A Year in Space

NASA astronaut, Scott Kelly, is coming home after spending a full year in the International Space Station. Although the portion of this mission and scientific study from Low Earth orbit is concluding, there is still much that will be learned. Scott, and his identical twin brother, retired astronaut Mark Kelly, participated in the mission to determine some of the long-term effects of space on the human body. The information collected throughout this year and the follow-up to it will be critical in understanding the risks and feasibility of a Mars mission.

As usual, there is a ton of info out there to wade through. Here are a few quick links that will get you up to speed on this mission.

First of all, during the next few days (March 1^st-4^th 2016) NASA TV will be covering Scott Kelly’s return from space. Follow this link for a full schedule of coverage. NASA TV is a great resource for home or the classroom. From live feeds of spacewalks and launches to important press conferences, there are lots of interesting things going on all of the time!

Here are NASA’s “10 Thing You Need to Know” about the Year in Space mission.

Scott Kelly took some amazing photos while he was living in the space station. Check out this link for the best pictures from his year in space. 

Time for Kids covered many milestones throughout this mission. You’ll find some great science articles written for kids here. Including “My Dad is Out of This World” by Charlotte Kelly, Scott’s daughter.

If you are looking for resources and more information about how to teach or share Scott Kelly’s mission with children check out my post, “NASA’s Twin Study: Launching Science Lessons”.

Stay tuned…it will be fascinating to see the human physiology research that comes from this study!

Updated 3/2/16:
A great infographic about the human physiology questions that may be answered through Kelly's research (click image to see full size) and the landing video!

Celestial Events this Holiday Season

The next couple of weeks hold some special events in the night sky, the Winter Solstice, a Christmas Full Moon and a New Year's Comet!

Winter Solstice
December 21st or 22nd is the Winter Solstice (depending on your time zone). This marks the official start of the winter season, and in the Northern Hemisphere the shortest day of the year. (Yes, that means slowly but surely we will start gaining light in the mornings and evenings again! Hallelujah!)

We experience 2 solstices and 2 equinoxes each year. The solstices, in winter and summer, are when Earth is getting the least direct sunlight due to the tilt of our axis, and the most direct sunlight. To better understand our Earth's axis and the changing seasons, check out my post: The Changing Seasons: So Much More Than Temperature! This is a topic laden with science misconceptions held by children and adults. Do you think you understand the concept of seasons?

Christmas Full Moon
Did you know that the last full moon of December is called the "Full Cold Moon" because of it's proximity to the start of winter? This year, we will experience a Christmas full moon for the first time since 1977. It won't happen again until 2034, so be sure to look up for this celestial Christmas gift!

image: NASA

New Year's Comet Catalina
Catalina, a comet discovered and named after the Catalina Sky Survey in 2013 is making its way across the sky in the next few weeks. Star gazers are hoping for some naked-eye viewing of the comet to help ring in the New Year.

Lovejoy Comet Passing Through Ursa Major (image: NASA/MSFC/Jacobs Technology/ESSSA/Aaron Kingery)

Although the comet will pass closest to Earth on January 17th, there are great opportunities to view it on the evenings around December 31st. To locate the comet, you'll need to find the constellation Bootes. Find the reddish star Arcturus and near the star you should see the fuzzy tail of the comet. A pair of binoculars will help! For some tips and resources for helping navigate the night sky digitally or with a star map visit this post and scroll to the resource section.

Happy Star Gazing! 

Resources: 

• Earth Sky: Everything You Need To Know About the December Solstice
• NASA: Rare Full Moon on Christmas Day
• Discovery News: Look up! Comet Catalina to Dazzle New Year's Skies

Gift Ideas for Young Astronomers and Space Explorers

Are you shopping for a space-obsessed kiddo this year? Maybe you live with a budding astrophysicist or a future astronaut. Then you've come to the right place! Here are some fun gift ideas from spacesuits for dress-up play, to telescopes and board games. These are gifts that any young scientist would be excited to see under the tree or on their birthday.

These space and astronomy gift ideas come in a range of prices, you are sure to find something that fits your gift-giving budget. Each item has been chosen for its play and education value. Just like gift-giving, with the right items, learning can be joyful and fun!

This post contains affiliate links, meaning I will receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) if you make a purchase after clicking a product link. Please see disclosures page for more details.

Astronaut Dress-up Play

Melissa and Doug: Astronaut Dress Up Set

High quality for year-round play. Comes in one size.

