Credits

The CLIx Basic Astronomy module has been conceptualized and developed by Connected Learning Initiative (CLIx) Science team, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai.

It was a collaborative work that resulted into the module and its various units, lessons and activities. We have also used open educational resources from many different sources.

This page tells you who created the lessons and the activities, and where the resources came from.

Citation

Module:

Basic Astronomy. India: CLIx, Tata Institute of Social Sciences.

Unit:  

Basic Astronomy Unit 1. India: CLIx, Tata Institute of Social Sciences.

Lesson:

Basic Astronomy Unit 1 Lesson 01. India: CLIx, Tata Institute of Social Sciences.

Credits

CLIx Science, TISS (2018). Basic Astronomy Unit 1 Lesson 01. India: CLIx, Tata Institute of Social Sciences.

Rights Information

Basic Astronomy Unit 1 Lesson 01. India: CLIx, Tata Institute of Social Sciences. CC-BY-4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

Contributors

Module designers: CLIx Science team

Archana Corea

Jaya Mahale

Jayashree Anand

Judith Perry

Rafikh Shaikh

Shamin Padalkar

Sheetal Chopde

Scot Osterweil

Academic mentor:

Jayshree Ramadas

Editors:

Shamin Padalkar

Coursebook author:

Shamin Padalkar

Translators:

Ashitosh Bhakuni

Dr. K Sharma

Dr. Srinivas Chennuri

Preeti Mishra

Ravi Kant

Sheetal Chopde

Production support:

Jaya Mahale

Jayashree Anand

Sheetal Suresh

Interactive/tool development:

Ashwin Nagappa

Tanvi Domadia

Platform development:

Brandon Muramatsu

Cole Shaw

Jeff Merriman

Kathleen McMahon

Kedar Aitawdekar

Keerthi K.R.D.

Kirky DeLong

Mrunal Nachankar

Nagarjuna G.

Padmini Sampath

Prachi Bhatia

Rachana Katkam

Ramjee Swaminathan

Sadaqat Mulla

Satej Shende

Saurabh Bharswadkar

Authoring support:

Chetan Kamble

Lakhindar Soren

Publication team:

Rachna Ramesh Kumar

Sunita Badrinarayan

Special thanks:

Samir Dhurde, Sonal Thorve, Maharudra Mate, Ashok Rupner, Anish Mokashi, Glenda Stump, O. P. Sinha and student from Kendriya Vidyalaya, Southern Command, Pune.

To the students and teachers of all the schools where we piloted our modules.

To all the teachers, copyeditors and Rajasthan and Telangana team for their time and effort in the revalidation of content.

Literature references:

Banner Image of Unit 1:

Kuring, Norman. Blue Marble. 4 Jan. 2012. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. NASA. Web. 11 Nov. 2017. Accessed from: http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/imagegallery/image_feature_2159.html

Banner Image of Unit 2:

Revera, Gregory. Full Moon. 22 Oct. 2010. Wikipedia. Web. 12 Nov 2017. Accessed from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon#/media/File:FullMoon2010.jpg

Banner Image of Unit 3:

Bagchi, et al. Sarswati Supercluster. 22 Jul. 2017. The Astrophysical Journal. Web. 11 Nov 2017. Accessed from: https://arxiv.org/pdf/1707.03082
 

Pre-test and Post-test:

1. Moon Image 1,3&4: Mitchell, Horace G. Moon Phase and Libration, 2013. 20 Nov. 2012. NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Scientific Visualization Studio. Web. 01 Oct 2017. Accessed from: http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4000

2. Moon Image 2: Mike. Partial lunar eclipse, Sept 7, 2006. 7 September 2006. Wikipedia. Web. 11 Nov. 2017. Accessed from: https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=14661106

3. Moon Image 5: Revera, Gregory. Full Moon. 22 Oct. 2010. Wikipedia. Web. 12 Nov 2017. Accessed from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon#/media/File:FullMoon2010.jpg

UNIT 1

Activity 1: Geosynchron

This activity is adapted from  

Monteiro, V., Mahashabde, G., Barbhai, P. (2008). Sun-Earth Experiments: Activity Cards for Day Time Astronomy. Navnirmiti.

