Year 7 Astronomy

Is there anybody out there?

Lesson Outline

• Intro: The known universe (Video)

• Exploring Mars

• Space exploration is expensive!

• Is there anybody out there?

• If we have time: Myth Busters

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ufl_Nwbl8xs

What is the difference between the following terms?

- Solar system- galaxy- Universe

What is the difference between the following terms?

- Solar system- galaxy- Universe

What do you know about mars?

• Cold desert world.

• Like Earth, Mars has seasons, polar ice caps, volcanoes, canyons and weather.

• Atmosphere is too thin for liquid water to exist for long on the surface.

• Signs of ancient floods on Mars, but evidence for water now exists mainly in icy soil and thin clouds.

Why do you think SCIENTISTS would be interested in exploring this planet?

Exploring mars

In 1965, the Nasa craft Mariner 4 took the first close-up pictures of the planet (RIGHT).

Over the next 25 years, America and Russia had only successfully landed three space probes- NASA’s two Viking landers in 1976 and its Mars Pathfinder in 1997.

• NASA’s newest rover.

• Blasted off to Mars on 25th November, 2011.

• Costs $25 billion.

• Collecting information from Mars, and searching for signs of life.

• NASA’s newest rover.

• Blasted off to Mars on 25th November, 2011.

• Costs $25 billion.

• Collecting information from Mars, and searching for signs of life.

Curiosity's First Low-Resolution Color Panorama: 8th AUGUST 2012.

Space exploration is expensive!

• The United States and Russia have spent BILLIONS OF DOLLARS trying to land a space probe on Mars.

• Do you think billions of dollars spent on space exploration is worth it, when we have billions of people on Earth living in poverty?

Is anybody out there?

Since humans first began to take an interest in the heavens, we have been fascinated by the idea that we might not be alone in the universe.

What do you think?

The seti institute• SETI, the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence.

• Founded in November, 1984.

• Seeks evidence of life in the universe by looking for signs of its technology.

THE PIONIEER PLAQUE:

• In 1972, the Pioneer 10 space probe began its journey across and ultimately out of our solar system.

• On board was a golden plaque designed to communicate to aliens what humans looked like, that we were intelligent, and where we lived.

Do you think an Alien would be able to understand this message?

Activity: a message from earth!• Divide into groups of 3 to 4. You

are in charge of extraterrestrial greetings!

• Brainstorm ideas about the information or message you would include in an extraterrestrial greeting. How would you translate your greeting to an alien?

• Design a plaque with your message from Earth.

• Present to the class!

Mythbusters!