The Gas Giants: Jupiter & Saturn

The largest planets with their own mini solar systems swarming around them

What you'll learn
These two planets are busy. Find out how these planets save the Earth from being hit by comets and asteroids AND maintain their own mysterious mini-solar systems.
Planetary composition, including discussions of gas planets, ice planets and terrestrial planets
Gas giants: planetary composition and similarities to stars
Location and discovery of Jupiter and Saturn in the solar system and in the night sky
Jupiter’s rotation, day-night cycles and orbit around the Sun
Jupiter’s size and temperature in comparison to Earth
Jupiter’s weather, including lightening and tornadoes, and patterns on the surface
The Great Red Spot
Mass and weight
Overviews of the four major moons of Jupiter: Io, Ganymede, Europa and Callisto
Extreme volcanic activity on Jupiter’s moon Io
Oceans under Callisto and Europa
Jupiter’s rings
Voyager I and II spacecrafts
Saturn’s rings: discovery, composition, gaps and interaction with moons
Retrograde motions
Scientists Christiaan Huygens and Giovanni Cassini
Saturn’s moons and their relationship to the rings
Wavemaker moons
Saturn’s size, distance, and orbital and rotational information
Saturn’s weather
Points of reference in space
Discussion of density
Saturn’s moon Titan
Cassini spacecraft and mission
Test questions and Cross-curricular activities
Requirements
None
Description
These two planets are busy. Find out how these planets save the Earth from being hit by comets and asteroids AND maintain their own mysterious mini-solar systems.This Course includes the following great BONUS LESSONS:What on Earth is Astronomy?Mini-Lesson: EclipsesMini-Lesson: Meteor ShowersMini-Lesson: Aurora1. Objective2. Warm-up activity3. Planetary composition, including discussions of gas planets, ice planets and terrestrial planets4. Gas giants: planetary composition and similarities to stars5. Location and discovery of Jupiter and Saturn6. Jupiter’s rotation, day-night cycles and orbit around the Sun7. Jupiter’s size and temperature in comparison to Earth8. Jupiter’s weather, including lightening and tornadoes, and patterns on the surface9. The Great Red Spot10. Mass and weight11. Overviews of the four major moons of Jupiter: Io, Ganymede, Europa and Callisto12. Scientist Galileo Galilee and the discovery of Jupiter’s moons in relation to our understanding of astronomical bodies and their orbits13. Extreme volcanic activity on Jupiter’s moon Io14. Oceans under Callisto and Europa15. Jupiter’s rings16. Voyager I and II spacecrafts17. Elliptical orbits18. Comets’ collisions with Jupiter19. Jupiter’s effect on Earth20. Saturn’s rings: discovery, composition, gaps and interaction with moons21. Retrograde motions22. Scientists Christiaan Huygens and Giovanni Cassini23. Saturn’s moons and their relationship to the rings24. Wavemaker moons25. Saturn’s size, distance, and orbital and rotational information26. Saturn’s weather27. Points of reference in space28. Discussion of density29. Saturn’s moon Titan30. Cassini spacecraft and mission31. Test questions32. Cross-curricular activitiesMy name is Tony Ceraso and I will be your instructor. I sometimes run the planetarium and have written curriculum for the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC. I have also written curriculum for NASA’s school visitation program and teach on the college level in NJ.My goal is for you to thoroughly enjoy this lesson. I love astronomy and I want nothing more out of our time together than for you to have a greater appreciation for the universe through the understanding of this material. Besides the lesson I’m going to preview for you now, the course includes warm up activities, test questions, and cross-curricular activities for you to download as a supplement.

Overview

Section 1: Introduction

Lecture 1 Pacing, Warm-up and Objective

Section 2: Main Lesson: Gas Giants

Lecture 2 Jupiter & Saturn: The Gas Giants

Section 3: Testing and Answer Key

Lecture 3 Testing and Answer Key

Section 4: Activities and Resources

Lecture 4 Activities and Resources

Section 5: State Curriculum Standards and Dedications

Lecture 5 Standards and Dedications

Section 6: Bonus Lesson: What on Earth is Astronomy

Lecture 6 What on Earth is Astronomy

Section 7: Bonus Mini Lesson - Eclipse

Lecture 7 Bonus Mini Lesson - Eclipse

Section 8: Bonus Mini Lesson - Meteor Showers

Lecture 8 Meteor Showers

Section 9: Bonus Mini Lesson - Aurora

Lecture 9 Bonus Mini Lesson - Aurora

Anyone who want to know more about Astronomy