Now is a great time to see Jupiter!

Even if you're not currently teaching astronomy topics, this is something you need to tell your students about. . . On October 29, Jupiter will be at opposition to the Sun, providing earthlings (including your students) a great opportunity to see the gas giant over the next few weeks. With good eyes, a decent pair of binoculars, and a wall to steady yourself against, you should be able to see some of its large moons. CLICK HERE to learn more. The site provides links to other sites that help students understand why Jupiter is in a favorable position for us to see it. CLICK HERE to see the recent "Astronomy Picture of the Day", which also highlights this event.

Colorful Real-Time Weather Maps

Here is on of my favorite sources for real-time weather maps. The site is provided by the University of Illinois (WW2010). When a storm is moving through, I like to start class by showing some of the colorful maps. CLICK HERE to see what the site has to offer. The site allows you to animate the images to watch how different aspects of the weather have changed. Play with it to see how it works.

Under Construction

What's the Recipe for a Cloud?

Here is my version of the "cloud in a bottle activity". To obtain a student handout and answer key for this activity, CLICK HERE.

Juice bottles are also suitable for this activity.