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Grades PreK-3 (Ages 3-8)

Resources

Earth’s Moon February 19, 2016
Saturn's rings

Saturn February 10, 2016
Jupiter

Jupiter February 10, 2016
Earth

Earth February 10, 2016
Venus

Venus February 10, 2016
Taurus, the Bull

Taurus, the Bull May 25, 2010
Perseus, the Hero

Perseus, the Hero May 25, 2010
Pegasus, the Flying Horse

Pegasus, the Flying Horse May 25, 2010
Sagittarius, the Archer

Sagittarius, the Archer May 25, 2010
Ursa Major, the Great Bear

Ursa Major, the Great Bear May 25, 2010
Leo, the Lion

Leo, the Lion May 25, 2010
A giant plume of hot gas explodes from the Sun's surface. Giant bubbles of hot g

Our Star, the Sun June 8, 2006

Radio Programs

Leap Day Leaping with the seasons February 29, 2016

Moon and Spica The end of a long journey February 26, 2016

Moon and Jupiter The might of a giant planet — after this. February 23, 2016

Moon, Regulus, and Jupiter Powering up curtains of light February 22, 2016

Arrow of Time Going forward in time February 16, 2016

Moon and Companions Two planets without moons February 5, 2016

Moon and Venus A “liquid” atmosphere for Venus February 4, 2016

Moon and Spica Filling a lunar “ocean” January 29, 2016

Moon and Aldebaran Years of playing “peek-a-boo” January 19, 2016

Zapped! Zapped by the Sun — twice January 18, 2016

End of the River A river that ends twice January 17, 2016

Eridanus A footstool for the hunter January 16, 2016

Moon and Companions Building a mound on the Moon — after this. January 6, 2016

Moon and Venus Dropping in on a nasty planet January 5, 2016

Tau Ceti Visiting a dusty star system — after this. January 4, 2016

Mars and Meteors Mars, meteors, and the Moon — after this. January 3, 2016

Winter Solstice Beckoning the Sun to return December 21, 2015

El Nath Sharing a bright star December 20, 2015

Geminid Meteors Dark skies for a meteor shower December 12, 2015

Moon and Jupiter The master of a busy domain December 3, 2015

Venus and Spica A star that’s more than meets the eye December 1, 2015

EV Lacertae A tiny star with a big temper October 30, 2015

Venus and Jupiter A great show from the “morning star” October 22, 2015

Orionid Meteors Reminders of a distant comet October 18, 2015

Moon, Saturn, Antares Tracking Saturn across the sky October 15, 2015

Triangulum Galaxy A busy member of the Local Group October 5, 2015

Blood Harvest Super Moon Lining up names for the full Moon September 26, 2015

Lunar Eclipse Lining up a skywatching treat September 25, 2015

September Equinox Changing seasons — one way or another September 21, 2015

Moon and Venus Beauty and fire in the dawn sky September 7, 2015

Moon and Aldebaran A stellar disappearing act September 3, 2015

Moon and Saturn Probing the heart of a giant August 20, 2015

Heating Saturn Heating up Saturn’s interior August 18, 2015

Changing Addresses Venus moves to the morning sky August 14, 2015

More Perseids Flashes of light in the summer night August 10, 2015

Perseid Meteors Fiery skies from comet dust August 9, 2015

Lammas Splitting the difference on the calendar July 31, 2015

Moon and Saturn Following a stately planet July 24, 2015

Moon and Spica Frozen in place in lunar skies July 21, 2015

Latest Sunsets Stretching the afternoon sunlight July 2, 2015

Leap Second Stretching out the month of June June 29, 2015

Moon and Venus Losing our eyes and ears on Venus June 18, 2015

Moon and Antares Digging up some lunar history June 1, 2015

Moon and Saturn Pinpointing a giant planet May 31, 2015

Moon in Balance Bringing a constellation into balance May 30, 2015

Moon and Venus The “evening star” slows down May 20, 2015

The Crow A confusing layout for a faint constellation May 16, 2015

Bear’s Nose The shiny nose of the great bear May 9, 2015

El Nath Location, location, location May 2, 2015

Unpredictable Sun Predicting our unpredictable Sun April 28, 2015

Brighter Sun The Sun gets a lot brighter April 27, 2015

Solar Fusion The Sun shines on and on and on April 26, 2015

Moon and Venus Double “smacks” for a young planet April 20, 2015

Catching the Rain A lunar cup for catching rainfall April 19, 2015

Lunar Eclipse Lining up a total lunar eclipse April 2, 2015

Eclipses Through the Ages A legacy from 1492 April 1, 2015

Denebola The “dusty” tail of the lion March 30, 2015

Moon and Venus Shaking up the solar system March 21, 2015

Spring Equinox Springing into a long, long day March 19, 2015

Solar Eclipse Extra darkness for the Arctic March 18, 2015

