physical concept, like rotation, using the Sun as an
example. We invite teachers, students, parents and children of all ages to
experiment with the activities below. Enjoy!
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SOLAR CYCLES: Investigate the cycles of the Sun with 250 years of data! Learn to recognize common features and match x-ray images of the sun with visible light images from the same day. This lesson has been adapted into an exciting ICEBREAKER ACTIVITY as well! |
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IMAGE FILTERING: Build your own inexpensive, color, filter wheel and use it to study an image of the Crab Nebula! Discover why scientists use different filters to study astronomical images. View several images of the Sun as seen through different solar filters. |
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SATELLITE ORBITS:
Have you ever seen a satellite passing overhead at night? Did you wonder
how high up it was? In this lesson you will obtain the period of the
Yohkoh satellite from an image of its orbital path which is updated
regularly. With this information you will calculate the height of
the satellite above the Earth's surface. |
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FUN WITH PIXELS:
Magnify images of your school or yourself and see what happens. Learn
about the pixels that make up all images. Use pixels to create secret
messages to your friends, or uncover a mystery picture! |
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THE EARTH'S ORBIT:
Investigate the shape of the Earth's orbit based on the apparent changing
size of the Sun. Is the orbit elliptical? Is it circular? |
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MODEL SATELLITE:
Build a model of the Yohkoh solar satellite. With a cardboard box
and some paper you can make a model of the Yohkoh satellite. Instrument
blueprints are provided along with detailed instructions for
construction. |
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ROTATION:
Study the rotation rate of the Sun and the planets. This lesson includes
several hands-on activities to familarize yourself with the
concept of rotation. You will then use movies made with actual solar
images to study the rotation rate of the Sun. |
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MEASURING SUNSPOTS:
Learn image processing skills that will help you measure the size of solar
sunspots. You will be able to use these skills to measure features on
any electronic image. Graphics processing software is needed.
Download links are provided in the lesson.
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SUNDIALS:
Learn how to make a portable, inexpensive sundial of your own. Wear
it as a necklace or make a keychain! |
CLASSROOM |
FILM FESTIVAL |
FILM ARCHIVES |
GUESTBOOK
INTERMISSION |
PROGRAM |
PROJECTION ROOM |
SPOTLIGHT
YPOP HOMEPAGE