Great Resources

Great Educational Resources

These are astronomy web sites that we have found useful for students and teachers. These links and internet sites are provided as resources, but in no way reflect endorsement by the Observatory.

Searchable Astronomy Indices:

  1. NED Extragalactic database: http://nedwww.ipac.caltech.edu/
  2. Astrophysics Data System (ADS): a searchable FREE abstract Service with lots of full articles as well. This is a great resource! http://adswww.harvard.edu/
  3. SIMBAD Astronomical Database – for galactic objects: http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/Simbad
  4. Astronomy Center — databank with links to a wide range of teaching and learning resources: http://astronomycenter.org/

Searchable Image Data Collections:

  1. Skyview Virtual Observatory: http://skyview.gsfc.nasa.gov/
  2. Multiwavelength Milky Way: http://mwmw.gsfc.nasa.gov/
  3. Astronomy Picture of the Day: http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/
  4. NGDC Solar Data archives: http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/stp/SOLAR/
  5. Constellation photos. This site has a few bugs, but the photos make up for it: http://www.allthesky.com/
  6. Galactic HI profiles: http://www.astro.uni-bonn.de/hisurvey/profile/index.php

Constellations, Sky Maps, Events:

  1. Constellations and their Stars: http://www.astro.wisc.edu/~dolan/constellations/
  2. Constellation Myths (and much more): Greek/Roman: <https://www.wwu.edu/skywise/greekmyth.html>https://www.wwu.edu/skywise/greekmyth.html
  3. Axel Mellinger’s Panorma of the Milky Way: http://galaxy.phy.cmich.edu/~axel/mwpan2/krpano/
  4. An Atlas of the Universe: http://www.atlasoftheuniverse.com/
  5. Free monthly sky map: http://www.skymaps.com
  6. Uncle Al’s star wheels-free! :http://www.lawrencehallofscience.org/starclock/skywheel.html
  7. Planisphere with coordinate lines: http://www.lhs.berkeley.edu/starclock/skywheel.html
  8. Planetary data, Moon phases etc.: http://www.usno.navy.mil/USNO/astronomical-applications/data-services
  9. Moon Phase Calendar (graphic): http://stardate.org/nightsky/moon/
  10. Planet Locator: http://www.astro.wisc.edu/~dolan/Planets/
  11. Manmade Satellites, Space station: http://www.heavens-above.com/
  12. Eclipses: http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/eclipse.html
  13. Make Your Own Eclipse Demonstrator: Eclipse Demonstrator Template and Video

Astronomy Publications/ Materials:

  1. American Astronomical Society: Career information etc.: http://www.aas.org
  2. Astronomy Podcasts! http://www.learnoutloud.com/Podcast-Directory/Science/Astronomy
  3. Sky and Telescope: http://www.skypub.com
  4. Astronomy Magazine: http://www.astronomy.com

Astronomy Education:

  1. Astronomical Society of the Pacific:Many resources for educators. I often use the activity guides created for amateur astronomers..https://www.astrosociety.org/education/
  2. Tour of Orion region: http://www.gb.nrao.edu/~rmaddale/Education/OrionTourCenter/index.htm
  3. NASA: They have so many web sites! Start here:http://www.nasa.gov/
  4. Windows to the Universe: http://www.windows.ucar.edu/
  5. Virtual Oscilloscope will accept input from your own microphone! so cool!: https://academo.org/demos/virtual-oscilloscope/
  6. Lots of cool demos- Look at the beat frequency demo!: https://academo.org/
  7. PHET Radio Wave Demo: https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/legacy/radio-waves
  8. Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence: https://seti.berkeley.edu/listen/ The WOW signal: http://www.bigear.org
  9. Pulsar Sounds: http://www.jb.man.ac.uk/~pulsar/Education/Sounds/sounds.html
  10. Logarithmic Maps of the Universe! http://www.astro.princeton.edu/universe/
  11. Project LITE–check out the spectrum explorer. excellent java-based activity! http://lite.bu.edu/
  12. Solar System Scale calculator, sunspots :http://www.exploratorium.edu/observatory/index.html
  13. Amazing Space: real interactive lessons on the web. They are very well done: http://amazing-space.stsci.edu/
  14. Space Weather: http://www.spaceweather.com/
  15. Cool Cosmos: multiwavelength astronomy activities: http://coolcosmos.ipac.caltech.edu/

People:

  1. Society of Amateur Radio Astronomers http://radio-astronomy.org/
  2. Amateur Groups – searchable by area of the country. Amateur clubs will help you organize star parties for your students: http://skyandtelescope.com/resources/organizations/
  3. Amateur Radio Clubs directory: http://www.qrz.com/ham-radio-clubs.html
  4. American Astronomical Society: https://members.aas.org/directory/

Software:

  1. Stellarium free sky program– (beautiful!): http://stellarium.free.fr/
  2. Cartes du Ciel planetarium program. also good, and free! http://www.stargazing.net/astropc/index.html
  3. LST clock: http://www.gb.nrao.edu/~jbrandt/jLSTclock/
  4. Convert Coordinates: https://ned.ipac.caltech.edu/forms/calculator.html
  5. Radial Velocity Calculator: http://www.gb.nrao.edu/~fghigo/gbt/setups/radvelcalc.html
  6. Radio sky viewing software, chart recorder software: http://www.radiosky.com/

Image Processing (for FITS files and other):

  1. DS9- good general purpose fits viewer and image processor, free!: http://ds9.si.edu/site/Home.html
  2. Hands On Universe: Great “hands-on” software and curriculum developed by Lawrence Berkeley Lab astronomers and teachers: http://www.handsonuniverse.org/
  3. An index of products: http://www.phy.duke.edu/~kolena/imagepro.html
  4. Virginia Tech Java based program: http://www.phys.vt.edu/~jhs/SIP/
  5. Aladin interactive sky atlas. http://aladin.u-strasbg.fr/