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Sciences and Exploration Directorate, Code 600

WELCOME TO THE SCIENCES & EXPLORATION DIRECTORATE

Science @ Goddard

 The turbulent heart of our Milky Way galaxy

image of the center of the milky way galaxy in infrared light
This image captured by the Hubble Space Telescope is the sharpest infrared picture ever made of the Milky Way center region. The bright glow comes from warm gas. The patch in the lower right corner is the center of the galaxy, known as Sagittarius A.

Science@Goddard

  • What will the global climate be like in 50 years?
  • Will the universe ever stop expanding?
  • How common are Earth-like worlds?
  • What causes changes in the Sun's brightness?
These are among the important questions about our universe that scientists at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center are trying to answer.
 

Podcasts, Blogs, and Images

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Astronomy Picture of the Day
Each day a different image of our fascinating universe, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.
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Blueshift Podcast
Your "backstage pass" to the science, missions and people here at Goddard.
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Sun-Earth Day podcast
We have recently seen an increase in activity on the surface of the Sun. Join us with Joe Gurman, a NASA Solar Physicist, as he explains what is happening in these active regions.
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Visible Earth
A catalog of NASA images and animations of our home planet.
Earth Observatory Image of the Day
Each day, a new image of our Earth, with explanatory text.
Video Collection
Videos about the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter tell about the next mission to the Moon

Games & Models

LRO artist's conception
Lunar Reconnaissance for Kids
Games, puzzles, quizzes and "moon cookies" can all be found on this kid's website about the Moon.
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Glory Mission - for Kids
A collection of interactive sites for kids, plus games, coloring pages, activities, and more!
JWST artist's conception
JWST Scope it Out!
The Webb Telescope may be unusual in appearance - but it has a lot in common with simple tube-shaped telescopes. Play the "Scope It Out!" game to find out more!
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Cosmic Distance Scale
Why don't humans travel to the nearest star or galaxy? Find out by using this interactive site that explains the immense distnaces to objects in our universe.
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StarGazers games list
Space Science, Earth Science, Spacecraft and other fun games!

Latest Science News

image taken by NASA Aqua satellite of Typhoon Mirinae on October 30 as it approached the Philippines
NASA's Hurricane Page is All "a-Twitter"
In 2005, NASA created the NASA Hurricane and Tropical Cyclone Web page. Now the hurricane page has a companion "Twitter" page.
image from a computer simulation of solar tsunami disturbance on the sun
Solar Tsunami Mystery Solved
NASA's twin STEREO spacecraft have confirmed the existence of wavelike disturbances on the sun's surface dubbed "solar tsunamis."
image of mercury's surface
MESSENGER Reveals More of Hidden Mercury
A NASA spacecraft's third and final flyby of the planet Mercury gives scientists an almost complete view of the planet's surface and new scientific findings.
photograph of astronauts removing Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2 instrument from hubble space telescope while in orbit
NASA Provides Hubble Hardware to Smithsonian
Two key instruments brought back from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope have a new home in the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum in Washington

New Education Resources

Glory and Global Warming Experiment allows students to measure the effect of excess carbon dioxide on the temperature of gas inside of soda bottles and see what the effects of aerosols are on the heating of the gas..
Solar Dynamics Observatory Educator Resources are available for this mission due to be launched in November 2009.
The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter education site contains teacher resources, a newsletter, trivia, activites and games and an active newsroom. Find out about the latest lunar mission from Goddard. Grades K-14
The Mars Global Surveyor website is designed to bring Mars and the Mars Global Surveyor down to Earth (no pun intended) for both kids and teachers.
Cosmic Times is a series of curriculum support materials that trace the history of our understanding of the universe during the past 100 years, from Einstein's formulation of gravity to the discovery of dark energy.

Featured Education Resources

Imagine the Universe! is a website containing high-energy astrophysics science information, news, features, online activities and lesson plans. Grades 8-college
StarChild is a website containing general astronomy for young astronomers (at two reading levels), including info, multimedia, quizzes, lesson plans. Grades K-8
AQUA Cool Science is a highly interactive site describing the AQUA mission
LANDSAT Education contains formal and informal education resources ranging from college course material and internships, to "Earth as art".
GISS Institute on Climate and Planets's education site contains lessons and modules that are driven by fundamental questions and topics scientists deal with in climate and environmental research. By design, they are problem-based investigations for middle to high school in which students learn to use various research tools to construct scientific understandings.
Ozone Hole Education Resources provide links to many formal and informal education sites dealing with the ozone hole and ozone depletion.
Ask Dr. SOHO will respond to questions about the Sun. Grades K-adult
STEREO's classroom products site contains downloadable teacher presentations, posters, booklets, fact sheets and lithos. Grades K-12
Space Weather Action Center will allow you to monitor the progress of an entire solar storm from the time it erupts from our sun until it sweeps past our small planet effecting enormous changes in our magnetic field. Your class can access, analyze and record NASA satellite and observatory data!

Informal Education Resources

The Sunday Experiment Join us and learn about all the cool science and engineering going on right now at Nasa Goddard Space Flight Center! Take part in hands on activities, meet scientists, engineers, and super cool people like us! You can even load up on free stuff, and more.
Family Science Night is a program is for middle school students and their families. Come to the Goddard Visitor Center once a month to discover the wide variety of science and engineering being performed here at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. As a family you will work with NASA volunteers to explore various themes through two hours of hands-on activities and even get to take home a bag full of goodies to then perform your own experiments at home!
Solar Pizza and other make-and-take activities about the sun
Afterschool Universe is an out-of-school-time astronomy program targeted at middle school students. It explores astronomy concepts through engaging hands-on activities and takes participants on a journey through the Universe beyond the solar system.
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