Inner Planet Project
Mr. Komp - Astronomy

The environment on the earth is changing rapidly.  Most scientists now agree that the human population and the industrial revolution are a primary cause of many of these changes, but natural fluctuation of the earth’s climate is also contributing to climate changes.  Scientists have suggested exploration of Venus and Mars could help us to understand our own changing environment and predict its future. 

Your consulting firm has been asked to prepare a series of three articles for the local newspaper to help inform the public of the potential for using future exploration of Venus or Mars to understand our environment on earth.  While you are encouraged to make use of printed and internet resources, each article is to be in your own words.  List all references, and quote any statements taken directly from other sources.  All work is to be typed, double spaced, with 12 font and 1 inch margins. Mr. Komp has provided a copy of the assignment for you here. (Inner Planet Project) There is also a link to the rubric by which you will be graded.

If you would like to learn more about astronomy, follow the links on this pathfinder. It will help you find information in your school library media center, on the internet.

Books Magazines
Internet Sites
Dewey Numbers
Keywords Phrases
People
Places

Print Resources-Books and Magazines

There are several excellent books about astronomy. A few of the books are listed below. To locate more books, use the suggested keywords and phrases to search the online library catalog.


NONFICTION BOOKS

These are located on a reference cart in the library and must be used in the library:

Near Planets by Robin Kerrod

The Sun, Mercury and Venus by Linda T. Elkins

Venus by Giles Sparrow

Mars by Stuart Murray

Mars by Linda Elkins

 

MAGAZINES

Scientific American

Astronomy Magazine

Science News Magazine

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Online Resources--Internet Sites

The Web sites listed on this page have been previewed and selected for this topic. If additional information is needed, use the suggested keywords and phrases to search the Internet.

Solar System Data:
Solar System Exploration – Basic information on the Planets
Planetary Fact Sheets
World Book at NASA (World Book Encyclopedia designed for space science)
Windows to the Universe

Venus:
National Space Science Center- Links About Venus
Chronology of Venus Exploration
Catalog of Venus Images
Venus Images from the Planetary PhotoJournal
Venus Express
Messenger Mission
Space.com article on Venus environment

Mars:
National Space Science Center, Links About Mars
Mars Images from the Planetary Photojournal
NASA’s Mars Exploration Missions
Chronology of Mars Exploration
Space.com Article on Mars rover study of Mars environment
Earth-Mars environment comparison
Space Weather on Mars
The Solar Wind at Mars

Earth:
National Space Science Center, Links About Earth

The Moon:

National Space Science Center - Links about the moon

Moon images from the Planetary PhotoJournal

Moon fact sheet

Space.com Article on the atmosphere of the Moon

Chronology of Lunar Exploration

Ice on the moon

Mercury:

Mercury Fact Sheet

National Space Science Center - Links about Mercury

Images of Mercury from Planetary Photojournal

Mariner 10 Mission

Messenger Mission

Mercury Fact Sheet

Ice on Mercury

 

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Dewey Decimal Numbers to Browse

If you want to browse the shelves at the local public library to locate information about astronomy, look for these numbers:

523.2 - The Solar System

523.4 - The Planets

523.42 - Venus

523.43 - Mars

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Keywords and Phrases for Searching

Do you need additional information? Try using these words and phrases to search:

Using Yahoo or Google:

"Mars +climate"

"Venus +climate"

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