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Mary G
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Hey y'all ... after this thread about the 40th anniversary of the moon landing ... I got a copy of this great book from the Vatican Observatory: The Heavens Proclaim, an amazing book about the history of the Vatican Observatory in celebration of the International Year of Astronomy ... this YEAR! I wrote a full review of the book here if you're interested.
So, now I'm scrapping all my Fall 2009 plans for science in order to do a unit on Astronomy ....
what are your favorite resources for studying the sky? I'll be using the above book as well as the Rey books -- Find the Constellations and The Stars. Also, we'll use A Child's Introduction to the Night Sky and Turn Left at Orion: A hundred night sky objects to see in a small telescope and how to find them which is also by Consolmagno from the Vatican Observatory. We have a telescope and I'm thinking we're far enough away from the bright lights to really do some observing.
What other books or sites would you recommend? I'll keep a running list and post it on my blog and here once we get going ...
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MaryG
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MaryM
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I remember reading about the International Astronomy Year earlier in the year but didn't get back to looking into it. I'm glad you posted it. I'll post my list of favorite astronomy books later when I get a longer minute...
Re: the Vatican Observatory - I read an article today about Pope Paul VI spending time on the night of July 20-21, 1969, looking at the moon through the telescope of the Vatican Observatory at his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo.
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Mary M. in Denver
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JennGM
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Oooh, I'm going to be watching this thread!
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anitamarie
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My dh has been doing astronomy this year with the kiddos. He really likes Kids Book of the Night Sky. It's a good mix of fact and also myths and stories. They've really enjoyed it. Have fun.
Anita
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Martha
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don't have time to link, but this is what I have on my shelf already (soon to add that vatican book!)
Let's read nad find out science stage 1 The Big Dipper - Branley
Stage 2 Mission ot Mars (has a forward by Neil Armstrong
stage 2 planets in our solar system by Branley
Magic tree house Midnight ot he Moon and research guide
what make day and night by branley
exploring the sky by day by dickinson
magic school bus lost in the solar system
Janice van cleave's solar system
one small square the night sky
peterson field guide to the stars and planets
the night book by hickman
the moon book by gail gibbons
other worlds: beginners guide to planets nad moons
there's no place like space by rabe (seuss book)
eyes on adventure exploring space
a telescope
stratton home adventures science kit
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Martha
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Matilda
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My oldest really enjoys 365 Starry Nights.
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Charlotte (Matilda)
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Matilda
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Mary,
Is The Heavens Proclaim for adults or children? How about an 11 year old boy who really loves outer space?
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Charlotte (Matilda)
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Mary G
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Charlotte,
The Heavens Proclaim graphically could be for any age -- at first glance, it's a "coffee table book" iykwim  . But most of the text should be accessible to the 10 and up crowd (altho I'm planning to read it to my younger ones in chunks so we can discuss any problems than).
There are a couple of chapters which are pretty heavy ... but if he's really interested he might be able to get those with help.
Does that help?
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MaryG
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Matilda
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It does. One quick thing. By "heavy" do you mean technical science jargon or deep philosophical/theological thought? The technical science jargon doesn't bother him. He just kind of skips over what he can't understand right now. For example, he has read my old college astronomy textbook but I know he didn't "get" everything.
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Charlotte (Matilda)
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stellamaris
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Astronomy Picture of the Day is a beautiful NASA site. It features pictures of astronomical phenomena such as galaxies, nebulae, novas, etc. with a short caption. A lot of the photos are from the Hubble telescope. The heavens proclaim the glory of God!
One book I would include in a study of astronomy is The How and Why Wonder Book of Light and Color since a basic knowledge of light is essential to understanding stellar bodies and also it is part of a basic physics course.
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Caroline
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Mary G
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Matilda wrote:
| By "heavy" do you mean technical science jargon or deep philosophical/theological thought? The technical science jargon doesn't bother him. He just kind of skips over what he can't understand right now. For example, he has read my old college astronomy textbook but I know he didn't "get" everything. |
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Then he should be just fine with this one ... I really like the way the writing flows and the pictures help explain so much. And (ask Mary M ) I am soooo not scientific! 
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MaryG
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Martha
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Okay, tell me I'm not the first one who noticed that the International Year of Astonomy website spelled organize wrong in every use?
Not that I'm ever going to qualify to be the grammar and spelling police.
Just saying I noticed. 
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missionfamily
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Mary--I have the astronomy book lists we used for a full year's study in a google doc. I don't have time to create a pdf and upload tonight, but I'd be happy to share it with anyone who would like it...just pm me an e-mail address to send it to. Or I can upload it tomorrow sometime.
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MaryM
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Martha wrote:
| Okay, tell me I'm not the first one who noticed that the International Year of Astonomy website spelled organize wrong in every use? |
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That is an accepted British spelling - they use both -ize and -ise. Any of you English ladies want to explain further as I don't really know more than that.
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Mary M. in Denver
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Martha
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ah I see
no need to explain then.
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eschuetter
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Great suggestions. Thank you, all!
I'll add one more:
I ordered these for our family. Ours should be arriving soon (so I can't speak to the quality or give a hands-on description) but I think it is a great idea:
The Galileoscope
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MaryM
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Crafty Crow has some links to really nice art, craft, and science ideas for astronomy.
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Mary M. in Denver
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Mary G
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eschuetter wrote:
Great suggestions. Thank you, all!
I'll add one more:
I ordered these for our family. Ours should be arriving soon (so I can't speak to the quality or give a hands-on description) but I think it is a great idea:
The Galileoscope
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Erica ... when you get it will you post? It sounds like fun!
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MaryG
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stacykay
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We are going to be doing astronomy this fall, also. I got this from Stratton House Science. We have a lot of other astronomy sources just laying around the house that I have recently rediscovered in my effort at decluttering. I will add those (the Rey books, Magic School Bus, other assorted astronomy books, and, my favorite, The Sea of Tranquility by Mark Haddon.)
I am so excited that I can tie in our Faith, even more than I had planned, in our study! I am going to order that Vatican book, tonight! Thank you so much for the info, Mary!!! (I am getting just waaay too excited for school to start!)
God Bless,
Stacy in MI
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Matilda
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The Vatican book is lovely! Thank you for the suggestion, Mary G.!
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Charlotte (Matilda)
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4Real Forums : Exploring God's Creation in Nature and Science
Topic: Astronomy for Fall 2009
