On to Mars Amy McDowell Madison County Harvest Elementary School 5 th Grade Leigh Schwarzel Athens City School District Morrison Elementary 5 th grade
On to Mars
Amy McDowell
Madison County Harvest Elementary School
5th Grade
Leigh Schwarzel
Athens City School District
Morrison Elementary 5th grade
Mars 101
Studying the Red Planet
Phobos = “Fear” Deimos = “Panic”
Mars: Roman
God of
War
Ares: Greek
God of
War
Early civilizations
connected Mars with
war and aggression.
Moons of Mars
Fantasy
Telescopes brought beliefs of
canals and the Martians
who could have built them.
Fear and
fascination
reigned in the
1900s…
…and the
mythology
continues on
today!
The real faces on mars…
“Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof”
--Carl Sagan
What facts do we know about Mars??
Mars quick facts
Martian Year
• For any planet, a year is the time it takes to make one orbit around the sun.
• Because Mars is farther away from the sun, it has to travel a greater distance around the sun. It takes Mars about twice as long as it does for Earth to make one circle around the sun. Therefore, a year on Mars lasts twice as long.
Martian Moons
Phobos Deimos
Mars Missions Timeline
Mariner
Program 1964-
1971
U.S.
Mars Program
1971-1974
U.S.S.R.
Viking Program
1975-1982
U.S.
Mars Global
Surveyor
1996-2006
U.S.
Mars
Pathfinder
1996-1997
U.S.
Mars Odyssey
2001 – Present
U.S.
Mars Exploration
Rovers
2003-Present
U.S.
Mars
Reconnaissance
2005 –Present
U.S
Mars Express
Orbiter
2003-Present
European
Earth / Mars Comparisons
Mt. Everest on Earth ~ 30,000 ft
Olympus Mons on Mars
~ 80,000 Ft. Tall!
Grand Canyon on Earth
Grand Canyon of Mars/Solar System
Dust Storm in the Sahara Desert
as Viewed from Space
Dust
Storms
Happen
on
Mars
as
Well
Meteor Crater on Earth
Craters
on
Mars
Tell Us
About
Earth’s
Past
????????
Past Water on Mars
Ancient Mars?
Modern
Cold and Arid Past?
Wet and Warm?
Characterize
the Geology
Determine if Life
Ever Arose on Mars
Characterize
the Climate
Prepare for Human
Exploration
W
A
T
E
R
When?
Where? Form?
Amount?
MARS SCIENCE STRATEGY:
Follow the Water! Common
Thread
LIFE
CLIMATE
GEOLOGY
HUMAN
Earth d = 12,756 km
Moon d = 3,476 km
Size (Compare)?
Mars d = 6,794 km
(1 / 4 Earth Size)
(1 / 2 Earth Size)
Earth to Sun = 150,000,000 km (astronomical unit - AU)
Earth Circumference = 40,080 km
Earth to Moon = 385,000 km = ? x Earth Circumference
(circumference = π • d)
385,000 km
40,080 km ?
Distance (Compare)?
Earth to Sun = 150,000,000 km (astronomical unit - AU) Earth Circumference = 40,080 km
Earth to Moon = 385,000 km = ? x Earth Circumference
385,000 km
40,080 km
Distance (Compare)?
9.5 =
Earth to Sun = 150,000,000 km
Earth Circumference = 40,080 km
Earth to Moon = 385,000 km (9.5 x Earth Circum)
Earth to Mars = 78,000,000 km =
_____x Earth Circumference
Earth to Jupiter = 628,000,000 km =
_____ x Earth Circumference
Earth to Saturn = 1,280,000,000 km =
______x Earth Circumference
Earth to Uranus = 2,750,000,000 km =
_____ x Earth Circumference
Earth to Neptune = 4,350,000,000 km =
x Earth Circumference
Earth to Pluto = 5,850,000,000 km =
x Earth Circumference
Earth to Proxima Centauri = 25,800,000,000,000 km =
x Earth Circumference
Earth to Sun = 150,000,000 km
Earth Circumference = 40,080 km
Earth to Moon = 385,000 km (9.5 x Earth Circum)
Earth to Mars = 78,000,000 km =
6000 x Earth Circumference
Earth to Jupiter = 628,000,000 km =
15,700 x Earth Circumference
Earth to Saturn = 1,280,000,000 km =
32,000 x Earth Circumference
Earth to Uranus = 2,750,000,000 km =
68,600 x Earth Circumference
Earth to Neptune = 4,350,000,000 km =
108,500 x Earth Circumference
Earth to Pluto = 5,850,000,000 km =
145,900 x Earth Circumference
Earth to Proxima Centauri = 25,800,000,000,000 km =
643,712,570 x Earth Circumference
A New Arrival Phoenix Mars Lander
May 25, 2008
Landing site comparison…
Phoenix Landing Site B
Landing ellipse
•This image shows the latest estimate, marked by a green crosshair, of
the location of NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander. •The red ellipse was the narrowed landing area upon further calculations
after landing
•The blue ellipse was the projected landing area
The Latest…
Resources http://jpl.nasa.gov/news/phoenix/main.php
“Getting Dirty on Mars”—Curriculum Guide
http://marsed.asu.edu/activities.php
Some of Phoenix’s Early Findings
• Phoenix found an alkaline soil environment that had not been
discovered in previous missions.
