SPACE.com correspondent Dave Brody visits Tenagra Observatories on a quest for the precise age of the Universe. Meet 11 world-renowned astrophysicists and a private astronomer who has dedicated a fortune to the search.
Searching for SuperStars Classroom Edition lets you see giant stars up close, learn what they are made of, how they behave, and how they sometimes interact with each other. You will see how the most massive stars end their lives in spectacular and violent fashion. Hear what the experts have to say about neutron stars, pulsars and black holes. Learn how past generations of stars have shaped the Earth and its inhabitants, and how supernovas can tell us about the age and future of the universe.
This 2005 Telly Award Finalist for Education Video comes complete with a teaching guide full of discussion questions, cross-curricular activities and correlations to national science standards. It is a wonderful educational resource that will inspire and excite your students about space science.
See our review from NSTA Recommends:
Searching for Superstars discusses the end stages of stellar evolution in massive stars. Neutron stars and supernovae are the central areas of emphasis. Students will observe the latest techniques in finding supernovae. (Sadly, the backyard telescope just won't do any longer.) This process is described by Michael Schwartz of the Tenagra Observatories. For classes that go into reasonable depth on this topic, the concept of the "standard candle," the means by which astronomers determine the distance of the most remote galaxies, is developed concisely and understandably.
In another segment, astronomers discuss how they decide which stars are candidates for future supernovae and what they can learn from observing a supernova event take place.
Finally, physicist and artist Mark Garlick displays his paintings showing what he thinks these giant stars would look like from near proximity, perhaps showing science students an obvious and enjoyable interdisciplinary opportunity to integrate art and science.
Teaching Guide includes:
* Strategies for whole-class or individual instruction
* Discussion questions that develop science process skills: initiating and planning; analyzing and interpreting; performing and recording; and communication and teamwork
* Cross-curricular activities with tie-ins to language arts, social studies, geography, math, biology, chemistry and physics
* Interviews with scientists and insight into careers in science
* Curriculum correlations for United States and Canada
DVD Features:
* Tenagra’s Technology: Behind the scense with Owner Michael Schwartz
* Special Super Star Artworks by Mark A. Garlick
* Chapter Index lets you navigate to nine different topics
1. Supernovas
2. Pulsar: Crab
3. Black Holes
4. Spotting SuperStars
5. Novas
6. Colliding Stars
7. Standard Candles
8. Hypernovas
9. Next Supernovas?
* Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and Digital Stereo
* Music by Jonn Serrie and others
* Images, and animations and predictive simulations: NASA, ESA, Maas Digital, JPL, Cornell University, Malin Space Systems, Dana Berry / Skyworks Digital. Spaceship window element by Thomas O. Miller (atomicart.com) and Ron Miller.
Total Run Time: 55 minutes
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