Janice VanCleave's A+ Projects in Astronomy

JANICE VANCLEAVE is a former award-winning science teacher who now spends her time writing and giving science workshops. She is the author of over 40 books with sales totaling over 2 million copies.

Introduction.

PART I. MEASUREMENTS.

Apparent Diameter: Observed.

Angular Separation: Angular Distance Between Celestial Bodies.

Altitude: Vertical Coordinate.

Azimuth: Horizontal Coordinate.

PART II. OPTICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Apertures: The Gathering of Light.

Diffraction: The Spreading of Light.

PART III. THE SUN.

Sunspots: Cooler Surface Regions.

True Sun: How the Sun Appears to Move.

Seasons: Four Times of the Year.

PART IV. THE PLANETS.

Solar System Scale: Miniature Model.

Barycenter: The Balancing Point.

Orbital Eccentricity: How Circular a Celestial Body's Path Is.

Planetary Phenomean: Planetary Movement Relative to Earth.

Orbital Period: Time of Revolution.

Spheroids: Bulging Bodies.

Rotation: The Spinning of Celestial Bodies.

Phases of Venus: Changes in Shape and Size.

PART V. MOONS.

Moon Phase: The Moon's Visible Lighted Surface.

Eclipses: Shadows of the Earth and Moon.

Craters, Maria, and Highlands: The Moon's Surface Features.

Galilean Satellites: Jupiters Largest Moons.

PART VI. STARS.

Celestial Sphere: Sky Globe.

Zodiac Band: Background for the Ecliptic.

Cirumpolar: Stars above the Horizon.

Star Clock: Star Positions Indicate Time.

Star Systems: Multiple Stars.

Apparent Magnitude: Apparent Star Brightness.

Parallax: Apparent Shift of an Object.

PART VII. METEORS AND ARTIFICIAL SATELLITES.

Meteors: Streaks of Light in the Sky.

Artificial Satellites: Man-Made Orbiters.

Appendix 1: Random Error of Measurements.

Appendix 2: Relative Error: Percentage Error.

Appendix 3: Planet Facts and Figures.

Appendix 4: Tangent Table.

Appendix 5: Sources of Scientific Supplies.

Glossary.

Index.