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Space telescopes can offer us better, clearer views of the universe (and of our own planet) than Earth-based telescopes can, but getting these large, delicate pieces of equipment into orbit is tricky.

In this optics activity, learners make a simple telescope using two lenses and a cardboard tube. Learners construct the telescope and then calculate its magnification.

In this activity, learners cut out and fold their own collapsible origami starshade, an invention that shields a telescope's camera lens from the light of a distant star so that NASA scientists can ex

In this activity, learners will use Google Sky to observe features of the night sky and share their observations.

In this activity, learners build a paper model of the spacecraft and photometer (telescope) used during NASA's Kepler Mission.

In this activity, learners discuss and investigate how cameras, telescopes, and their own eyes use light in similar ways.

In "Exploring the Universe: Exoplanet Transits," participants simulate one of the methods scientists use to discover planets orbiting distant stars.

In this activity, learners test the Law of Reflection based on experimental evidence. Learners produce raw data and explanations based on their data: pencil tracings of incident and reflection rays.

In this pencil and paper activity, learners work in pairs and simulate how astronomical spacecraft and computers create images of objects in space.

Learners listen to and try to decipher a radio message that was sent from Earth to possible intelligent civilizations.

In this activity, learners carry out a scientific investigation of dust in their classroom. Learners produce an analysis on graph paper of the dust they collect over the course of a few days.

In this activity, learners explore how the process of folding has impacts on engineering and is evident in nature.

In this activity, learners complete a series of drawing activities to explore scale and powers of 10. Learners first trace each other on 1-meter-square pieces of paper.

In this activity, learners explore the many uses of periscopes and how this simple device was designed and is used in many applications.

"Exploring the Universe: Filtered Light" demonstrates how scientists can use telescopes and other tools to capture and filter different energies of light to study the universe.

Use this model to demonstrate the goal of NASA's Kepler Mission: to find extrasolar planets through the transit method.

In this activity about the solar system, learners use various light sources to examine ice with different components to understand how NASA studies planets and moons from space.