Astronomy Demos
Click on any link in order to view the demonstration with an instructional video. Additionally, there are procedure/activity plans listed for some of the demonstrations below. If you have an idea for an activity plan, download the demonstration template from the navigation panel, fill it out and email it to Ankit Poudel.
This kit helps to understand the universe by touching.
Astronomy Posters and Postcard Give-Aways
NASA posters and stickers, GWAC, Green Bank Observatory, Pulsar Science Collaboratory, and WV SPOT brochures, astronomy-themed bookmarks and postcards to give-away for outreach events. Replenish supplies as needed.
Celestial Coordinates Umbrella
It has twenty-four celestial longitudes at the interval of 1 hour and six latitudes at fifteen degrees apart which covers northern hemisphere and includes the ecliptic.
Constellations and asterisms are shown on a plastic sphere that has solar system objects inside. This gives a different perspective to viewing the universe.
Code Your World
From the 2018 4-H Youth Science Day: "Code Your World is a four-part challenge that teaches kids ages 8-14 to apply CS to the world around them through hands-on activities. Developed by Google and West Virginia University Extension Service, it includes a computer-based activity on Google’s CS First platform and three unplugged activities that bring coding to life through games and interaction."
Tactile map of the Northern Hemisphere constellations.
Doppler EffectBluetooth speaker that will play frequency that is swung around your head to demonstrate the shift in sound when the speaker is approaching you or moving away from you.
Earth Moon ModelSeveral Earth-moon/solar system models
EclipseDemo to show how lunar and solar eclipses work and how sensitive they are to positioning.
Within the framework of Newtonian mechanics and general relativity (GR), inertial mass is the same as gravitational mass. Closely related to this, and one of the key developments Einstein made towards his development of GR (sometimes known as his happiest thought) is the principle of equivalence in which there is no difference between an accelerating frame of reference and a gravitational field. As a result, within freely falling reference frames in a gravitational field, the effects of gravity are removed. This concept is demonstrated in the movie in which a ring is attached to a cup with an elastic band. The ring hangs over the cup under the force of gravity when the system is stationary, but once the cup and the ring start falling together, the elastic force takes over as the only force affecting the system in that frame of reference. Towards the end of his life, a version of this demonstration was frequently used by Einstein to illustrate these concepts.
Gravitational Waves 1: Mini LIGOA miniature version of LIGO in order to demonstrate how gravitational waves are detected.
Gravitational Waves 2Transparencies to show the shape of gravitational waves.
Illustration of greenhouse effect using infrared camera.
Heat ShieldingHeat shielding used on space crafts. Hold dial thermometer to back (white side) if shielding, and heat up the front (black side) and observe that the back does not heat up at all--showing the effectiveness of the heat shielding. CAUTION: Open flame.
Hoberman SphereHoberman sphere can show angular momentum, expansion, receding velocities, and many more. Can be used and tossed or hung from ring stand.
A model of Milky Way Galaxy where our solar system resides.
Moon PhasesMoon phase model allows you to view every phase of the moon. The demonstration allows you to observe the changing phase by rotating the model or your head.
From the NASA JPL Activity, this demo can be shown using wheat flour, cocoa powder and ball.
Planet Posters
Large hard foam poster boards with Sun and Planet images and facts. Originally created for the WVU 2017 Celebrating Einstein event, and good for displaying all astronomy outreach events.
Model of pulsar. Rotates and lights up two adjustable spots.
RGB FiltersRed, green, and blue light filters are available to observe how different astronomical bodies look through these different lenses.
Rocket BikeModified fire extinguisher attached to bike. When extinguisher expels gas, the bike is pushed forward. CAUTION: Contents under pressure should not be directed towards audience.
Rocket PropulsionCO2 cartridge is placed in this apparatus and when the cartridge is pierced, the thrust makes the arms spin.
Spacetime: Expansion
Model galaxies attached to elastic arms in order to demonstrate expansion of spacetime. Multiple galaxies on each arm demonstrates acceleration of expansion further from observation point.
Spandex stretched over ring can be used to demonstrate gravity. Orbit can be demonstrated using a heavy bowling ball and smaller marbles and gravitational waves can be demonstrated using a modified drill.
Variety of element tubes and gratings are supplied. When students look through gratings, only certain lines appear depending on the element tube.
A collection of various star wheels to show what's visible in the night sky for any time/day of the year. Printable versions recommend from the Lawrence Hall of Science. Recommended with scissors and tape or stapler.
The Sunspotter is the safest way to observe sun by projecting an image of the sun onto a white piece of paper.
4-inch telescope demonstration for how a telescope focuses light and how and eyepiece works. The WVU Planetarium closet has about a dozen of these and other larger telescopes, mostly for use by WVU Astronomy Club members.