UNIT 2

Figure 1: Full Moon as seen from the Earth

Revera, Gregory. Full Moon. 22 Oct. 2010. Wikipedia. Web. 12 Nov 2017. Accessed from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon#/media/File:FullMoon2010.jpg

Figure 2: An astronaut (Buzz Aldrin) on the Moon during Apollo 11 mission

NASA. Buzz Aldrin on the Moon. 21 Jul. 1969. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. NASA. Web. 09 Nov. 2017. Accessed from: https://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/a11/AS11-40-5903HR.jpg

Figure 4: The other side of the Moon

NASA, GSFC, & Arizona State University. The Other Side of the Moon. 03 Nov. 2011. National Aeronautics and Space Administration/GSFC/Arizona State University. Web. 05 Nov 2017. Accessed from: https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA14021

Figure 5a: Total solar eclipse captured in 1999 from France

Viatour, Luc. Solar eclipse 1999 4 NR. 11 Aug. 1999. Wikipedia. Web. 12 Nov 2017. Accessed from: https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1107408

Figure 5b: Partial solar eclipse captured on October 23, 2014 from Minneapolis, USA

Tomruen. Partial solar eclipse Oct 23 2014 Minneapolis 5-36pm Ruen1. 23 Oct. 2014. Wikipedia. Web 10 Nov 2017. Accessed from:

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=36349192

Figure 5c: Annular eclipse captured on May 20, 2012 from Nevada, USA

Smrgeog. Annular eclipse. Taken from a 8" Reflector with a solar filter. 20 May 2012. Wikipedia. Web. 11 Nov 2017. Accessed from:

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Annular_Eclipse._Taken_from_Middlegate,_Nevada_on_May_20,_2012.jpg

Figure 1: The gibbous Earth as seen from the Moon

Kauderer, Amiko. The gibbous Earth as seen from the Moon. 11 Jan. 2012. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. NASA. Web. 11 Nov. 2017. Accessed from:

https://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/apollo/apollo11/hires/as11-44-6551.jpg

Figure 2: The full Earth as seen from the Moon

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA. Full Earth-rise taken by HDTV (Tele camera). 11 April 2008. Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, JAXA / NHK, Kaguya (Selene). Web. 10 Nov. 2017. Accessed from:

http://global.jaxa.jp/press/2008/04/img/20080411_kaguya_01l.jpg

Animation: Motions of the Moon and the Earth

PhET Interactive Simulations, University of Colorado Boulder. Phet Interactive Simulations: Gravity and Orbits. Retrieved from: https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/gravity-and-orbits/latest/gravity-and-orbits_en.html

Activity: AstRoamer: Moon Track

Moon Images:

Mitchell, Horace G. Moon Phase and Libration, 2013. 20 Nov. 2012. NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Scientific Visualization Studio. Web. 01 Oct 2017. Accessed from: http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4000

UNIT 3

Figure 1a: Surface of the Sun with a solar flare (captured on 9 June 2002)

NASA. Surface of the Sun with a solar flare. 9 June 2002. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Web. 09 Nov. 2017. Accessed from:

https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/galleries/a-handle-on-the-sun

Figure 1b: The sunspots (captured in September 2011)

NASA. A report in the Daily Mail characterized sunspot 1302 as a "behemoth" unleashing huge solar flares. 24 Sep. 2011. Wikipedia. Web 8 Nov. 2017. Accessed from:

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16800815

Figure 2a: Transit of Mercury (captured on 8 Nov. 2006)

Phillips, Tony. 2006 Transit of Mercury. 08 Nov. 2006. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Web. 10 Nov 2017. Accessed from- http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/162385main_Merctransit2006_sm.jpg

Figure 2b: Transit of Venus (captured on 8 June 2012)

NASA & SDO, AIA. NASA's SDO Captures 2012 Venus Transit Approach. 05 June 2012. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Web. 08 Nov. 2017. Accessed from:

https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sdo/multimedia/gallery/venus-transit-2012-first.html

