Approach the Solar System at KS3 and the lifecycle of stars at KS4 through all the bands of the electromagnetic spectrum. Group KS4 students to select one of the stages in the life cycle of stars, for example a supernova, and hunt on the internet for images in all bands of the spectrum. Compile a display showing the stages of the star’s life seen through different types of telescope.
Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (PPARC) offers gamma images of a supernova at the centre of our galaxy: www.pparc.ac.uknwmdartclmedia_images.asp X-ray images from the Chandra x-ray observatory: http:chandra.harvard.eduphotocategory.html
Ultraviolet images: www.astro.virginia.educlassoconnellUIT The visible spectrum:www.hubblesite.org David Malin images (the Anglo Australian telescope): www.aao.gov.auimages Infrared images (the Spitzer Space Telescope and its associated Multiwavelength Astronomy Gallery: http:coolcosmos.ipac.caltech.educosmic_classroommultiwavelength_astronom ymultiwavelength_astronomy Information about microwave background radiation: http:imagine.gsfc.nasa.govdocsfeaturesexhibitmap_exhibit.html
Radio images of the centre of our galaxy: http:rsd-www.nrl.navy. mil7213lazioGC The Nasa site has a wealth of information and images: www.nasa.govexternalflashVisionindex.html
For a specific overview of telescopes viewing the universe in different bands of the spectrum: http:imagine.gsfc.nasa.govdocsscienceknow_l2emspectrum.html