Moon, Saturn, and Antares Heating up the Moon’s interior March 11, 2015

Moon and Spica Safety first around an amazing star March 7, 2015

Solar Max Taking a look at the busy Sun February 13, 2015

Moon and Spica A touch of fall near the Moon February 7, 2015

Jupiter at Opposition A big showing for a big planet February 5, 2015

Moon and Regulus Settling the dust on the Moon February 3, 2015

More Moon and Jupiter The Moon stays active February 2, 2015

Meteor Plots On the trail of “shooting stars” January 28, 2015

Perseus Taking the measure of a monster January 24, 2015

Occultations Illumination from darkness January 22, 2015

Moon and Venus Venus’s nightside goes green January 20, 2015

Moon and Companions A brilliant presence in the night sky January 15, 2015

Quadrantid Meteors The changing landscape of the sky January 1, 2015

Featured Images

Total lunar eclipse, October 2014

Lunar Eclipse September 26, 2015
The western evening sky of May 22, 2015

Crowded Skies May 22, 2015
Space-based view of solar eclipse of March 20, 2015

Disappearing Sun March 20, 2015
Artist's concept of Solar Max in orbit

Sun Watcher February 14, 2015
Cassini view of Jupiter from 6 million miles

Turbulent Giant February 6, 2015
Composite image of the Sun

Hot Sun December 24, 2014
Artist's concept of Epsilon Aurigae

Playing Frisbee November 23, 2014
Postcard of the historic Elgin Watch Company Observatory in Illinois

Star Time October 25, 2014
Jupiter's radiation belts

Jovian Shields October 15, 2014
The Moon occults Dabih, a star in Capricornus

Celestial Cover-Up September 5, 2014
Artist's concept of Solar Orbiter

Feeling the Heat July 4, 2014
Venus, Mercury, and the earthshine-illuminated crescent Moon

Lighting the Shadows May 30, 2014
Venus Express movie showing south polar vortex

Double Vortex March 27, 2014
Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter view on lunar north polar regions

Top o' the Moon March 19, 2014

Peek-a-Boo January 31, 2014
The Great Square of Pegasus

Double Duty September 12, 2013
LADEE launch, September 6, 2013

Moon Bound September 7, 2013

Saturnian Heat Rays August 21, 2013
One of the first images from IRIS, a new Sun-watching satellite

First Sunlight July 31, 2013
Cassini monitors Saturn's magnetic field

Radio Story July 16, 2013
GRAIL map of lunar surface gravity

Lunar Lumpiness April 14, 2013
Cassini views Saturn's magnetic field

Solar Sculptor March 1, 2013

Keeping Track February 16, 2013
Chart showing the path of asteroid 2012 DA14 relative to Earth.

Getting Close February 14, 2013
Artist's concept of the Sun's structure

Powerhouse December 17, 2012
Gravitational map of the Moon compiled by the GRAIL mission

Lunar Attraction December 15, 2012
Voyager 1 view of Jupiter's cloudsk

Artistic Clouds November 1, 2012
Orionid Meteor Shower

Orionid Meteors October 20, 2012
Cassini view of Saturn, October 2012

Saturn Looms Large October 18, 2012
Apollo 17 at the rim of Shorty Crater, December 1972

Back to the Moon(rocks) June 11, 2012
June 5, 2012, Venus transit from International Space Station

Seeing Spots June 9, 2012
Diagram of Venus transit of June 5, 2012

Sun Spot June 4, 2012
Partial lunar eclipse of June 4, 2012

Lunar Nibble June 2, 2012
Illustration of annular eclipse of May 20, 2012

In the Zone May 18, 2012
Saturn's moon Titan floats in front of the giant planet

Moon on a String May 11, 2012
Saturn and its rings as seen by Cassini

Subtle Color April 15, 2012
Dark lunar features are named seas or oceans

Split Personality February 9, 2012
Streamers of dust partially obscure the "seven sisters," members of the Pleiades

Veiled Sisters April 6, 2011
Earth and Moon from International Space Station

Blue Moon? March 21, 2011
Lunar crater gouged by Apollo 14 booster rocket

A Big Whack February 4, 2011
The Sun as seen from space

Close to the Sun January 3, 2011
Eruption of gas from the surface of the Sun

Sun Power December 22, 2010
Total Lunar Eclipse of December 21, 2010

Disappearing Moon December 20, 2010

Geminid Meteors December 13, 2010
Japanese spacecraft Akatsuki at Venus

Venusian Dawn December 6, 2010
Leonid Meteor Shower 2010

Seeing Sparks November 16, 2010
Voyager 1 view of Saturn, November 1980

Getting Acquainted November 12, 2010
Infrared image of CW Leonis, a giant star that is surrounded by soot

Steamy Star November 9, 2010
False-color infrared view of Saturn and its aurora

Colorful Aurora September 28, 2010
The aftermath of an asteroid impact in the southern hemisphere of Jupiter

Giant Scar September 20, 2010