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Lab Descriptions



Screenshot of a portion of the simulator.
Screenshot of portion of the Ptolemy's Model Simulator.

Solar System Models Module

The NAAP Solar System Models Module introduces the universe as envisioned by early thinkers culminating in a detailed look at the Copernican model.




Screenshot of a portion of the simulator.
Screenshot of portion of the Seasons and Ecliptic Simulator.

Basic Motions and Seasons Module

This module covers three different, but related areas. Terrestrial coordinates and the celestial equatorial coordinate system are covered and are used to explore the motion of the sun and how it relates to seasons.




Screenshot of a portion of the simulator.
Screenshot of portion of the Rotating Sky Explorer.

The Rotating Sky Module

This module introduces the horizon coordinate system and the apparent rotating of the sky. The relationship between the horizon an celestial equatorial coordinate systems is explicitly explored.




Screenshot of a portion of the simulator.
Screenshot of portion of the Paths of the Sun Simulator.

Motions of the Sun Module

This module reviews some of the material from Basic Coordinates and Seasons Module and The Rotating Sky Module and adds information to put all the pieces together for a more complete description of the motions of the sun culminating in the the Paths of the Sun Simulator. Computation of meridional altitude and stellar visibility are also introduced.




Screenshot of a portion of the simulator.
Screenshot of portion of the Planetary Orbit Simulator.

Planetary Orbit Simulator

This simulator is designed to facilitate understanding of Kepler's Three Laws of Planetary Motion as well as how velocity and force relate to the orbits. The user can manipulate the orbital properties of a fictional planet and read off various orbital parameters. Our solar system's planets can also be observed as a background for comparison.




Screenshot of a portion of the simulator.
Screenshot of portion of the Lunar Phase Simulator.

Lunar Phase Simulator

This simulator demonstrates how the earth-sun-moon geometry gives rise to the phases of the moon as seen from earth. A distant view of an observer looking down on earth as well as a perspective of an observer looking into the sky are used in the the simulator.




Screenshot of a portion of the simulator.
Screenshot of portion of the Blackbody Curves & UBV Filters module.

Blackbody Curves & UBV Filters

This module demonstrates the basic properties of the blackbody curve and how temperature relates to blackbody curves. The temperature-color correlation of blackbody curves is explored through the concept of filters, which are also introduced in this module.




Screenshot of a portion of the simulator.
Screenshot of portion of the Hydrogen Energy Levels Simulator.

Hydrogen Energy Levels

This module introduces the concept of how quantum mechanics and light relate with respect to the Hydrogen atom. The Energy Levels simulator allows dynamic interaction with a Bohr model version of a single Hydrogen atom. The Thermal Distribution histogram gives a temperature dependent plot of occupied states for many, many atoms.




Screenshot of a portion of the simulator.
Screenshot of portion of the Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram Simulator.

Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram

This module allows exploration of the HR Diagram including the relationship between stellar luminosity, temperature, and radius and how other stars appear relative to the sun. Students can place groups of stars on the HR Diagram including the brightest stars in the sky and the nearest stars to us.




Screenshot of portion of the simulator.
Screenshot of a portion of the Eclipsing Binary Simulator.

Eclipsing Binary Simulator

This simulator demonstrates how information about stars which can not be directly observed can be inferred from a special class of binary stars – eclipsing binaries.




Screenshot of portion of the simulator.
Screenshot of a portion of the Gas Retention Simulator.

Atmospheric Retention

This module illustrates how the escape velocity of a planet and the distribution of the velocities of gas particles both affect whether or not a particular species of gas is retained.




Screenshot of a portion of the simulator.
Screenshot of a portion of the Radial Velocity Simulator.

ExtraSolar Planets Module

This module investigates the detection of extasolar planets by both the radial velocity and the transit method.




Screenshot of a portion of the simulator.
Screenshot of portion of the Photometry Simulator.

Variable Star Photometry

This module moves through the entire process by which astronomers study variable stars. Individual concepts that are studied include: properties of CCDs, image registration, blink comparators, aperture photometry, differential photometry, period determination, and light curve analysis.