Working scientifically

Over the past few hundred years, astronomers have discovered thousands of stars whose brightness goes up and down over time. These are known as variable stars. But what causes this to happen?

The ocean’s tides rise and fall every day, but have you ever wondered what causes them? The Moon and Sun both play a role in shaping the movement of water across the Earth. 

Have you ever wondered how many stars you can see in the night sky? Did you know that the number you can see depends on where you are?

Impact craters are made when a space rock (called a meteorite or asteroid) hits a rocky planet or moon. The impact makes a round hole in the surface, called a crater.

In the UK, we experience 4 seasons each year. These are spring, summer, autumn, and winter. You may have noticed that the weather changes during each season. But have you noticed any other differences? 

You have probably seen the Moon in the sky, but have you ever studied it in detail?

You have likely heard about the Universe expanding. Or that redshift can tell us about the movements of galaxies. Both are difficult ideas to imagine and understand.

Is gravity the same everywhere? Experiment with how the ball reacts in each of the Solar System locations by dropping or throwing the ball. How similar or different is each location to Earth?