NASA's XMM-Newton NASA's XMM-Newton Mission Partners with LTI to Mission Partners with LTI to Develop an X-ray STARLAB Develop an X-ray STARLAB

CylinderCylinder By Tim Graves and Dr. Lynn By Tim Graves and Dr. Lynn Cominsky of Sonoma State Cominsky of Sonoma State

UniversityUniversity

What is the StarlabWhat is the Starlab A portable planetariumA portable planetarium

Silver fabric domeSilver fabric dome ProjectorProjector FanFan Vast array of projection Vast array of projection

cylinderscylinders Designed by Learning Designed by Learning

Technologies Inc.Technologies Inc.

What we do at SSUWhat we do at SSU We are the NASA We are the NASA

Education and Public Education and Public Outreach group for Outreach group for the the XMM Newton XMM Newton space science space science mission.mission.

XMM Newton Science GoalsXMM Newton Science Goals When and where are the chemical elements created?When and where are the chemical elements created? How does nature heat gas to X-ray emitting How does nature heat gas to X-ray emitting

temperatures?temperatures?

The XMM Newton Starlab CylinderThe XMM Newton Starlab Cylinder

The Optical SkyThe Optical SkyFeaturing some common objects that students may be familiar with

M88 (Spiral Galaxy)

M45 (The Pleiades)

Orion

Sirius A

The X-ray SkyThe X-ray SkyThe unfamiliar X-ray sky provoking questions about

• X-rays

• The electromagnetic spectrum

• The nature of X-ray objects in the universe.

M88 in X-rays

Sirius B

Tying it all TogetherTying it all TogetherThe night sky in both optical and X-rays.

X-ray is in BLUE

Optical is in RED

Sirius A and B, a nearby binary star system.Sirius B, a white dwarf has a surface temp. of over 25,000 degrees! Notethat Sirius A is brighter in optical, but dimmer in X-rays.

Accompanying MaterialsAccompanying MaterialsAlong with the X-ray Cylinder Along with the X-ray Cylinder

will be an activity book.will be an activity book.Discussing the X-ray skyDiscussing the X-ray skyX-ray objectsX-ray objectsPacked full of other ready-to-Packed full of other ready-to-

use activities in line with other use activities in line with other Learning Technologies Inc. Learning Technologies Inc. booklets.booklets.

Finding and Using a StarlabFinding and Using a StarlabWhere can I get my hands on a Where can I get my hands on a

Starlab???Starlab??? If you’re nearby SSU visit If you’re nearby SSU visit

http://epo.sonoma.edu/starlabhttp://epo.sonoma.edu/starlab and you can and you can reserve ours online for $30 a day or $100 a reserve ours online for $30 a day or $100 a week.week.

Call or email Learning Technologies Inc. to Call or email Learning Technologies Inc. to see if there is a local Starlab owner in your see if there is a local Starlab owner in your area who might let you borrow it for you area who might let you borrow it for you students.students.

Links and AcknowledgementsLinks and Acknowledgements

Thanks to Learning Technologies Inc. for Thanks to Learning Technologies Inc. for embarking on this project with us.embarking on this project with us.

SSU EPO - SSU EPO - http://epo.sonoma.eduhttp://epo.sonoma.eduXMM EPO – XMM EPO – http://http://xmm.sonoma.eduxmm.sonoma.eduLTI - LTI - starlab@starlab.comstarlab@starlab.com or 1 (800) 537- or 1 (800) 537-

8703 or 8703 or http://www.starlab.com/http://www.starlab.com/