The Supernova
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DOCU ENT' RESUME ED 33 200 SE 021 776 AUTHOR Straka, W. PITLE The Supernov - A Stellar Spectacle. INSTITUTION American Ast onomical Society, Princeton, N.J. SPONS AGINCY National Aeronautics and Space Administra ion, Washington, D.C.; National Science Founda ion, Washington, D.C. ERPORX NO NASA-EP-126 PUb DATE Sep 76 NOTE 50p.; Por rel t1 documents, se sE 021 773-775; Photographs may not reproduce well kVAILARLE ROM Supc3rintendent of Documents, ti.s Governm nt Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402 c- ock Num 033-000-00654-3, $1.30) ED.5 PRICE 11F-$0.83 HC-$2.06 Plus Postage. DEsCRIPTORS *Astronomy; Curriculum; *Instructional Materials; Science Education; *Scientific Research; Secondary Education; *secondary School Science; *space sciences I DEI4TIFIERS NASA; National Aeronautics and space Idministration; *Supernovae .B S TRACT This booklet is part of an American_Astronomical Society curriculum project designed to provide teaching materials to eachers of secondary school chemistry, physics, and earth science. The following topics concerning supernovae are included: the outburst as observed and according to theory, the stellar remnant, the nebular remnant, and a summary of some of the unsolved puzzles. Suggested student projects are given, with several levels of difficulty, so that the teacher may choose,material appropriate for the particular class_ puo ***** * * *** ***** * ************** *** ***************** ******* Documents acquired by ERIC include many informal unpublished * materials not available from other .Jources. ERIC makes every effort * * to obtain the best copy available. Nevertheless, items of marginal * * reproducibility are often encountered and this affects the quality * of the microfiche and hardcopy reproductions ERIC makes available * via the ERIC Document Reproduction Service (EDRS). EDRS is not responsible for the quality of the original document. Reproductio * supplied by RIM are tbe best that can be made from the original. ******************************************************************* EPARTMEHT OF HEALTP1 EDUCATIOP 4WCLFAE NATIONAL INSTITWE OF EDUCAT$ON Theuperno -a DOC UMEN T HAS FiEeNREPRO. LWCECt EXAC IL), A5 RECEIVED FROM 1HE PERSON O N O NGANIZAT ION ORIGIN. AIING I T T.OINTS.Or V IEWOR OPINIONS STATED 00 NOT NECESSAWILY REPRf. SENT OFFICIAL NAT IONAL NTI luTEoF our.:AT ION PO;ITION OP NOt ICY National Aeronautics and Space Administration. THE SUPERNOVA A Stellar Spectacle A cii rni- roject of the American Astronomical Society, prepared with the cooperation of the Nation;i1 Aeron, it1cInd Space Administrition and the Nation'al Science Fou 1 n by W. C. Straka Departnien tof Physics, .1' ckson State University Jackson, M ssissippi National Aeronautics and Space Administration Washington, DC 20546 September 1976 For tale by tbe Superintendem of Documents, U.S. Government Printing CHTice Washington, D.C. 20402.- Price 51.30 Stock No. 033-00040654-3/Caulog No. NAS 1.19:126 P EF AC F In the past half century astronomers have provided mankind with a new view of the universe, with glimpses of thc nature of infinity and eternity that beggar the imagimition. Particularly,inthe past decade, NASA's orbiting spacecraft as well as ground-based . astronomy havc brought to man's attention heavenly bodies, sources of energy, stellar andgalactic phenomena, about thenature of which the world's scientists can Only snrin Esoteric as these new discoveries may be, astronomers look to the anticipated Space Telescope to provide improved understanding of these phenomena as well as of the new secrets of the cosmos which they expect it to unveil. This instrument, which can observe objects up to 30 to100 times fainter than those accessibletothe most powerful Earth-basedtelescopesusingsimilartechniques,willextendtheuseof various astronomical methods to much greater distances.Itis not impossible that observations withthis telescope will provide glimpses of some of the earliest galaxies which were formed, and there isa remoter possibility that it will tell us something about thei edge of the universe. The researches of the past 10 years, plus the possibility of even more fundamental discoveriesinthe next decade, arefascinating laymen and firing the imagination of youth. NASA's inquiries into public interest in the space program show that a major source of such interest is stellar and galactic astronomy. NASA's enabling Act, the Space Act of 1958, lists a primary purpose of NASA, "the expansion of human knowledge of phenomena in the atmosphere and space"; the Act requires of NASA that "it provide for thewidestpracticable and appropriate dissemination of information concerningits activities and thc results of those activities. In the light of the above, NASA ispublishing for science teachers, particularly teachers of secondary school chemistry, physics, and Earth science, the following four booklets prepared by the American Astronomical Society (AAS) with the cooperation of NASA: The Supernova, A Stellar Spectacle, by Dr. W. C. Straka, Department of Physics, Jackson State University, Jackson, Mississippi. Extragalactic 14sironomv, The Universe Beyondour Gala:xy,byDr.KennethC. Jacobs,Departmentof Astronoi y, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia. Chemistry Between the Stars, by Dr. Richard H. Gammon, NationalRadio Astronomy Observatory,Charlottesville, Virginia. 