Each students head is the Earth. Students can also observe and record the real phases of the Moon over a period of a couple of weeks. Students learn how, since a comet is in orbit around the Sun, it appears to move with respect to background stars. Students create a model for how a CCD camera on a telescope is used to collect image information in terms of number of photons of light captured in each pixel of the image. Photons are modeled as Styrofoam peanuts and pixels are represented as cups.
Students learn how asteroids can be discovered by comparing two images of the same place in the sky.
They also learn the difference between an asteroid and a comet. Students measure the radius of the orbits of some of Jupiter's moons. Students see evidence of rotation of Jupiter by observing the Great Red Spot. They arrange the planets in order and record planet sizes and distances to the Sun. Students locate the planet Pluto by comparing two telescope images.