Astronomy General Resources

For Grade School Homework

Although astronomy is definitely covered in elementary school curriculums, I have not tried to focus on that level. There is only so much I can do. A number of beginner websites exist on the Internet. But in my judgement, some of those are not necessarily good starting points for really learning astronomy in school. In my judgement, even some NASA kids websites fall short. Therefore, I would rather leave this category open, than quickly list links.

I do have a section Astronmy Links Especially for Young Minds. In general those links are on a grade school level. However, I consider most of those links more as enrichment than as reference material. That said, if one is comfortable enough to really play with the science, the distinction blurs. An individual may begin to realize out of one's own growing what makes good science learning. An aspect I consider is: does the child have the chance to feel the questions of the subject? There is a deep difference between learning a subject from its questions versus just learning the answers.

I will list here just a small set of links suitable perhaps for elementary school level. I do want to point out, as I revise the website, I will try to do the following: At the beginning of sections on other pages, if I find links that I think are suitable for elementary school level, I usually will place them at the beginning of the section and identify them.

• StarChild: A learning center for young astronomers
  NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.
• JAXA Space Information Center
  Space Encylclopedia, Space Notes, and Gallery. Japan Aerospace Agency.
• Astronomy Links Especially for Young Minds

Beginner / Introductory Level

• Leicester University Guide to Space
• Peoria Astronomical Society
  In particular see their Astronomical Handbook.
• Windows to the Universe
  School level.
• An Astronomy Course for Middle/High School Students
  By Jack Troeger.
• JAXA Space Information Center
  Space Encylclopedia, Space Notes, and Gallery. Japan Aerospace Agency.
• Explore the Universe Exhibit
  National Air and Space Museum
• The BBC Online
  The British broadcasting service. News can be found directly on the homepage. The BBC web site also has a special Space reference section. And they have science documentaries, especially Horizon.
• BBC Space Homepage
  Reference and News.
• BBC News | Sci/Nature
• BBC Radio 4 - Science
• BBC - Horizon TV Science Documentary Series
• Royal Observatory Greenwich
  Has a large section of Astronomy Fact Sheets.
• Stardate Online
  Introduction with some astrophysics discussion. University of Texas McDonald Observatory.
• Curious About Astronomy?
  Cornell University. A university level introduction to many topics. Plus basic and intermediate level Question & Answer sections at the end of each page.
• Chandra X-Ray Observatory
• Chandra X-Ray Observatory - Xray Astronomy Field Guide
  Focuses on what is learned through X-Ray astronomy. However, it touches on the broader astronomy background.
• Sloan Digital Sky Survey Education Projects
  Basic and more advanced (intermediate) levels.
• Prof. Gene Smith's Astronomy Tutorial
  Based on an introductory college course for liberal arts majors. Includes some physics details (astrophysics). University of California, San Diego Center for Astrophysics & Space Sciences

 
• National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
  The U.S. aeronautics and space agency. Almost any space topic can probably be found through the NASA websites.
• NASA Observatorium
• Imagine the Universe
  A website about astrophysics for teen level and above. The sitemap will probably be useful. High Energy Astrophysics Science Archive Research Center @ NASA GSFC.
• Cool Cosmos
  Associated with the Spitzer Infrared Space Telescope, Cal Tech / JPL. In Engish and Spanish.
• Cool Cosmos - Cosmic Reference Guide
• Astronomy Picture of the Day NASA GSFC.
• Hubble Space Telescope Web Sites (NASA, ESA, and AURA.)
• HubbleSite
  News, lots of pretty images, some research and reference information.
• Amazing Space
• Amazing Space Homework Help
• STScI Education / Public Outreach
• Astronomy Resources at the Space Telescope Science Institute (original website)
• NASA Space Science Education Resource Directory
  This can be searched by topic, by grade level (K-12), or custom.
• There are other education/ teacher oriented websites. You can find them by going through one of the above links.
• JPL Education Gateway