4 A mils Asimnotnr hy Dr. Paul A. Blanchard, Theoretieid Studies Group, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Gre mbelt, Maryland. The National Science Foundation has cooperated in this project by funding for the S a I ligh School Astronomy Fducation Workshop in June 1974 at the University of Richmond in order to give the manuscri Its a thorough pedagogic review in terms of curricularrelevanceandclassroomuse. Pie resultingpublications provide exciting accounts recent discoveries in the cosmos, and of the nature of the 'entitle thought techniques by which scientists arc trying to understiind these diseov i N ASA ---its a eciation to the autl ors and to the members or the AAS Task Group on Education nAstronomy (TGFA), whose husiasm aml energy carried the project to completion, particularly to Dr. Gerrit L. Verschuur, Director of the Fiske Planetarium, University of Colorado, who served as Director of the project; Dr. Donat G. Wentzel, Astronomy Program, University of Maodand, initiator or the project; Dr. Paul Knappenberger, Jr., Director, the Science Museum or Virginia and Chairman of the IGEA, who served as Workshop Director, and Herman M, Gurin, Executive Officer of the American Astronomical Society. To those who Were enrolled in the Workshop and to others whose judgments and suggestions helpedgivethemanuscripts the necessary scientific and curricular validity, NASA is grah3ful. Appreciation is also expressed to the National Science Foundation for its support of the Workshop, to the University of Richmond for its cordial and efficient service as host to the Workshop, and to the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center for its assistance in making possible the publication of this projeCt. Technical Monitor for the project was Dr. Nancy W. Boggess, Staff Astronomer, Astrophysics Division, Office of Space Science, NASA. Coordinators of the project were Dr. Nancy G. Roman, Chief, Astronomy/Relativity, Office of Space Science, NASA, and Dr. Frederick B. Tuttle, Director, Educational Programs Division, Office of Public Affairs, NASA.AssistinguntilhisretirementinJune1974, was Mr.MyrlH.Ahrendt, Instructional Materials Officer, Educational Programs Division. Septe 1976 National Aeronau.1 and Space Administration Washington, DC iv SCIENCE AND CURRICULUM ADVISORS TO THE PROJECT High School Astronomy Education Workshop Workshop Faculty and Administration: Dr.PaulH. Knuppwi herger,Jr.,DiuectorScietue um of Vir inia, Richmond. Vi rein la_ Mrs. Rebccea M. Bc rg, Astronomer. Strasenburgh I1i,etariu m, Roclwtei Museum and Science Center. Rochester, New York. 1)r.RiLhard A.Berg, Astr._ r,Spa eScience Center,tJiuiversity of Rochester, Rochester, New York. Dr. Charles D. Smith, Astn nomer, Science Museum of Virginia Richmond, Virginia_ Dr.GerritL.Vrsehuur, Astronomer,FiskePlanetarium, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado. Dr. Donat G. Wentzel, Astronomer, University ol tryland, College Park, Maryland. Workshop Participants: Joseph H. Bean, James Madison Jr, High School, Roanoke, Virginia. M s Jeanne E. Bishop, Westlake High and Parkside Junior High School, Westlake, Ohio. M s Amy Catherine Clark., James Madison High School, Vienna, Virginia. George H. Davis, Washington-Lee High School, Arlington, Virginia. Edmund Thomas DeJulio, Havel-ling Central School, Bath, New York. Leonard R. Ference, Christiuna High School, Newark, Delaware. Jane P. Geoghegan, Th_r as Jefferson High School, Richnnd, Dr, Fred J. Giessow, Mary Institute, St, Louis, Missouri. Melvin L. Glover, Maggie L. Walker High School, Richmond, Virginia. A. Patton Hammond, 111, Hidden Valley intermediate School Roanok-, Virginia. Dr. Darrel B. Hoff, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls Lois J. Hrubik, Fairfield Middle School, Richmond. Virginia. John W,Kritzar, EdisonHigh School, Alexandria, Virginia. I Don 11. Lucas. Wilwad4'lyde Consultants Atlfint J en 11 C. Lilsardi, WO( !bridge Senior High School, Wocdbridge, Dr. M. L Meeks, I layslack Obse ry, Westford, Massachusetts. M s. Helen K. M ncure, Thomas Mc Kean Iligh School. Wihnington,Delaware, Joseph 13. l'etti Ford, H ward Middle School, Alexandria, Virginia_ David 13. Pinckney, Montour ville Area lligh School, Mont ursville Pennsylvai Fugene W. Skinner.