Planets

Observe the Night Sky

May 17, 2021 | kimba
Astro Origami

Did you know that Michigan is home to six protected Dark Sky Preserves? Additionally, Michigan is home to Headlands International Dark Sky Park and Dr. T.K. Lawless Park, which are the only internationally designated park preserves in the state. While each location provides the very best opportunity for you to truly enjoy the Milky Way, aurora borealis and more - you do not need to travel to these places to Observe the Night Sky. You can begin your adventure at home by simply keeping a few viewing tips in mind.

Activities:

Resources:

The awesome night sky by Kay Barnham

In this gentle science series, World of Wonder (4 titles), the youngest readers are given the fundamental ideas and language needed to grapple with our world's natural wonders. Each title begins with activity suggestions before a series of colorful, full-bleed spreads break the topics down into digestible tidbits--one short paragraph per page--incrementally building readers' understanding of the subject. The Awesome Night Sky tackles astronomy, touching on aspects that will already be somewhat familiar to children, like the sun, moon, other celestial bodies, and the scientific tools human used to study it all. Vocabulary terms are underlined in the text and collected in a glossary. While photography is absent, Frost's inviting illustrations give the perfect context for each lesson, and two omnipresent white children anchor the education in friendly companionship. Effective in balancing simplicity with the right selection of details, these make excellent science primers for early readers.

Picture Books About Outer Space

April 8, 2013 | strande

Star seeker: a journey to outer space by Theresa Heine, Victor Tavares

Stars! Stars! Stars! by written and illustrated by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace

Full Moon and star by Lee Bennett Hopkins ; illustrated by Marcellus Hall

How to catch a star by Oliver Jeffers

Stars by Mary Lyn Ray and ; [illustrated by] Marla Frazee

Following up on Pluto's Demotion

February 10, 2011 | Didi

In 2005 Mike Brown discovered Eris which was slightly larger than Pluto. This discovery sparked a series of international debates resulting in the demotion of Pluto to a dwarf planet. Brown recounts his controversial discovery in this part memoir and part planetary saga in How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming.
Barrie W. Jones' Pluto: Sentinel of the Outer Solar System delves into discussions of scientific discovery as well as an exact account on Pluto, its satellites and its controversial re-classification.

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