A special telescope that combines the light of two or more telescopes to give very detailed views of the heavens. Name the planets in order of their distance from the sun and tell something about their physical nature. Name two of the ingredients for life in planets outside our solar system. Explain how astronomers can detect planets outside our solar system without ever seeing those planets directly. Locate and identify several major constellations in the current evening sky.
Astronomy is an observational science.
Controlled experiments are usually not possible because we cannot manipulate celestial events. But we can still learn about space by observing and asking questions. Students should begin to do this with their local environment before attending the planetarium program. This is in fact the way scientists explore nature from the smallest atom to the farthest galaxies in the universe. Predict its length and direction 1 hour later.