FROM THE MARCH 1, 2011 ANNENBERG LEARNER UPDATE Kepler Planet Hunter Finds 1200+ Planets Scientists controlling the Kepler Planet Hunter telescope have reported finding over 1200 possible planets orbiting other stars. Some planets may be habitable because they orbit stars that are not as strong as our sun. Surface temperatures are low enough for water to exist in its liquid state.
High school and college science teachers can use several resources to explain what makes the Earth habitable. Program 1 of The Habitable Planet <http://www.learner.org/courses/envsci/index.html> , “Many Planets, One Earth <http://www.learner.org/courses/envsci/unit/text.php?unit=1&secNum=0> ” provides geologic and archeological data evidence for Earth’s life-supporting atmosphere. Earth Revealed <http://www.learner.org/resources/series78.html> , program 1, “Down to Earth” shows Earth’s landscapes, comparisons of surface conditions between Earth and other planets, and looks at topics ranging from plate tectonics to erosion.
In Planet Earth <http://www.learner.org/resources/series49.html> , program 4, “Tales from Other Worlds,” view little-seen footage of Jupiter, Venus, and Mars. Find out what the surfaces of these planets tell us about the history of our Earth.
Kepler Planet Hunter Finds 1200+ Planets
Scientists controlling the Kepler Planet Hunter telescope have reported finding over 1200 possible planets orbiting other stars. Some planets may be habitable because they orbit stars that are not as strong as our sun. Surface temperatures are low enough for water to exist in its liquid state.
High school and college science teachers can use several resources to explain what makes the Earth habitable. Program 1 of The Habitable Planet <http://www.learner.org/courses/envsci/index.html> , “Many Planets, One Earth <http://www.learner.org/courses/envsci/unit/text.php?unit=1&secNum=0> ” provides geologic and archeological data evidence for Earth’s life-supporting atmosphere. Earth Revealed <http://www.learner.org/resources/series78.html> , program 1, “Down to Earth” shows Earth’s landscapes, comparisons of surface conditions between Earth and other planets, and looks at topics ranging from plate tectonics to erosion.
In Essential Science for Teachers: Earth and Space Science <http://www.learner.org/courses/essential/earthspace/> , for grades K-6, view session 8, “Order out of Chaos: Our Solar System <http://www.learner.org/courses/essential/earthspace/session8/> ,” to contemplate the question, are there other planets like Earth?
In Planet Earth <http://www.learner.org/resources/series49.html> , program 4, “Tales from Other Worlds,” view little-seen footage of Jupiter, Venus, and Mars. Find out what the surfaces of these planets tell us about the history of our Earth.