Before you start, make sure you have reviewed the Youth Launch Pad.
Once you have chosen a topic from the Road Map above, click on the image to take you to the resources and instructions below. Follow the steps to learn about your chosen topic and create your exhibit, but remember to also follow your educator/caregiver’s direction!
Solar System Formation / Exoplanets
This section is about what a solar system is and how other solar systems and other earths are formed.
How Many Solar Systems Are In Our Galaxy?
How Many Solar Systems Are In Our Galaxy? (Spanish)
What Is an Exoplanet? (Spanish)
Runtime: 5 minutes 47 seconds
The Goldilocks Paradox Unplugged: Behind the Sci-Fi
Runtime: 3 minutes 35 seconds
How Can We Find Hidden Planets?
Runtime: 2 minutes 22 seconds
Explore all kinds of exoplanets.
Create your very own planet!
Make sure you enable Adobe Flash Player and avoid using Internet Explorer.
This is an older resource, so some information is outdated.
Using the DIY tools you will collect and analyze your own images of other star systems. This investigation consists of 5 steps. Scheduling a target, controlling the telescope, mesauring brightness, interpeting and sharing, and finally sharing community results.
Hubble Space Telescope Image Database of Exoplanets
There are no real images of exoplanets, but these are cool artists’ impressions.
Use these templates, which are PowerPoint files, to create your exhibit. Follow the specified guidelines for text and picture boxes.
Be sure to include proper credits for your images. You may include a logo of your program, school, or organization if desired.
Download A Template:
Search For Life
This section is about why scientists are looking for exoplanets. It focuses on the search for life in other worlds and whether we are alone in the Universe.
How Do We Use Spectroscopy To Search For Life?
Runtime: 1 minute 26 seconds
This video is about the James Webb Space Telescope, but it uses data from the Spitzer Space Telescope.
Runtime: 3 minutes 42 seconds
Searching For Other Planets Like Ours
Runtime: 1 minute 56 seconds
This video only discusses the transit method.
Focus on the “Habitable conditions” and “Looking for signs of life” activities. For these activities, know that the Habitable Zone is the same as the Goldilocks Zone.
Using the DIY tools you will collect and analyze your own images of other star systems. This investigation consists of 5 steps. Scheduling a target, controlling the telescope, mesauring brightness, interpeting and sharing, and finally sharing community results.
Hubble Space Telescope Image Database of Exoplanets
There are no real images of exoplanets, but these are cool artists’ impressions.
Use these templates, which are PowerPoint files, to create your exhibit. Follow the specified guidelines for text and picture boxes.
Be sure to include proper credits for your images. You may include a logo of your program, school, or organization if desired.
Download A Template:
Extremophiles
This section is about extremophiles, where they live on Earth, and how studying them on our planet may help us understand if there is life on other worlds.
This interactive allows you to explore extreme environments, on Earth and other planets, and the organisms that live there.
Our World: What is an Extremophile?
Runtime: 2 minutes 43 seconds
Our World: Where Do We Find Extremophiles?
Runtime: 3 minutes 25 seconds
Why Extremophiles Bode Well for Life Beyond Earth - Louisa Preston (TED-Ed)
Runtime: 3 minutes 59 seconds
Temperatures are listed in the Celsius scale.
You can use these cards with the Life in Extreme Environments interactive.
Life In The Extreme Card Activity
Using the DIY tools you will collect and analyze your own images of other star systems. This investigation consists of 5 steps. Scheduling a target, controlling the telescope, mesauring brightness, interpeting and sharing, and finally sharing community results.
Hubble Space Telescope Image Database of Exoplanets
There are no real images of exoplanets, but these are cool artists’ impressions.
Use these templates, which are PowerPoint files, to create your exhibit. Follow the specified guidelines for text and picture boxes.
Be sure to include proper credits for your images. You may include a logo of your program, school, or organization if desired.
Download A Template:
Methods of Detection
This section is about the various methods scientists use to detect exoplanets.
What is a Barycenter? (Spanish)
Graphics:
ViewSpace - Transiting Exoplanets
ViewSpace is a great resource for understanding the different types of light used when studying astronomical objects. Start with this page to help you understand how the website works.
