Moons in Our Universe

This article, The first suspected exomoon may remain hidden for another decade,(https://www.sciencenews.org/article/first-suspected-exomoon-may-remain-hidden-another-decade?tgt=nr) takes a look at the universe and whether or not there are planets with moons outside of our solar system.

This would be a really fun article to use in a class. While looking at our solar system and our universe that surrounds it, the students could contemplate exomoons and the planets that are outside of our solar system. One way this could be done is by first taking a look at our solar system and paying special attention to our earth and moon. Then, by using this article and other resources, students could create their own solar systems. They could explain how theirs was similar and different to ours and explain how the moon(s) affected the planet(s).

The students would then have hands on interaction with the planets, have some understanding to how the moon affects earth, and be able to use their creativity in designing and modeling their own solar system diorama. The students would be able to demonstrate their understanding and create their own worlds.

Standards:

• analyze and interpret data to determine scale properties of objects in the solar system
• develop and use a model to describe the role of gravity in the motions within galaxies and the solar system