Published by Australian Academy of Science
Activities | Simply astronomical – the Square Kilometre Array

1. Australia or southern Africa? Choosing a site for the Square Kilometre Array

Other activities

• Earth and beyond modules (Astronomy WA, Western Australia)
  • Multiwavelength astronomy – students measure the temperature of different wavelengths of radiation. They then learn about different types of electromagnetic radiation and their applications to astronomy through internet research and video links.

• National Radio Astronomy Observatory (USA)
  • Try it at home! Make a radio image! – students learn how radio images are made, then produce their own pixel images from printable worksheets.
  • A tour of Orion, the Hunter – an interactive, online activity that shows students images of Orion in different wavelengths including radio images of atomic and ionised hydrogen. Includes a quiz on the content.
  • Measuring the age of the universe – using hydrogen spectra and galaxy images, students measure the age of the universe.

• Jet Propulsion Laboratory (National Aeronautics and Space Administration, USA)
  • Basics of radioastronomy – covers the science of radioastronomy in detailed chapters with a comprehension activity at the end of each chapter.

• Teachers' lab (Annenberg Media, USA)
  • Stellar spectra – provides a basic overview of spectra. Students then identify elements in a star's spectrum.

• Australia Telescope outreach and education (CSIRO, Australia)
  • Spectroscopy: Unlocking the secret in starlight – includes online information and questions relating to spectroscopy in astronomy.
  • Cosmology – the Big Bang and origin of the universe – includes online information and questions relating to cosmology.

• Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (USA)
  • How fast do galaxies move? – an interactive activity (either online or class- based) in which students investigate how fast galaxies are moving using a virtual spectroscope.

• Public Broadcasting Service (USA)
  • Activity: Warped space-time model – this activity demonstrates space-time continuum warping from gravity using a constructed model.

• Lab notes – for teachers (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
  • Telescope dreaming – includes a series of comprehension and research activities based around an article on the Square Kilometre Array.