Deep Impact: Education: Eyes on the Skies

Eyes on the Skies: Observing Comets

Grades 9-12, 1 to 4 weeks
An activity for educators and high school learners to use while planning and conducting a guided inquiry that involves an observation of a faint comet over time. Learners will consider the comet's physical appearance, such as brightness, and how its physical characteristics change over time, culminating with the impact of Comet Tempel 1 by the Deep Impact spacecraft impactor in July 2005. The materials for this activity include an instructor guide which contains a step by step procedure for teachers and informal educators to use with students, an activity sheet for students to use when comparing descriptions of comets, and a sample rubric for use by both students and teachers for the report.