Published on: January 31st, 2013
ONONDAGA COUNTY, N.Y. -- For most of the 12 students, this will be an opportunity like they've never had before. These science students have been collecting data and spending a lot of time after school analyzing the planet Mars.
Under the direction of their teacher, Jean Pounder, the students have been focusing on how lava tubes are associated with volcanoes. The students, ranging from grades nine through 12, submitted a proposal to NASA scientists and have been invited to Arizona State next month.
The group will learn more about lava tubes on Mars, but will also get to visit the Grand... Read More
Published on: January 30th, 2013
A large mosaic of THEMIS images showing Gale Crater, the landing site for Curiosity, NASA's Mars Science Laboratory rover, is now available for would-be Martians to explore using their web browsers.
Gale Crater is 154 kilometers (96 miles) wide and it contains a 5-km (3-mi) high mound of layered sediments, which is a primary target for Curiosity. The mound is dubbed Mt. Sharp by scientists, who estimate the crater formed by a massive impact 3.5 to 4 billion years ago.
THEMIS is the Thermal Emission Imaging System, a multiband visible and infrared... Read More
Published on: January 29th, 2013
CLEVELAND, TN (Joyanna Weber, Banner Staff Writer) -- Bradley Central High School physics and chemistry students in Dr. Barbie Buckner’s classes are experiencing what it might be like to work for NASA while studying the scientific method.
Through the Mars Student Imaging Project, students have been given access to the digital imaging program used by NASA scientists to study Mars.
The project is a collaboration between NASA and Arizona State University’s Mars Education program. Classes work to formulate a research question and target an area of which they want the camera to take a... Read More
Published on: January 25th, 2013
PASADENA, Calif. -- NASA's Mars rover Curiosity is driving toward a flat rock with pale veins that may hold clues to a wet history on the Red Planet. If the rock meets rover engineers' approval when Curiosity rolls up to it in coming days, it will become the first to be drilled for a sample during the Mars Science Laboratory mission.
The size of a car, Curiosity is inside Mars' Gale Crater investigating whether the planet ever offered an environment favorable for microbial life. Curiosity landed in the crater five months ago to begin its two-year prime mission.
"Drilling into a... Read More
Published on: January 17th, 2013
Using the THEMIS camera on Mars Odyssey, middle school science students discover what may be a hold in the roof of a lava tube cave on Mars. Read more
Published on: November 15th, 2012
MarsEd Teacher Spotlight:
Jean Pounder, Science Teacher at Westhill High School in Syracuse, NY
Jean has 19 years experience in teaching and inspiring high school science students in grades 9-12. She is an avid supporter of ASU Mars Education Program classroom lessons and activities. And she is passionate about inspiring her students through NASA missions content. We sat down with Jean to ask her about her participation with Mars Education and this is what she had to say:
Mars Education: Please tell us about your experience with Mars Education. Which activities do you think... Read More
Published on: May 1st, 2005
In May 2005, planetary scientists from Arizona State University's Mars Space Flight Facility took an exhibit named "Welcome to Mars!" to Beijing, as part of China Science & Technology Week. "Welcome to Mars!" featured ASU planetary geologist Phil Christensen and showcased a variety of exhibits (including two martian meteorites and an 8-foot-diameter globe of the Red Planet), plus interactive adventures aimed at the general public and students of all ages.
During China Science & Technology Week, tens of thousands of Chinese citizens visited the exhibition, including national hero... Read More
