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The Size and Distance of the Planets
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In this activity, learners investigate the concepts of relative size and distance by creating a basic model of the solar system.

Balloon Impacts
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In this activity, learners measure the diameter of their water balloons, model an impact, measure the diameter of the “crater” area, and determine the ratio of impactor to crater.

Jump to Jupiter
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In this activity, learners help create and then navigate an outdoor course of the traditional "planets" (including dwarf planet Pluto), which are represented by small common objects.

The Thousand-Yard Model
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This is a classic exercise for visualizing the scale of the Solar System.

Telescope Treasure Hunt
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This hands-on astronomy activity lets learners hunt for different objects in the night sky that contribute to stellar and planetary formation, using a Treasure List.

Where Are the Distant Worlds? Star Maps
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This fun hands-on astronomy activity lets learners use star maps (included) to find constellations and to identify stars with extrasolar planets (Northern Hemisphere only, naked eye).

Mars Perseverance Activity: Mud Splat Craters
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In this activity, learners explore the physics of impact craters from their own backyard using mud. Learners are encouraged to match features of real impact craters to their models.

Experiencing Parallax With Your Thumb
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In this activity, learners investigate parallax, a method used to measure distances to stars and planets in the solar system.

Build a Solar System
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In this activity, learners make a scale model of the Solar System and learn the real definition of "space." Learners use the online calculator to create an appropriate scale to use as a basis for thei
Crater Maker
In this activity (on pages 6-11), learners work as a team to investigate how impact craters on Earth, the Moon or other planets take shape and what patterns they make.

Ready to Observe: Enhance Your Telescope Experience
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This fun hands-on astronomy activity uses a variety of simple props to help learners understand why they see what they see in a telescope.

Dunking the Planets
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In this demonstration, learners compare the relative sizes and masses of scale models of the planets as represented by fruits and other foods.

Sky Time: Kinesthetic Astronomy
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Through a series of simple body movements, learners gain insight into the relationship between time and astronomical motions of Earth (rotation about its axis, and orbit around the Sun), and also abou

Solar System in My Neighborhood
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In this activity, learners shrink the scale of the vast solar system to the size of their neighborhood.

Exploring Strange New Worlds
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This fun and simple hands-on astronomy activity lets learners explore model planets (that they or an educator will create), using methods NASA scientists use to explore our Solar System.