Connect2Texas
McDonald Observatory
Free Digital Learning Options Available
Hello Educators! With school closures and students stuck at home, we wanted to pass along some options for digital learning. Share these programs with parents or incorporate them into your online lessons and homework. If you have questions or need assistance, contact wetzel@utexas.edu.
Educational Program Recordings
No registration is required. Students can watch these recordings anytime. Click here for teacher guides, activities, student worksheets, TEKS, or National Science Standards.
Observing Our Star the Sun (Grades 6-8)
In this 50-minute video conference program, students are given a brief introduction to the UT McDonald Observatory, make live telescope observations of our star the Sun with telescopes equipped with special video cameras and solar filters, complete their student sheet, and learn about the solar features they’ve seen by watching unique science demonstrations.
Telescope Views: Our Star the Sun (Grades 3-5)
The Mercury Transit (Grades K-5)
An extremely rare astronomical event took place Monday morning, November 11, 2019. A transit of Mercury! During this exciting transit event, orbiting Mercury passed directly between the Earth and Sun, and we aimed our telescope safely at the Sun to observe the dark silhouette of Mercury! This was a once-in-a-lifetime event that students and teachers witnessed in the classroom. During the videoconference, students took a brief helicopter tour of the UT McDonald Observatory and saw one of the world's largest telescopes used by astronomers to detect planets orbiting other stars.
Other Activities and Resources
Ask an Astronomer
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