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Telescopes and Binoculars

By Janice VanCleave

Telescopes and binoculars are called optical instruments. These instruments increase the power of human vision. Telescopes and binoculars help you see thing that are at a distance from you. The part of the telescope or binoculars you look through is called the eye piece. The opposite end is called the objective end. The size of […]

Filed Under: Astronomy Tagged With: aperature, binoculars, telescope

The Big Race

By Janice VanCleave

I found a great astronomy site, THE CURIOUS SKY WATCHER. The diagram shown is from this site. For more information about the position of the celestial bodies described on this page, check out this site. The Sun, Moon, and planets appear to be in a never ending race from east to west across the southern […]

Filed Under: Astronomy Tagged With: movement celestial bodies

Pluto Demoted

By Janice VanCleave

Pluto has been demoted from being a planet to being a dwarf planet. On Aug. 24, 2006 , the International Astronomical Union (IAU) gave a description for dwarf planets. A dwarf planet is a celestial body that: orbits a sun has enough mass to give it a nearly round shape is not a satellite of […]

Filed Under: Astronomy Tagged With: minor plnets, Pluto

Moon Illusion

By Janice VanCleave

A fourth grade student recently asked me why the Moon and the Sun seem to follow her no matter where she goes. This is a question asked by many kids, and it is one that is not the easiest to explain. After all, Einstein’s Theory of Relativity is based on where the observer is and […]

Filed Under: Astronomy, Moon Tagged With: Einstein's Theory of Relativity

Vernal Equinox

By Janice VanCleave

Spromg

On the equinox, the sun is above the horizon for 12 hours, thus the length of daylight and nighttime are equal. This means every location on Earth has 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of nighttime. If the equinox follows winter, it is called the vernal equinox and is the first day of spring. […]

Filed Under: Astronomy Tagged With: first day of spring

Why The Sun Changes Color

By Janice VanCleave

Everything about life has to do with science, even the beautiful colors of the sky and the Sun at sunsets and sunrises. Actually the Sun is white. This is because the hot Sun emits all the visible colors of light and when blended together they form white light. Maybe a better way of saying this […]

Filed Under: Astronomy

Sun-Earth-Moon Model

By Janice VanCleave

Let’s Make a Sun-Earth-Moon Model Astronomy is the study of stars, planets, moons, and other celestial bodies in the universe. The vast size and distance between celestial bodies is not easy to understand especially if kids have not mastered basic distance measurements. Many kids understand distance in terms of how long it takes to get to […]

Filed Under: Astronomy, Solar System Tagged With: astronomy, celestial bodies, Earth, environment, Hands-On Bible Explorations, model, Sun-Earth-Moon model

Moon:Terminator Model

By Janice VanCleave

Dynamic Terminator Model

Comparison Science Project Does the Moon’s terminator move differently when viewed from Earth’s Northern and Southern Hemispheres? Terminator Research If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, correspond with someone who lives in the Southern Hemisphere. The diagram is an example for collecting information in the Northern Hemisphere. The white circle, would be shaded to represent […]

Filed Under: Astronomy, Earth, Moon Tagged With: moon phases, Moon Terminator Model

Moon: Terminator Motion

By Janice VanCleave

Moon's Terminator

Where Is the Moon’s Terminator? How Does the Terminator Appear to Move? As viewed from the Northern Hemisphere, the full moon phase appears to be a white disk-shaped object in the night sky.  From one day to the next, the white disk changes shape as the white, lighted part decreases. The line separating the lighted […]

Filed Under: Astronomy, Earth, Moon Tagged With: model, moon phases

Moon Illusion

By Janice VanCleave

Moonrise

Apparent Distance A fourth grade student recently asked me why the Moon and the Sun seem to follow her no matter where she goes. This is a question asked by many kids, and it is one that is not the easiest to explain. After all, Einstein’s Theory of Relativity is based on where the observer […]

Filed Under: Astronomy, Earth, Moon Tagged With: apparent distance, Moon illusions

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Welcome to Janice’s Science Extravaganza!

The spoon hanging from the string vibrates when struck and these vibrations are transmitted through the string and the sound is amplified by the plastic cups. ABOUT ME: Hi, I am Janice VanCleave, author of 50 best-selling science experiment books for children ages 4 through high school. I taught science for 27 years. MORE.....

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