What do we need big telescopes for? One of the things astronomers are Lower: May require a currently using them for is hunting for exoplanets. An exoplanet is a set of instructions on how to planet orbiting around another star in space. We can’t see these directly, complete the practical activity, 11 because they are so small compared to their star, which emits a massive which they can refer to during the amount of light. Astronomers need to look for changes in the star’s light practical. 13-15 Set practical activity to show a planet is there. These changes are tiny, so very sensitive, big mins in context, then Higher: May be able to collect telescopes are required to detect them. provide instructions results from open questions such Practical for a successful as, “how can the equipment on intro practical. One method to detect exoplanet is the transit method. This is what the the table be used to simulate an practical activity will represent. This involves looking for a tiny, regular exoplanet orbiting a star?” They ‘dip’ in a star’s light as a planet passes in front of it. perhaps could also construct their 12 own results table, rather than See ‘’ for how to set up and run the practical activity. If not completing using the supplied worksheet. the practical activity, see ‘’. Pupils can record their results using the supplied pupil worksheet. See ‘’ for information on how pupils should read off their results from the data 15-30 they collected. mins Pupils to complete Pupils could be placed in mixed N/A In the practical activity, pupils should complete questions 1-5 of their practical activity. ability groups, for peer support. Practical worksheet. activity This assess the third learning objective: Interpreting data [either from practical activity, or provided information] to collect meaningful results.
13-15 mins Practical intro 11 Set practical activity in context, then provide instructions for a successful practical. What do we need big telescopes for? One of the things astronomers are currently using them for is hunting for exoplanets. An exoplanet is a planet orbiting around another star in space. We can’t see these directly, because they are so small compared to their star, which emits a massive amount of light. Astronomers need to look for changes in the star’s light to show a planet is there. These changes are tiny, so very sensitive, big telescopes are required to detect them. Lower: May require a set of instructions on how to complete the practical activity, which they can refer to during the practical. Higher: May be able to collect results from open questions such as, “how can the equipment on the table be used to simulate an exoplanet orbiting a star?” They perhaps could also construct their own results table, rather than using the supplied worksheet. 12 One method to detect exoplanet is the transit method. This is what the practical activity will represent. This involves looking for a tiny, regular ‘dip’ in a star’s light as a planet passes in front of it. See ‘’ for how to set up and run the practical activity. If not completing the practical activity, see ‘’. 15-30 mins Practical activity N/A Pupils to complete practical activity. Pupils can record their results using the supplied pupil worksheet. See ‘’ for information on how pupils should read off their results from the data they collected. In the practical activity, pupils should complete questions 1-5 of their worksheet. This assess the third learning objective: Interpreting data [either from practical activity, or provided information] to collect meaningful results. Pupils could be placed in mixed ability groups, for peer support.