 

Aeromax NASA Jr. Astronaut Suit

Built for dress-up, not just Halloween! An authentic NASA look, with embroidered patches. Comes in several size options.

Don't forget to round out your space ensemble with a space pack, some gloves, boots and a helmet!

Interested in other science-themed gifts? 

 

Astronomy Kits and Activities

I Dig Meteorite Rocks
Excavate a real meteorite! Fun small gift or stocking stuffer. 

 

Color the Galaxy
Kids can color in the galaxy on this inflatable ball. 

 

Magic School Bus: Secrets of Space Kit

Hands-on space science kit with activities like constructing a night-vision flashlight and building a constellation box!

Qurious Space: 4 STEM Card Games
Great set of matching, memory, and photo trivia games. Small and portable, great for trips! Recommended for age 7 and up.

 
3-Dimensional Glow-In-The-Dark Solar System Mobile Making Kit

Build and paint this 3-D solar system model and then put it on display! Recommended for age 8+.

Exploring the Night Sky

Exploring the Night Sky: The Equinox Astronomy Guide for Beginners

A user-friendly introductory guide best for students 10 and up.

The Night Sky Star Finder

You might have an app, but there is nothing like having a tool that you can manipulate without a device! Once you've turned to the correct date and time you can look to see what constellations and stars are in the sky above you.

 

Nancy B's Science Club: Moonscope and Sky Gazer's Activity Journal

Ready to look at the night sky, but not sure you're ready to commit to a telescope? This moonscope is the perfect tool to foster a love of astronomy.

Thames and Kosmos TK1 Telescope and Astronomy Kit

A telescope perfect for beginners. Refractor telescope with 35x, 75x and 140x magnification power comes with many accessories. Excellent for finding planets and observing the moon. 

Discovery Kids Projection Alarm Clock

Project images of the night sky on your bedroom ceiling! Besides being a working, digital alarm clock, projector creates four foot wide space images up to ten feet away. Projected image turns off after a set amount of time to preserve battery life. Uses 3 AAA batteries, not included. 

Space and Astronomy Play Sets

Big Bucket of Astronauts

Includes 60 astronauts, space vehicles and accessories. Great for pretend or small world play. Ages 4 and up.

Interchangeable Kinetic Space Lab 

Create different space-themed marble runs with this set. Kids can move and design different tracks. Recommended for kids 8-12 years old.

Discovery Space Center

A four-level wooden space center play set, complete with a pulley elevator! Imaginations can run wild with this! Ages 3+.

Check out these picture books that your child can read alongside an astronaut on the International Space Station through the Story Time From Space program.

15 Continuous Years of Human Presence in Space

Are you "all about that space"?

We certainly are here at Share it! Science News! November 2nd, 2015 is an exciting day as it marks 15 years of continuous human presence in space on the International Space Station. Since November 2nd, 2000 when Commander Bill Shepherd and Flight Engineers Sergei Krikalev and Yuri Gidzenko became the first people to man the space station, there has been an international crew aboard the space station. In 2000 the ISS was still just a pair of U.S. and Russian modules, and over the course of 15 years it has grown to a laboratory and home environment the size of a football field.

From studying biology and biotechnology, to Earth and space science, crews have learned a lot in the past 15 years. The ISS has reached more than 42 billion students across the globe and published more than 1,200 scientific result papers! The ISS is also an incredible teaching tool for science classrooms here on Earth. NASA has a wealth of learning resources available to students and educators about the ISS. Explore the Space Station for Students page, or the Space Station for Educators page for tons of great activities and information.

We've covered astronomy and the space station frequently here as well. You'll find links to learning activities and resources with each news or event story on Share it! Science News. 

If you are interested in teaching and learning about the ISS and its current mission, NASA's Twin Study: Launching Science Lessons is a great place to start. 

To get involved with an ISS mission, you'll want to learn about Sally Ride EarthKam, a great program for students. Find out all about it here- Sally Ride EarthKam: Be a Part of an International Space Station Mission

Ever wondered what life is like on the ISS? What does it look like up there? Take a tour with an ISS astronaut in an excellent video featured here: Science Teaching Toolbox: 10 Tried and True Videos for Teaching Science

If you are "all about that space" just like us, you'll want to visit these posts too. Tons of resources to sink your teeth into!