Runtime: 1 minute 35 seconds
Runtime: 3 minutes 33 seconds
How Do We Learn About A Planet's Atmosphere? (About Transit)
Runtime: 2 minutes 11 seconds
This is an advanced activity, so ask for your leader's help. Make sure you enable Adobe Flash Player and avoid using Internet Explorer.
In the "Planet Size" section, it lists Mars as one example of a planet too small to hold an atmosphere, which is not completely accurate.
Using the DIY tools you will collect and analyze your own images of other star systems. This investigation consists of 5 steps. Scheduling a target, controlling the telescope, mesauring brightness, interpeting and sharing, and finally sharing community results.
Hubble Space Telescope Image Database of Exoplanets
There are no real images of exoplanets, but these are cool artists’ impressions.
Use these templates, which are PowerPoint files, to create your exhibit. Follow the specified guidelines for text and picture boxes.
Be sure to include proper credits for your images. You may include a logo of your program, school, or organization if desired.
Download A Template:
Missions / People
This section is about the different missions and telescopes that are on the search for exoplanets and the scientists who conduct research in the area of exoplanet science.
Exoplanet Exploration: Historic Timeline
The two missions that have done the most in exoplanet research are Kepler and TESS. Learn more about them:
Other missions conducting exoplanet research:
Hubble Space Telescope Video Archive: Exoplanets
There are no real images or videos of exoplanets, but these are cool artists’ impressions.
A listing of scientists, writers, and administrators who work on projects related to exoplanets.
How TESS Collects and Processes Data
Runtime: 1 minute 53 seconds
Runtime: 3 minutes 33 seconds
NOVA: Finding Life Beyond Earth | Planet-Hunting*
Runtime: 4 minutes 34 seconds
*This video is also available in Spanish by clicking "Also Available In Spanish" underneath the video player.
This is an advanced activity, so ask for your leader's help. Make sure you enable Adobe Flash Player and avoid using Internet Explorer.
In the "Planet Size" section, it lists Mars as one example of a planet too small to hold an atmosphere, which is not completely accurate.
Using the DIY tools you will collect and analyze your own images of other star systems. This investigation consists of 5 steps. Scheduling a target, controlling the telescope, mesauring brightness, interpeting and sharing, and finally sharing community results.
Hubble Space Telescope Image Database of Exoplanets
There are no real images of exoplanets, but these are cool artists’ impressions.
Use these templates, which are PowerPoint files, to create your exhibit. Follow the specified guidelines for text and picture boxes.
Be sure to include proper credits for your images. You may include a logo of your program, school, or organization if desired.
Download A Template:
Planetary Systems Discovered
This section has resources about the variety of other solar systems and other planets that scientists have discovered.
How Many Solar Systems Are in Our Galaxy?
How Many Solar Systems Are in Our Galaxy? (Spanish)
Using artists’ impressions, explore the surface of exoplanets in 3D.
Exoplanets or other planetary systems to explore:
This resource is more on an intermediate or advanced content and reading level.
This resource includes additional methods of discovery that may not have been introduced to you.
Runtime: 1 minute 32 seconds
Not So Strange New Worlds (About TRAPPIST-1)
Runtime: 1 minute 8 seconds
This video does not have narration.
Which Planets Might Support Life?
Runtime: 1 minute 58 seconds
This video begins by discussing TRAPPIST-1.
Create Your Own TRAPPIST-1 Model System
This video of artists' concepts of the seven planets of TRAPPIST-1 may be useful for this activity: Imagining The Planets Of TRAPPIST-1
Using the DIY tools you will collect and analyze your own images of other star systems. This investigation consists of 5 steps. Scheduling a target, controlling the telescope, mesauring brightness, interpeting and sharing, and finally sharing community results.
Hubble Space Telescope Image Database of Exoplanets
There are no real images of exoplanets, but these are cool artists’ impressions.
Use these templates, which are PowerPoint files, to create your exhibit. Follow the specified guidelines for text and picture boxes.
Be sure to include proper credits for your images. You may include a logo of your program, school, or organization if desired.
Download A Template:
