2009

The International Year of Astronomy occurred in 2009. This year long celebration marks the 400th year that the telescope was used for astronomical observations. This event occurred only th... See More

The International Year of Astronomy occurred in 2009. This year long celebration marks the 400th year that the telescope was used for astronomical observations. This event occurred only three years after Pluto was downgraded to a dwarf planet (2006). In January of 2009 the Earth is closest to the sun, an event called perihelion. In this article you are urged to calculate your rotational as well as revolutional speed as you travel on Earth through space.

Lots of upper level math opportunities

The strength of this article for me was in the Math. The section entitled “Fasten Your Seatbelt” provided my middle school students with the opportunity to calculate the Rotation Speed at t... See More

The strength of this article for me was in the Math. The section entitled “Fasten Your Seatbelt” provided my middle school students with the opportunity to calculate the Rotation Speed at the Earth’s Equator and the Revolution Speed Around the Sun. I am always on the lookout for ways to incorporate scientific notation with real calculations. Initially the students struggled, but eventually came to understand the meaning of the calculations especially with the help of the Honors Algebra students.