 

• Water on Mars?!
• Observe the Super Moon Eclipse- September 27th, 2015
• Watch the Perseid Meteor Shower!
• New Horizons Flies By Pluto in Historic Event
• Solar Eclipse, Super Moon- Spring 2015 Starts with Excitement!
• Comet Lovejoy: Coming to a Sky Near You! 
• See it? Share it! Geminid Meteor Shower

 

• 3, 2, 1 Blastoff! Orion's First Step is Definitely a Giant Leap
• Solar Power in Space: Real Life Engineering Challenges
• Total Lunar Eclipse: October 8th, 2014 
• MAVEN Spacecraft to Become Mars' Atmospheric Maven 

(affiliate link) 

Water on Mars?!

With NASA's big announcement about evidence of water on Mars and this past weekend's Supermoon Eclipse, I just can't stop thinking about space! So what is the big deal about water on Mars? Haven't we been talking about evidence of water and ice on the red planet for the past few years?

This announcement is slightly different, but immensely more important. Evidence of ice, or water existing on Mars in the past has been common, but this time around the evidence is pointing to water intermittently flowing on the planet in present day.

In order to determine if there is life as we know it on other planets NASA scientists have followed evidence of water as their guide. Living things need water, so it stands to reason if you find water, you could also find life.

Mariner 9, launched in 1971, was the first to identify evidence of water on Mars when it transmitted images of riverbeds, canyons, erosion and fog back to Earth. Mariner 9 was the first artificial satellite of Mars, and photomapped 100% of the martian surface from 1971-1972. 

Scamander Vallis from Mariner 9. By Jim Secosky, NASA image.  [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

The Viking program further revolutionized our thinking about water on the red planet. The Viking spacecraft were the first to land safely on the surface of Mars. Both Viking 1 and Viking 2 reached the planet in 1976. The two pairs of lander and orbiter systems collected scientific data and photographed the surface in addition to completing biological experiments aimed to determine whether their was life on Mars. In the process the Viking landers discovered many geological features that further indicated the presence of water historically on the planet, such as deep valleys and valley networks in addition to erosion on the bedrock.

Image from Viking program. By Jim Secosky, modified NASA image [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Investigation and evidence building toward the discovery of water on Mars continued throughout the next few decades with the Mars Global Surveyor (data on mineral composition), Mars Pathfinder (temperature readings and evidence of clouds and maybe fog), Mars Odyssey (evidence of vast regions of ice under the surface of Mars), Phoenix Mars Lander (confirmed evidence of water ice), Mars Rovers- Spirit and Opportunity, and finally the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (evidence of hot springs, heavy precipitation, and hydrated salts causing dark streaking).  

Frost at landing site. By Roel Van der Hoorn [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Mars Odyssey Image by Jim Secosky, modified NASA image. 

The announcement of present day water on Mars comes from data from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Spectrometer readings showed hydrated salts that coincide with streaking noticed on the surface. The concentration of salts would lower the freezing point of briny water so that it could flow as a liquid. This is the same principle in place on icy roads in the winter, salt lowers the freezing point of the water so that the road is not coated with a layer of ice. The dark streaking on the surface showed how the salty water flowed downhill during warmer temperatures, and the streaks lightened during cooler temperatures indicating that the flow has slowed or stopped. The liquid is most likely just under the surface and wicking to the surface causing the streaking patterns. This evidence led to NASA's big announcement about water on Mars.

This announcement is just another step towards NASA's Journey to Mars, a mission to send humans to Mars in the 2030's, a goal outlined in the NASA Authorization Act of 2010 and in the U.S. National Space Policy, also in 2010. 

Mars Streaks. By Jim Secosky modified NASA image [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

There are so many ways to use this historic announcement to raise interest in space education. NASA has a wealth of information and teaching resources that you will in the resources section below. You can also keep up with all things NASA at home or in the classroom with NASA TV, a live stream on YouTube.

Read more:

• NASA: "NASA Confirms Evidence that Liquid Water Flows on Today's Mars"
• NY Times: "Mars Shows Signs of Having Flowing Water, Possible Niches for Life, NASA Says"

Mars Books for Children: (affiliate links, click image for book info)

 

Resources:

• NASA's Journey to Mars
• NASA' Mars for Educators
• NASA Mars for Kids
• Current NASA Mars Missions
• How To Smile: The Best Science and Math Lessons and Activities on Mars 

(affiliate link)