• It verified the presence of water-ice in the Martian subsurface.
• It found small concentrations of salt, which could be nutrients for
life.
• It revealed at least two distinct types of ice deposits.
• It observed snow falling from clouds and recorded weather data for
its entire mission.
• "Phoenix has given us some surprises, and I'm confident we will be
pulling more gems from this trove of data for years to come," said
Phoenix Principal Investigator Peter Smith of the University of
Arizona in Tucson.
MERs—Where are they Now?
• Spirit: Sol 1936 Days past warranty: 1846
• Opportunity: Sol 1915 Days past warranty: 1825
SOL 330 SOL 586
Making and Using an ISS End Effector
Materials:
2 Styrofoam coffee cups
String
Tape
Plastic serrated knife
What does the Future Hold for Mars?
• 2011 NASA will be launching the Mars Science Laboratory, which
was recently named Curiosity by sixth grader Clara Ma. Its payload
will be 10 times the mass of instruments on Sprit and Opportunity.
It will be able to drive longer distances and over rougher terrain.
• The Mars Science Laboratory will be exploring areas where orbiting
spacecraft have indicated there were wet condition. The science
laboratory will check for evidence of whether ancient Mars
environments had conditions favorable for supporting microbial life.
It will also be preserving evidence of that life if it existed there.
Could your students be next?
Strange New Planet
Background The National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA) has been returning
pictures of Mars back to Earth since 1965,
when the Mariner 4 spacecraft flew past
Mars and sent back twenty-one images.
Science and technology have
progressed greatly since the early mission
days.
The Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft has
sent back over 100,000 pictures of the
Martian surface.
Pre-launch Reconnaissance • Using your imaging device (paint tube
with blue cellophane): This simulates Earth-bound observations.
• Arrange students against the sides of the room by teams. These areas will be referred to as Mission Control.
• To simulate Earth's atmosphere, a blue cellophane sheet is placed over the end of the tube. This helps to simulate the variation that occurs when viewing objects through the Earth's atmosphere.
• Observe the planet (s) using the viewing device for 1 minute. Discuss and record you observations of the planet.
Mission 1: The Fly-by
Remove the cellophane from the viewer
Mariner 4, 6, 7--1965, 1969, 1969 •Each team will have a turn at walking quickly past one side of
the planet.
•A distance of five feet from the planet needs to be maintained.
•Reconvene at the sides of the room (Mission Control) with your
backs to the planet.
•Record your observations and discuss what they will be looking
for on their orbit mission.
Mission 2: The Orbiter (Mariner 9, 1971-72; Viking 1 and 2 Orbiters, 1976-80; Mars Global
Surveyor, 1996-present) •Each team takes two minutes to orbit (circle) the planet at a distance of two feet. •Observe distinguishing features and record the data back at Mission Control. •Develop a plan for your landing expedition onto the planet's surface. •Plans should include the landing spot and features to be examined.
Mission 3: The Lander (Viking 1 and 2, 1976-1982; Mars Pathfinder, 1997; MER
2003-present) Each team approaches the
landing site and marks it with a push pin.
Team members take turns observing the landing site with the viewers for a total of five
minutes Within the field of view, students enact the mission plan. After five
minutes, the team returns to “Mission Control” to discuss and
record their findings.
Image Analysis
Activity Goals
Familiarize you, using a hands-on approach, with what you can see in THEMIS visible images
Start having you make observations of THEMIS visible images and possibly generating a topic of interest
Make measurements of features to incorporate mathematics
Lendable Material Sets
To do this activity in your classroom, we loan out sets of images for activities such as Mars Image
Analysis, and Mars bound
Background
Mars Odyssey Has been orbiting Mars since 2001
3 Main Instruments:
MARIE: Helps us understand the radiation environment which will help us create protective spacesuits for our
future astronauts.
