Unit Nine: Stars

What will be graded:

Daily Star Dates *(varies depending on class)

1. In Class - Epsilon Auriga 

2. In Class - Parallax Lab

3. In Class - Stellar Properties Observations

4. In Class - Sun Structure and Features 

5. In Class - Secrets of the Sun Video

6. In Class - HR Diagram Lab

7. In Class - Life-cycle of Stars worksheet

Star Date:

Use this link to listen to the 2 minute podcast.  Keep a journal record of the topics discussed.

Mar 

Apr

Our "@Home" Planetarium - we can not always be in the planetarium, especially when we're at home.  This is a web-based version of the planetarium - or, at least, as close as you can get.  You just have to set it up on your computer.

Stellar Properties

In the Planetarium, we will use about 20 of the brightest stars to gather information about the stars brightness, distance, color, and temperature.  Using this info, determine the relationship between brightness and distance of the stars.  Also, we will determine the relationship between a star's color and its temperature.  

If you miss the planetarium, research the information for the following stars:

• Sol, Rigel, Betelgeuse, Pollux, Castor, Sirius, Procyon, Polaris, Thuban, Mizar, Dubhe, Aldebaran, Capella, Arcturus, Regulus, and Spica.

Sun Structure

We will look at our SUN!  *Warning: Never look directly at the sun!!!

Step1: Using the Sunspotter, Eclipse Glasses, and Solar Filters you task is to trace an image of the sun on your paper.

Step 2: Follow the demonstration in class with water and a hot plate.  Relate your observations to the demonstration to how the interior of the sun operates.

Take a look at this link, which will show you the anatomy of the sun. The following layers will be reviewed as well as their properties:

• Core

• Radiation Zone

• Convection Zone

• Photosphere

• Chromosphere

• Corona

Stellar Evolution

Part 1: Human Evolution

Rank each of the following pictures by age, going from youngest to oldest.  Put a 1 in the blank by the picture you think is the youngest person, a 2 in the blank by the second youngest, and so on.  If you wish, try to guess the age of each person. 

Part 2: Stellar Evolution LOW Mass Stars

The images below show six NASA images of the formation sequence of LOW mass stars.  Your FIRST task is to figure out and record the correct sequence of pictures from birth formation to stellar death.  SECOND task is to write a detailed description so clear that any student would be able to use it to come up with the exact same sequence.  

Part 3: Stellar Evolution HIGH Mass Stars

The images below show seven NASA images of the formation sequence of HIGH mass stars.  Your FIRST task is to figure out and record the correct sequence of pictures from birth (Hint: These stars are born the same way) formation to stellar death (Hint: There are 2 possible outcomes for the end of this stars life).  SECOND task is to write a detailed description so clear that any student would be able to use it to come up with the exact same sequence. 

Links:

Nebula to Protostar formation

StarForge - Nebula to Protostar formation

Stellar Evolution Review - need Firefox to run.