*educational content may be downloaded at the bottom of this page.
Educational problem
Students are taught about the Solar System and the existence of extra-solar planetary systems.
However, they are not acquainted with them. Astrography and the location of these planetary
systems, the properties of the stars that heat the planets and concepts like the difficulty of findinghabitable planets are not discussed on scientific bases.
Textbook teaching of the subject is limited and there is an overwhelming communication in the
media that drives to misconceptions due to the absence of true scientific background.
This scenario aims to make students learn astrography, basic reference planes and the location of planets in Space. Students will also learn about the properties of the stars illuminating extra-solar planetary systems and the properties of the planets. The scenario makes use of the e-tool “The Solar System as a MathLab” developed by UCM/AEGORA to display the location of the planetary systems in Space, the properties of the stars and to measure the distance to/between planetary systems.
Educational scenario objectives
During this scenario, students will:
1. Learn about the main planes used as reference for astrography: the equator and the galactic plane
2. Learn the actual location of planetary systems in Space, whether they are clustered or not
3. Get acquainted with the properties of extra-solar planetary systems: properties of the star, number of planets, location of planets…
4. Learn about measuring distances at galactic scales
5. Introductory learning about the impact of the parent stars in the evolution of planetary
atmospheres
Download the PDF complete version by clicking on the following link: » scenario_ucm_space_travel_revised_planetary_system.pdf
This educational content uses the following app: «The Solar System as a MathLab» developed by Universidad Complutense de Madrid /AEGORA.
Educational content developed by Universidad Complutense de Madrid (HOU-España/AEGORA).
Validated by Discover the Cosmos + Space travel – the distances to planetary system and travel planning
Last update | 20/06/2013