Gamma Ray Spectrometer (GRS): Helps us determine the elements that make up Mars, like Hydrogen, for
example, which provides evidence to the possibility of water being below the surface
THEMIS: A camera that shows us both visible and infrared images of Mars.
So….speaking of images of Mars, let’s take a look at some of the latest visible images of Mars and see what
they can tell us about the planet!
Thermal Emission Imaging
System (THEMIS)
Visible Imaging
– Visible-light images with
18 meters per pixel
resolution.
– MSIP Students use this
imaging system
Infrared Imaging
– The entire planet will be
mapped in the infrared
at 100 meters per pixel
resolution.
MOLA Map
The Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter has created the most accurate global topographic map of any planet in the solar system, giving scientists elevation maps precise to within about 30 centimeters (1 foot) in the vertical dimension.
Data from the laser altimeter establishes pathways for the flow of past water and the locations, sizes, and volumes of
watersheds.
Feature Identification
Chart
Context Image
MOLA Shaded
Relief
-19N, 173E
THEMIS images
are taken
during the
afternoon and
the sun is
shining from the
left
All THEMIS visible
images are ~18
km across
THEMIS Visible
Image
Context Image
THEMIS Visible
Image
-20N, 240E
Mars Image Analysis
Materials Needed:
•Context Image
•Laminated THEMIS visible image
•MOLA map of Mars
•Surface Feature ID Charts (4)
•Erasable Markers
•Ruler
•Calculator
What we will do:
Using the Feature ID Charts and the THEMIS Images poster, you
will:
1. Find your image on the MOLA map to get the bigger
picture of the context
2. Label features in your image and context image
3. Think about the “history of your area” – What’s older, what’s
younger? What’s happened here?!?
4. Make measurements: The image is 18km across, so
measure the distance across in cm and figure out the scale
of your image. (18 km / _____ cm = ??? km/cm)
Scale Factor: 1cm = ??? km
Mars Image Analysis
Extension activity
Rotate around to other images and observe how other groups identified features in their
images Have students make new observations on other
images
MSIP Overview
Students: Learn about and model the process of science
Contribute to what is known about Mars by conducting their own research Can possibly command a NASA satellite
Incorporate science, math, reading, and writing in a real-world application MSIP Student Video MSIP Teacher Video
MSIP Curriculum Curriculum manuals are available for download
MSIP Teacher Procedures Manual – created to help teachers formulate ways to incorporate MSIP
into their classroom
http://msip.asu.edu
3 Formats of Participation
On-Site The On-Site Format of MSIP provides students from across the United States with the opportunity to conduct part of
their research at the Mars Space Flight Facility on the campus of Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ.
Distance Learning The Distance Learning Format of MSIP provides students
from across the United States with the opportunity to conduct their research at their school site and by periodically
connecting to staff at the Mars Space Flight Facility via internet, video and/or teleconferences.
Archived The Archived-data format of MSIP provides students with
the opportunity to get connected to staff at the Mars Space Flight Facility via nationwide internet, video and/or
teleconferences. This format allows teachers the freedom to use available curricular materials as they see fit.
Mars Student Imaging Project Teams Diverse groups of students
MSIP Distance Learning Opportunities
You can participate in upcoming Distance Learning opportunities with MSIP
Dates TBA (usually 4 in the fall, and 4 in the spring)
NSTA Web Symposium 90-minute, live professional development experiences
http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/webseminars.aspx
Mars Exploration Student Data
Teams
• Virtual teams of students
connected nationally through electronic bulletin boards solving
real-world problems using
spacecraft at Mars
•Students learn to use real data
applications from current missions
to support science return
http://ratw.asu.edu/
Mars Scientists are asking students from around the world to help them understand the red planet. Send in a rock collected by you or your classroom from your region of the world and we will use a special tool like the one on the Mars Exploration Rovers to tell you what
it's made of.
http://imaginemars.jpl.nasa.gov
The Imagine Mars Project is a national arts, sciences, and technology education initiative that leads
students to work together with scientists, engineers, artists, and civic leaders to design and share a
futuristic Mars community for 100 people.
http://mp2.mars.asu.edu/ The Mars Public Mapping Project is a web-based education and public outreach tool developed by
the Mars Space Flight Facility at Arizona State University.
This tool allows the general public to identify and map geologic features on Mars, utilizing Thermal
Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) visible images, allowing public participation in authentic scientific
research.
EDL
Mars Websites to use in the classroom
Mars Education Website: http://marsed.asu.edu (curriculum online)
Resource CD’s
Additional Sites: http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov
http://msip.asu.edu
http://mesdt.asu.edu
http://themis.asu.edu
THE WORLD AT NIGHT
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