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Listed under:  Science  >  Earth and space  >  Universe
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Stellarium Web

Stellarium provides a web-based version of a planetarium that allows users to explore what's visible in the sky from any location in the world. It calculates the positions of the Sun and Moon, planets and stars, and draws how the sky would look to an observer depending on their location and the time. It can also draw the ...

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Threshold 2: The Stars Light Up

This short video gives an overview of the emergence of the first atoms, hydrogen and helium, 380,000 years after the Big Bang. The effects of gravity led to tiny variations in the density of matter throughout the Universe, which in turn became heated, resulting in fusion and the emergence of the first stars, galaxies, and ...

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What emerged from the Big Bang?

This 13 minute video in 3 parts explains how the Big Bang theory developed by looking at the evidence that supports it, including Hubble's theory of the birth of the universe, Hoyle's naming of it and Einstein's theory of energy and matter. Part 2 looks at what happened after the Big Bang - the emergence of the 4 fundamental ...

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BTN: Aboriginal astronomy

Many ancient cultures studied the night sky, and we know this because it is reflected in some of the earliest stories we have on record. Learn about one of these stories in this video. Other than the Dreamtime stories, what other evidence might there be that the Aboriginal people studied the stars?

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Space telescopes and servicing Hubble

This radio interview gives examples of how improvements in technology have influenced astronomy. The Space Shuttle Atlantis is paying a service call to the Hubble Space Telescope, repairing, replacing and deploying new equipment. Jonathan Nally describes the mission and looks at other large telescopes in orbit now, and ...

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Night Sky Quiz

This is a ten question multiple choice quiz that gives students feedback on their understanding of about the nature of the night sky and the universe. A useful resource to determine what students already know or to promote discussion. Feedback provides some excellent explanations.

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Light takes time to travel through space

Light travels in waves and carries information as it moves from one object to another. In this clip, people are used to represent the Sun, planets and light rays in order to show that light takes time to travel through space bringing information from those objects to us on Earth. Discover that by the time we receive this ...

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BTN: The biggest radio telescope in the world

In the past, astronomers explored the universe with their eyes and optical telescopes, but what they could see was limited. Find out how radio telescopes have revolutionised the way astronomers 'see' the universe, allowing us to explore deeper into space than ever before.Watch this clip to learn about Australia's contribution ...

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What is a meteor?

Brianna and Professor Jonti Horner look up into the night sky to find out more about shooting stars. What is a shooting star made of and why do they fall from the sky?

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When neutron stars collide

Using technologically advanced supercomputers, scientists have developed theories about the creation of black holes deep in outer space. Watch the computer simulation in this clip to see how the collision of two neutron stars produces a gamma ray burst and a new black hole. Discover that our continuing understanding of ...

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Catalyst: Birth of radio astronomy

Did you know that some of the most ground-breaking scientific discoveries were made by chance (serendipity)? Discover the link between static on a telephone line and the invention of the radio telescope that has helped scientists find new clues to the origin of the universe.

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Stars in the southern hemisphere

Have you heard of the Southern Cross? It's a constellation (a grouping of stars) that can be found in the southern hemisphere. What does it look like? See if you can follow the tips from this video and find it in the sky at night!

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The Milky Way

What do you know about the Milky Way? Did you know that there are hundreds of billions of stars in it? Before you embark on your stargazing expedition, watch this video to learn how you can use just your hands and a compass to locate stars in the sky! What is the unit of measurement used when you're measuring distances ...

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Using maths to understand the universe

When completed, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project will be the largest and most capable radio telescope available to scientists. Radio telescopes like the SKA detect radio waves produced by events and objects in the furthest reaches of space, translating these waves into data and imagery that allow scientists to study ...

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Threshold 1: The Big Bang

This short video offers an overview of The Big Bang - the unanswered questions about what preceded it, and the existence of space and time after it, as well as matter and energy. The forms that energy and matter then took is explained.

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Triple J: Why is Pluto not a planet?

Watch this clip and learn why Pluto was taken off the official list of planets. Dr Karl Kruszelnicki explains the three criteria that must be met before planets can be called planets. What are they?

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Kamay – looking up

This resource explores the navigation techniques used during the journey of the Endeavour and contrasts these with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander navigational and astronomical systems that have been in place for many thousands of years. This learning sequence contains activities suitable for Year 7 - Year 10 science ...

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Future of the moon

This 4 minute video segment from Catalyst describes how Moon rocks may hold clues about the beginnings of life on Earth because of the lack of weathering and erosion.

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Science student of the year Western Australia 2008

This friendly chat helps to break down some stereotypes about scientists. Jacinta Delhaize travelled to Chile and work at the Gemini South Observatory in the Andes Mountains. She talked about her experience with high school students and for this received the Science Student of the Year award in 2008. Her PhD researches ...

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Exoplanets

This nine and a half minute video segment from Catalyst explains that relatively recently times we have got the technology to look for exoplanets. Astronomers have now uncovered more than 350 planets orbiting other stars. These worlds, known as exoplanets, can be pretty weird places. This program discusses a theory to describes ...