Tools of an Tools of an AstronomerAstronomer

After School Astronomy ClubsAfter School Astronomy Clubs

Dorian JanneyDorian Janney

How do we know what is How do we know what is out there in space?out there in space?

We observe things in We observe things in the night sky.the night sky.

We wonder about We wonder about the things we the things we observe.observe.

We design tools to We design tools to use to learn about use to learn about these things.these things.

As our technology As our technology improves, our tools improves, our tools get better too!get better too!

Ancient AstronomersAncient Astronomers Observed and Observed and

measured repeating measured repeating patterns of Sun to patterns of Sun to create clocks and create clocks and calendarscalendars

Used such tools as Used such tools as astrolabes to astrolabes to determine the determine the positions of stars and positions of stars and planets in the night sky planets in the night sky and to determine the and to determine the latitude of ships at sealatitude of ships at sea

TelescopesTelescopes

Space-based TelescopesSpace-based Telescopes Using space-based Using space-based

telescopes, we can telescopes, we can see much further see much further into space because into space because we don’t have to we don’t have to look through the look through the Earth’s atmosphere.Earth’s atmosphere.

In 1990 the United In 1990 the United States launched the States launched the first space telescope, first space telescope, called “The Hubble called “The Hubble Space Telescope”Space Telescope”

Fly By MissionsFly By Missions These are missions These are missions

that simply fly past an that simply fly past an object, or maybe object, or maybe several objects in a several objects in a long period of time.long period of time.

Voyager 1 and 2, Voyager 1 and 2, which were sent into which were sent into space in 1977, sent us space in 1977, sent us detailed images from detailed images from the four gas giants- the four gas giants- Jupiter, Saturn, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.Uranus, and Neptune.

Orbiter MissionsOrbiter Missions These missions are These missions are

sent in orbit around sent in orbit around a planet, and allow a planet, and allow us to learn about the us to learn about the planet as a whole. planet as a whole.

They may stay in They may stay in orbit for many years, orbit for many years, and send us back so and send us back so much information much information that we can create that we can create detailed maps of that detailed maps of that planet’s surface.planet’s surface.

Lander MissionsLander Missions A lander does just that- A lander does just that-

it actually lands on the it actually lands on the planet.planet.

What kinds of things What kinds of things might we be able to find might we be able to find out about a planet by out about a planet by landing on it?landing on it?

Why can’t we send a Why can’t we send a lander mission to the lander mission to the Sun?Sun?

Why don’t we send Why don’t we send people to other planets?people to other planets?

Rover MissionsRover Missions

With Rover With Rover missions, we aren’t missions, we aren’t stuck in one spot on stuck in one spot on a planet or moon.a planet or moon.

What do you think What do you think we might discover we might discover with a Rover with a Rover mission that we mission that we couldn’t with couldn’t with another type of another type of mission?mission?

Future Space MissionsFuture Space Missions

International Space International Space StationStation

The International Space The International Space Station is the largest Station is the largest and most complex and most complex international scientific international scientific project in history. project in history.

Led by the United Led by the United States, the ISS draws States, the ISS draws upon the scientific and upon the scientific and technological resources technological resources of 16 nations: Canada, of 16 nations: Canada, Japan, Russia, 11 Japan, Russia, 11 nations of the European nations of the European Space Agency and Brazil Space Agency and Brazil

What would you design?What would you design?

You will be our next generation of You will be our next generation of explorers!explorers!

Imagine you are designing a spacecraft-Imagine you are designing a spacecraft-- What would you want to learn about?What would you want to learn about?- What type of spacecraft might you What type of spacecraft might you

design?design?- Where would you send your spacecraft?Where would you send your spacecraft?