 
• Links: Griffith Observatory Star Award Sites
• Links: Open Directory - Science: Astronomy

Intermediate / Early Undergraduate Level

• Leicester University Guide to Space
• Curious About Astronomy?
  Cornell University. A university level introduction. Plus basic and intermediate level Q&A.
• Astronomy Cafe
  Sten Odenwall.
• Prof. Gene Smith's Astronomy Tutorial
  Based on an introductory college course for liberal arts majors. Includes some physics details (astrophysics). University of California, San Diego Center for Astrophysics & Space Sciences
• Astronomy 108 The Astounding Cosmos
  Survey of modern astronomy course for non-science majors. Includes a taste of the math. Dr. Joe Howard. He also has a slightly more advanced class, Physics 317 - Astrophysics and Stellar Astronomy. However, the notes there are not as easy use if you're not taking that class. Salisbury State University, Maryland.
• Introductory Level Astronomy Supplemental Pages
  by Kristen and Scott Miller, University of Marland.
• Dr. Siobahn Morgan. (Thank you for writing me.)
  Univ. of Northern Iowa.
• Nick Strobel's Astronomy Lecture Notes
• University of Tennessee, Knoxville:
• Astronomy 161 (Home Page and resources)
• Astronomy 161: The Solar System
• Astronomy 162: Stars, Galaxies, and Cosmology
• Astronomy 103
  J.C. Evans. George Mason University.
  The astronomy supplement has extensive discussions.
• John F. Hawley. University of Virginia.
• Astro 124 Introduction to Stars, Galaxies and the Universe
• Foundations of Modern Cosmology
• Sloan Digital Sky Survey Education Projects
  Basic and more advanced (intermediate) levels.
• A Review of the Universe

 
• National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
  The U.S. aeronautics and space agency. Almost any space topic can probably be found through the NASA websites.
• From Stargazers to Starships by Dr. David Stern, NASA GSFC.
  Dr. Stern says that he wrote this for a high school level. Includes high school level math and math review.
• Imagine the Universe
  A website about astrophysics for teen level and above. High energy astrophysics is particularly emphasized. However other aspects are covered as well. Note there are several levels of presentations. There is more material here than is obvious; therefore I suggest using the sitemap. Includes links to more resources at universities and book suggestions for high school or university level. High Energy Astrophysics Science Archive Research Center @ NASA GSFC.
• Cool Cosmos
  Associated with the Spitzer Infrared Space Telescope, Cal Tech / JPL. Although the website's focus is especially infrared astronomy, its resources cover many general astrophysics topics. In Engish and Spanish.
• Cool Cosmos - Cosmic Reference Guide
• Hubble Space Telescope Web Sites (NASA, ESA, and AURA.)
  Not as much deep information as they used to have.
• HubbleSite
  News, lots of pretty images, some research and reference information.
• Astronomy Resources at the Space Telescope Science Institute
  Original website, with links to all the related websites.

 
• Links: Astronomy Center.Org
  American Astronomical Society.
• Links: Open Directory - Science: Astronomy

Advanced Level

• A Review of the Universe
• MIT OpenCourseWare - Free Online Course Materials
  MIT has placed many of its courses online and freely accessible. Some courses just provide reading lists. But a number of courses relevant to astronomy provide more. In particular, look at the listings in Physics, Math, Earth & Planetary Sciences, and Aeronautics & Astronautics.
• I especially recommend Prof. Walter Lewin's set of three undergraduate courses in introductory physics, beginning with Physics 8.01 Physics I: Classical Mechanics, Fall 1999, continuing with 8.02 - Electricity and Magnetism, Spring 2002 and 8.03 - Vibrations and Waves, Fall 2004. Each of these courses provides a complete set of lectures on video.
• Encyclopedia of Astronomy and Astrophysics
  Subscription required for full access.
• CDS Catalog
• Links: Astro Web
• Links to U.S. university astronomy departments with graduate programs