Unit 8 Astronomy

NYSSLS Performance Expectations (Objectives)

• HS-ESS1-1: Develop a model based on evidence to illustrate the life span of the Sun and the role of nuclear fusion in the Sun's core to release energy that eventually reaches Earth in the form of radiation.
• HS-ESS1-2: Construct an explanation of the Big Bang theory based on astronomical evidence of light spectra, motion of distant galaxies, and composition of matter in the universe.
• HS-ESS1-3: Communicate scientific ideas about the way stars, over their life cycle, produce elements.
• HS-ESS1-4: Use mathematical or computational representations to predict the motion of orbiting objects in the solar system.
• HS-ESS1-7 (NY-specific): Construct an explanation using evidence to support the claim that the phases of the Moon, eclipses, tides, and seasons change cyclically.

Extraneous Content (No Longer Required)

• Detailed planet characteristics memorization (diameter, distance, composition for all planets)
• Foucault pendulum demonstrations (concept retained, calculations reduced)
• Coriolis effect detailed calculations

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2025-2026 Daylight Savings Dates

• Daylight Saving Time Ends: Sunday, November 2, 2025, at 2:00 A.M. 
• Daylight Saving Time Begins: Sunday, March 8, 2026, at 2:00 A.M. 

Major Topics and Objectives 
A. ORIGIN OF MODERN ASTRONOMY
What have we learned so far about Astronomy?
Video Lesson 8A   Complete Topic 8 Origin of Modern Astronomy Lesson*
Video Lesson 8A-1  Make a Simple Astrolabe
Video Lesson 8A-2  Eratosthenes Calculating Earth's Circumference*
Video Lesson 8A-3  Retrograde Motion and Ptolemy*
Video Lesson 8A-4  Early Astronomers*
Video Lesson 8A-5  Galileo Galilei
Video Lesson 8A-6  Universal Law of Gravitation explained
Video Lesson 8A-6  More about Isaac Newton's Life
Video Lesson 8A-7  Geocentric vs. Heliocentric Models*
Video Lesson 8A-8  Stonehenge Astronomy*

B. THE EARTH’S ROTATION AND REVOLUTION, AND SEASONS
How does a revolving sphere with a tilted spin axis model yearly celestial observations?
Video Lesson 8B  Complete Topic 8B Lesson*
Video Lesson 8B-1  Rotation vs. Revolution
Video Lesson 8B-1a   Solar vs. Sidereal Day
Video Lesson 8B-1b  Solar vs. Sidereal Animation*
Video Lesson 8B-2  Speed of Rotation
Video Lesson 8B-3  Foucault Pendulum*
Video Lesson 8B-4  Circumpolar Stars Video*
Video Lesson 8B-5  Precession*
Video Lesson 8B-6  Earth's Axis and Seasons
Video Lesson 8B-7  The Ecliptic
Video Lesson 8B-8  Azimuth-Altitude System*
Video Lesson 8B-9a   Celestial Sphere 1* Lab 8-1
Video Lesson 8B-9b   Celestial Sphere 2*  Lab 8-2

C. THE EARTH-MOON-SUN SYSTEM
How do the Earth, Moon, and Sun interact
Video Lesson 8C  Moon Phases, Eclipses, and Tides
Video Lesson 8C-1 Earth-Moon-Sun-System
Video Lesson 8C-2 The Real Deal with Tides

D. OUR SOLAR SYSTEM & ORBITAL FORCES
What force keeps planets and their satellites in their orbits?
Video Lesson 8D  Tour of our Solar System
Video Lesson 8D-2 Model Solar System to scale

E. STARS
How are stars classified and what is their life cycle?
Video Lesson 8E-1   Starlight and the Sun (slides 53-59) (0:00-9:49)
Video Lesson 8E-1a   Redshift and Spectra Lines
Video Lesson 8E-1b   Doppler Effect and Redshift
Video Lesson 8E-2a Starlight and the Sun (slides 60-68) (9:50-17:56)
Video Lesson 8E-2b The Sun (101) Nat. Geo.
Video Lesson 8E-2c The Sun NOVA

•    SOHO website Link: SOHO Sunspot Observatory NASA
•    Sun Rotation Link: Solar Rotation explained NASA

Video Lesson 8E-3    Classifying Stars and Star Life (slides 69-86)
Video Lesson 8E-4   How Stars are Classified (for Lab 8-7A)
Video Lesson 8E-5   Life Cycle of Stars ( for Lab 8-7A)
Video Lesson 8E-6  Stellar Nucleosynthesis (NYSSLS)
Video Lesson 8D-E-1   Distance from Earth to Sun
Video Lesson 8D-E-2  Measuring Distances in Space
Video Lesson 8D-E-3  Video WS Space Distances 

F. THE UNIVERSE
What is in the Universe and what is Earth’s place in the Universe?
Video Lesson 8F  The Universe
Video Lesson 8F-1a  The Big Bang Theory
Video Lesson 8F-1b  The Big Bang Theory
Video Lesson 8F-2  The Universe (44 min)

Unit 8 Astronomy Video Links: Einstein and Time Dilation Celestial Sphere Animation Pale Blue Dot - Carl Sagan Scaled Solar System Drone Nova PBS: Looking for Life on Mars 100 Greatest Discoveries in Astronomy - Episode 1 Standard Deviants - Astronomy video  Neil DeGrasse Tyson on Gravity's effect of time Zoom IN to the Universe Zoom out from Earth to Laniakea Scale of things Java Applet Video Lesson 5B-6 Asteroid Comparisons		Laboratory Investigations Laboratory 8-1 The Sun’s Daily Path (NGLS)   Video Lesson 8B-9a   Celestial Sphere 1* Lab 8-1   Lab 8-1 The Sun's Daily Path Simulator Laboratory 8-2 The Sun’s Path Throughout the Year (NYSSLS)   Lab 8-2 The Sun's Season-Marking Path Simulator   Video Lesson 8B-9b   Celestial Sphere 2*  Lab 8-2 Laboratory 8-3 Revolution and Seasons (NYSSLS)   Video Lesson Lab 8-3 A Seasons from Space   Lab 8-3 Seasons Simulator Laboratory 8-4 Moon Phases & Tides (NYSSLS)   Lab 8-4 Moon Phases Simulator   Lab 8-4 Tides Simulator   Lab 8-4 Eclipse Simulator   Additional Moon Simulators   Moon Phases Simulator   Tides Simulator 1    Tides Simulator 2 Laboratory 8-5 Model Solar System (NYSSLS)   Lab 8-5 Scaled Model of the Solar System   Lab 8-5 Space Distances Laboratory 8-6 Eccentricity (NYSSLS)   Lab 8-6  How to draw and compare ellipses Laboratory 8-7 Stars: Classifying and the Life Cycle of Stars     Video Lesson 8E-1  How Stars are Classified (for Lab 8-7A)     Video Lesson 8E-2  Life Cycle of Stars ( for Lab 8-7A ) Laboratory 8-8 Parents, Polaris, and You (NYSSLS) Make a Simple Astrolabe Laboratory 8-9 Constellations and Seasons (NYSSLS)     Video Zodiac Constellations Laboratory 8-10 Red Shift and Star Light (NYSSLS)     Interactive Star Spectra Viewer Laboratory 8-11 Powers of 10 (NYSSLS)