The Earth and Our Solar System

• Solar Day -VS- Sidereal Day  How long is a day? This web site demonstrates two different ways astronomers measure a day. 

• Retrograde Motion  Occasionally a planet's motion will appear to reverse direction against the background constellations. The planet will, for a short time, move from East to West instead of West to East.  This reversal is known as retrograde motion, and is illustrated in this animation. 

• Your Weight on Other Worlds Ever wonder what you weigh on Mars or the Moon? Here's your chance to find out.

• Build a Solar System Help students get an idea of the vastness of space by using this web site to build a model of the solar system. Decide what scale you want to use, fill in a diameter of the Sun, and the distances of planets and other distance objects will be filled in for you. You can then use these numbers to build your model.

• Summer Solstice View solar radiation at the time of the summer solstice with this animation.

• Winter Solstice View solar radiation at the time of the winter solstice with this animation.

• Equinox View solar radiation at the time of the equinox with this animation.

• The Sun's Path along the Ecliptic through the Zodiac 

• Autumnal Equinox This site features a good explanation of the autumnal equinox and an animation to illustrate the Earth's relative position in each season.

• Moon Phases View the phases of the Moon from a position on top of the solar system and simultaneously from our position on Earth. Great teaching tool!

• Virtual Moon phases  This web site allows students to view an animation of the cycle of Moon phases along with the current Moon phase and the phase of the Moon on any day, past and present. Fun site! 

• Why Tides?  This is a great site simulating the spring and neap tides. It is produced by Fitzgerald Marine Reserve.

• Star Chart  Need a star chart? This site allows you to input information about your location and download a star chart for today or any day.

• SkyView Cafe A great site to produce your own star charts, but it will require some time to work with the software.

The Laws of Physics

• Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion This site features simulations of "Kepler's Laws.

• Kepler's 2nd Law Interactive simulations of Kepler's 2nd Law of Planetary Motion.

• JTrack Locate and track spacecraft and satellites, including the following: The Hubble Telescope, The International Space Station and current Shuttle Missions.

• STARE Search Method How do scientists know there are other planets beyond our solar system? This demonstration allows students to see a method currently in use by researchers.