National Informal STEM Education Network: Exploring the Solar System - Big Sun, Small Moon
In this Short Activity, learners explore the concept of the apparent size by looking at models of celestial bodies at different distances.
Exploring the Solar System: Big Sun, Small Moon” is a hands-on activity that explores the concept of apparent size and allows visitors to experience this phenomena using familiar objects—a tennis ball and a beach ball. Participants learn that the Sun and Moon appear the same size in our sky because although the Sun is much bigger than the Moon, it is also much farther away.
BIG IDEA
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon blocks the light of the Sun from hitting Earth. The Sun is much larger than the Moon, but because the Sun is so much farther away, the Moon is able to fully block it during an eclipse.
LEARNING GOALS
- We can see a solar eclipse from Earth because the Sun and Moon appear to be the same size in the sky.
- The further away an object is, the smaller it appears.
- NASA researchers learn new things by studying the Sun during a total solar eclipse.
DOWNLOAD FILES
- Exploring the Solar System: Big Sun, Small Moon activity guide (PDF)
- Exploring the Solar System: Big Sun, Small Moon facilitator guide (PDF)
- Exploring the Solar System: Big Sun, Small Moon table sign (PDF)
- Solar Eclipse postcard (PDF)
- Solar Eclipse poster (PDF)
- Exploring the Solar System: Big Sun, Small Moon activity guide (Spanish) (PDF)
- Exploring the Solar System: Big Sun, Small Moon table sign (Spanish) (PDF)
- Solar Eclipse (Spanish) (PDF)
- Solar Eclipse poster (Spanish) (PDF)
Download all files
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In this Short Activity, learners explore the concept of the apparent size by looking at models of celestial bodies at different distances.
Exploring the Solar System: Big Sun, Small Moon” is a hands-on activity that explores the concept of apparent size and allows visitors to experience this phenomena using familiar objects—a tennis ball and a beach ball. Participants learn that the Sun and Moon appear the same size in our sky because although the Sun is much bigger than the Moon, it is also much farther away.
BIG IDEA
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon blocks the light of the Sun from hitting Earth. The Sun is much larger than the Moon, but because the Sun is so much farther away, the Moon is able to fully block it during an eclipse.
LEARNING GOALS
- We can see a solar eclipse from Earth because the Sun and Moon appear to be the same size in the sky.
- The further away an object is, the smaller it appears.
- NASA researchers learn new things by studying the Sun during a total solar eclipse.
DOWNLOAD FILES
- Exploring the Solar System: Big Sun, Small Moon activity guide (PDF)
- Exploring the Solar System: Big Sun, Small Moon facilitator guide (PDF)
- Exploring the Solar System: Big Sun, Small Moon table sign (PDF)
- Solar Eclipse postcard (PDF)
- Solar Eclipse poster (PDF)
- Exploring the Solar System: Big Sun, Small Moon activity guide (Spanish) (PDF)
- Exploring the Solar System: Big Sun, Small Moon table sign (Spanish) (PDF)
- Solar Eclipse (Spanish) (PDF)
- Solar Eclipse poster (Spanish) (PDF)
Download all files
What are you looking for?
Organization
Website URL
Type of Resource
Tutorial