Figure 3a: Mercury

NASA & Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie. Mercury's Subtle Colors. 21 Dec. 2009. National Aeronautics and Space Administration/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie. Web. 11 Nov. 2017. Accessed from: https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/resources/439/mercurys-subtle-colors/?category=planets_mercury

Figure 3b: Venus

NASA & JPL. PIA00104: Venus - Computer Simulated Global View Centered at 180 Degrees East Longitude. 12 Nov. 1996. National Aeronautics and Space Administration/Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Web. 01 Nov. 2017. Accessed from:

http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA00104

Figure 3c: Earth

Stevens, Joshua. New Full-hemisphere Views of Earth at Night. 07 Aug. 2017. National Aeronautics and Space Administration/Goddard Space Flight Center. Web. 20 Nov. 2017. Accessed from: https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/new-full-hemisphere-views-of-earth-at-night

Figure 3d: Mars

ESA & MPS for OSIRIS Team MPS/UPD/LAM/IAA/RSSD/INTA/UPM/DASP/IDA. True-colour Image Of Mars Seen By Osiris. 25 Feb. 2007. ESA - European Space Agency & Max-Planck Institute for Solar System Research for OSIRIS. Web. 10 Nov. 2017. Accessed from:

http://www.esa.int/spaceinimages/Images/2007/02/True-colour_image_of_Mars_seen_by_OSIRIS

Figure 3e: Jupiter

NASA, ESA, & Simon, A. Jupiter and its shrunken Great Red Spot. 21 Apr. 2014. National Aeronautics and Space Administration/European Space Agency/Goddard Space Flight Center. Web. 11 Nov. 2017. Accessed from:

http://www.spacetelescope.org/images/heic1410a/

Figure 3f: Saturn

NASA, JPL, & Space Science Institute. Saturn during Equinox. 23 Jul. 2008. National Aeronautics and Space Administration/Jet Propulsion Laboratory/Space Science Institute. Web. 10 Nov. 2017. Accessed from:

http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/365640main_PIA11141_full.jpg

Figure 3g: Uranus

NASA & JPL-Caltech. PIA18182: Uranus as seen by NASA's Voyager 2. 18 Dec. 1986. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Caltech. Web. 14 Nov. 2017. Accessed from:

http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA18182

Figure 3h: Neptune

NASA. Neptune Full. Aug. 1989. Wikipedia. Web. 11 Nov. 2017. Accessed from: https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=640803

Figure 1: Sizes of selected satellites in the solar system as compared to the Earth

Bricktop, Deuar, KFP, TotoBaggins, City303, JCPagc2015. Moons of solar system scaled to Earth's Moon. 21 Jun. 2005. Wikipedia. Web. 10 Nov. 2017. Accessed from: https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1641353

Figure 2a: Astrosat - India’s first dedicated multi wavelength space observatory.

ISRO. Spacecraft stowed4 tilted. Indian Space Research Organisation. Web. 12 Nov. 2017. Accessed from:

https://www.isro.gov.in/sites/default/files/galleries/%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%88%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80/spacecraft-stowed4-tilted.JPG

Figure 2b: Indian scientist working on Mangalyaan (Mars Orbiter Mission)

ISRO. Mars orbiter mission spacecraft being prepared for pre-launch test at Satish Dhawan space centre SHAR, Shriharikota. Indian Space Research Organisation. Web. 12 Nov. 2017. Accessed from:

https://www.isro.gov.in/sites/default/files/galleries/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%8F%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%8F%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%80%20-%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8025/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B2%20%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%20%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%A8%20%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%88%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80/mars04.jpg

Figure 3a: Ceres

Cowart, Justin. Ceres - RC3 - Haulani Crater. 21 Oct. 2015. Wikipedia. Web. 12 Nov. 2017. Accessed from:

