Solar System Explorer

Image of Saturn with Solar System Explorer controls

  • Recommended Grade Level:  6-8
     
  • Estimated Time:  one to two 50 minute sessions
     
  • Objective:  In this activity, students will explore an accurate online model of our solar system that is based on NASA imagery and other real data. The model displays the actual positions of the Sun, planets, a dwarf planet, and select moons and how they move with time. Students will get to know different aspects of our solar system as they navigate through space, control time, and explore each object from up close and far away.
     
  • Link to interactive:  projects.wwtambassadors.org/solar-system-explorer

  • Lesson plan and activity sheets: 
    • PBS Learning Media Link: bit.ly/pbslm-wwt-solar-system
    • Also posted below. For editable versions, please contact Pat Udomprasert: pudomprasert [at] cfa.harvard.edu)

  • This interactive is powered by the open-source WWT web-engine. Source code can be accessed at: github.com/wwt-ambassadors/solar-system-explorer
 
This lesson activity was created in collaboration with WGBH and NASA's Universe of Learning.  The material contained in this product is based upon work supported by NASA under cooperative agreement award No. NNX16AD71A. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
 

 

 

solar_system_explorer_instructor_guide.pdf81 KB
sse_terminology_20201029.pdf34 KB
sse_exploration_log_20201029.pdf79 KB
sse_scavenger_hunt_20201029.pdf141 KB
sse_scavenger_hunt_answer_key_20201029.pdf1.68 MB