Using Technology to Explore

The USA is planning several missions to Mars in t he future. This article encourages teachers and their students to explore the wealth of online resources that are currently available to vi... See More

The USA is planning several missions to Mars in t he future. This article encourages teachers and their students to explore the wealth of online resources that are currently available to view launches, predict and plot travel to and from Earth to Mars and back as well as EDL (entry, descent, and landing). Dancing with the Planets as well as Google Mars are program available that will excite and interest budding astronomers as well as incorporate technology in the classroom. Both are a win – win situation.

This Curiosity Won’t Kill the Cat

At the writing of this review, the Mars Science Laboratory rover Curiosity was recently launched; so this article contains some excellent information to help teachers teach about this missio... See More

At the writing of this review, the Mars Science Laboratory rover Curiosity was recently launched; so this article contains some excellent information to help teachers teach about this mission to Mars and provides ideas for how to stimulate interest in the entry, descent, and landing components of the mission. Curiosity should have landed on Mars in the year 2018. By studying this mission, students can learn why spacecraft travel time between Earth and Mars varies and how our Moon can seem to be moving westward and eastward at the same time. Also, they can contemplate what scientists might call the study of Mars’ surface, since geology has been taken to mean the study of our planet Earth. The author suggests we might call it Aerology after the Greek name of Mars, Ares. As is the custom in Bob Riddles’ monthly series, one can find out where and when to look to observe the planets visible for that particular month and year.