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=49700320

Figure 3b: Pluto and its moon Charon

NASA, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, & Southwest Research Institute. PIA19966: Charon and Pluto: Strikingly Different Worlds. 01 Oct. 2015. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, & Southwest Research Institute. Web. 09 Nov. 2017. Accessed from:

http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA19966

Figure 4a: Asteroid 253 Mathilde - measuring about 50 kilometres across (captured in 1997 by the NEAR Shoemaker probe)

Williams, Dave & Friedlander, Jay. Mosaic of Mathilde. 27 Jun. 1997. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Web. 11 Nov. 2017. Accessed from:

http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/imgcat/html/object_page/nea_19970627_mos.html

Figure 4b: Asteroid belt is located between orbits of Mars and Jupiter. Ceres is the only minor planet in the asteroid belt and Vesta is the largest asteroid in the belt.

NASA & McREL. Asteroid Belt. 01 Jan. 2007. National Aeronautics and Space Administration and McREL. Web. 12 Nov. 2017. Accessed from:

https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/spaceimages/details.php?id=PIA19380

Figure 5a: Halley’s Comet captured on 8 March 1986

Liller, W. Comet P/Halley as taken March 8, 1986 by W. Liller, Easter Island, part of the International Halley Watch (IHW) Large Scale Phenomena Network. 08 Mar. 1986. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Web. 08 Nov 2017. Accessed from:

http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/photo_gallery/photogallery-comets.html

Figure 5b: Nucleus of 103P/Hartley captured through a spacecraft. The nucleus is about 2 km in length.

NASA, JPL-Caltech, & UMD. Image of Comet Hartley 2. 3-4 Nov. 2010. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Jet Propulsion Laboratory-Caltech, & UMD. Web. 04 Nov. 2017. Accessed from:

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/epoxi/images/version1/IINMVUAXF_6000002_001_001_crop.html

Video: The Death of Stars

ESA/Hubble

Visual design and editing: Martin Kornmesser

Web and technical support: Lars Holm Nielsen and Raquel Yumi Shida

Written by: Oli Usher

Narration: Joe Liske (Dr J)

Images: NASA, ESA

Animations: Martin Kornmesser

Music: Zero Project

Directed by: Oli Usher

Executive Producer: Lars Lindberg Christensen

Figure 2: Milky Way as seen from the Earth

Jurvetson, Steve. Milky Way Night Sky Black Rock Desert Nevada. 22 Jul. 2007. Wikipedia. Web. 10 Nov. 2017. Accessed from: https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=23906915

Figure 3a: From above (Top view)5

NASA, JPL-Caltech, & Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. PIA19341: Tracing the Arms of our Milky Way Galaxy. 03 Jun. 2015. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Jet Propulsion Laboratory-Caltech, & Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. Web. 12 Nov. 2017. Accessed from:

https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA19341

Figure 3b: Profile (Side view)6

RJHall. Illustration of the Milky Way profile with major features labelled. GNP/GSP = direction of galactic north/south pole. 12 May 2012. Wikipedia. Web. 11 Nov. 2017. Accessed from: https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=52696960

Figure 4: The closest galaxy, Andromeda is about 2.5 million light years from the Earth

Evans, Adam. The Andromeda Galaxy (now with h-alpha). 18 Sep. 2010. Wikipedia. Web. 10 Nov. 2018. Accessed from:

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12654493

Video : How many galaxies are there?

Directed by: Mathias Jäger

Visual design and editing: Martin Kornmesser (martin-kornmesser.de)

Written by: Mathias Jäger, Eleanor Spring, Thomas Barratt

Narration: Sara Mendes da Costa

Images: NASA, ESA/Hubble, M. Kornmesser

Videos: NASA, ESA/Hubble

Animations: NASA, ESA/Hubble, M. Kornmesser, L. Calçada

Music: Johan B. Monell (www.johanmonell.com)

Web and technical support: Mathias Andre and Raquel Yumi Shida

Executive producer: Lars Lindberg Christensen

Animation: Solar System

CSS 3D Solar System. Copyright (c) 2012 Julian Garnier. Licensed under the MIT license. Retrieved from: https://codepen.io/juliangarnier/pen/idhuG