Students explore different types of space missions and observation techniques that scientists use to study distant objects like asteroids.

Lead a discussion about asteroids and their physical properties, then have students mold their own asteroids out of clay.

Students use art to describe and recognize the geology on planetary surfaces – now including Mars and asteroids.

Students develop spreadsheet models that describe the relationship between the mass of a spacecraft using electric propulsion, the force acting on the spacecraft, and its acceleration.

In this illustrated problem set, students use pi to calculate the size of a Mars rock sample, compare the mirrors of two space telescopes, deduce an asteroid's makeup, and size up a solar eclipse.

In this illustrated math problem, students use pi to calculate the approximate density of the asteroid (16) Psyche and compare that to the density of known terrestrial materials.

In this intermediate-level programming challenge, students use microdevices along with light and mirrors to build a relay that can send information to a distant detector.

Students explore practical applications of exponents and division to investigate what it takes for NASA spacecraft to travel deep into the solar system using only solar power.

In this activity, students learn how light and energy are spread throughout space. The rate of change can be expressed mathematically, demonstrating why spacecraft like NASA’s Juno need so many solar panels.