Backyard Worlds: Planet 9 uses Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) telescope images to look for moving objects, such as brown dwarfs or a ninth planet, in our solar system. While the project gives participants a first-hand experience in scientific research, this page provides resources for learners to explore and better understand the relevant scientific topics.

Under each topic, you will see designated educator resources and background information resources. The educator resources include activities, lesson plans, student worksheets, assessments, and online courses designed for formal and informal educators. The background information resources include articles, videos, textbook chapters, and blogs for participants to gain a deeper understanding of the research.

These resources are designed for a range of ages, from young learners to adults. Make sure to read the "audience" tag under each resource to determine which resource meets your needs. The "type" tag gives context to the kind of material the resource is (ex: hands-on activity, lesson plan, student worksheet, video, article, etc.)

Topic 1: Explore what makes brown dwarfs unique.

Participants of Backyard Worlds: Planet 9 have discovered more than 3800 new brown dwarfs. In this section there are resources to understand what brown dwarfs are, how they differ from stars and planets, the use of spectra and the H-R diagram to classify brown dwarfs and stars, and how parallax allows for the discovery of brown dwarfs.

Topic 1 Educator Resources

Analyzing Spectra: Link, Homepage

Classroom tested multiple choice questions (for assessment or think-pair-share) to encourage discussion on how to analyze spectra.

Audience: Ages 18+, Formal Education

Type: Multiple Choice Questions

Classifying Stars: Link

Examine spectra from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and group stars together to create your own classification system.

Audience: Ages 16+, Formal Education

Type: Exercise, Discussion Questions

Topic 1 Background Information

The Spectra of Stars (and Brown Dwarfs): Link

This textbook chapter describes how spectra is used to classify stars. The main seven spectral classes are defined as well as the additional classes to include brown dwarfs.

Audience: Ages 18+, Background Information

Type: Textbook Section

The H-R Diagram: Link

This textbook chapter discusses features of the H-R diagram and how it can be used to explore physical properties of stars.

Audience: Ages 18+, Background Information

Type: Textbook Section

Brown Dwarfs: Crash Course Astronomy: Link

This eleven minute video explains the history of discovery of brown dwarfs, characterstics of brown dwarfs, and WISE's role in hunting for brown dwarfs.

Audience: Ages 14+, Background Information

Type: Video

The Brown Dwarf Debate: Link

This video is about the line between Brown dwarfs and gas giant planets : does it exist? Is it the deuterium-burning threshold? Behavior? Metallicity? Formation? Or is there no meaningful scientific distinction, and are brown dwarfs and giant planets really all on a spectrum with no clear line between them?

Audience: Ages 14+, Background Information

Type: Video

Stellar Parallax: Link

In Backyard Worlds, we are searching for moving objects. The apparent movement of such objects is due to parallax. Learn what parallax is, how it relates to the Earth and the stars, and the formula to measure distance to nearby stars.

Audience: Ages 13+, Background Information

Type: Video, Article

What Makes Brown Dwarfs Unique?: Link

This webpage explains how brown dwarfs are unique from both stars and planets.

Audience: Ages 11+, Background Information

Type: Article

Topic 2: Learn about the evidence for a ninth planet in the backyard of our solar system.

The telescope images from Backyard Worlds: Planet 9 could contain a hypothesized ninth planet in our solar system. The resources below help learners to understand how new planets are studied and what evidence there is for a ninth planet.

Topic 2 Educator Resources

Strange New Planet: Link

Students explore a clay model of a planet to discover new features through the perspective of remote-sensing techniques from earth-based telescopes to landed missions.

Audience: Ages 8+, Formal Education (Aligned to Next Generation Science Standards and Common Core State Standards)

Type: Hands-On Activity, Lesson Plan, Student Worksheet

Topic 2 Background Information

Is Planet X Real?: Link

An overview of the search for and evidence of a ninth planet in our solar system.

Audience: Ages 11+, Background Information

Type: Article

What is a Planet?: Link

A video explaining the history, debate and continuing discussion of the definition of a planet.

Audience: Ages 11+, Background Information

Type: Video

Topic 3: Discover how NASA's WISE space telescope operates and collects data.

The images you are reviewing in Backyard Worlds: Planet 9 were captured by the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) mission. WISE is a NASA space telescope that has recorded the entire night sky in infrared light. In this section learners can explore what WISE is studying and how, the process of creating images from telescopes, and how various types of telescopes work.

Topic 3 Educator Resources

WISE: Focus on Infinity: Link

A video explaining the creation, launch, and scientific goals of the WISE telescope with an attached classroom discussion activity.

Audience: Ages 11+, Formal Education, Background Information

Type: Video, Classroom Discussion Guide

Creating Color Pictures Using Images from NASA's WISE Mission: Link

These step-by-step instructions explain the basic processes for creating a color picture using the images downloaded from the science data archives of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer space telescope.

Audience: Ages 10+, Formal Education

Type: Lesson plans, Online Activities

Telescopes and Earth's Atmosphere: Link, Homepage

Classroom tested multiple choice questions (for assessment or think-pair-share) to encourage discussion on placing telescopes above and below Earth's atmosphere.

Audience: Ages 18+, Formal Education

Type: Multiple Choice Questions

How does my eye compare to the telescope?: Teacher Guide, Student Journal

These introductory activities help you compare the features of your own eye to those of the telescope. Estimate your eye's aperture, field-of-view, "exposure time," and other parameters.

Audience: Ages 12+, Formal Education

Type: Hands-On Activities, Lesson Plan, Student Worksheet

Invisible Light: Link (Select " Session 4 - Invisible Light")

Discussion and group experimentation allow students to learn that in astronomy, it is important to make observations over a wide range of wavelengths.

Audience: Ages 11+, Formal Education

Type: Hands-On Activity, Instructions, Student Worksheets

Kinesthetic Telescope: Link

A physical activity to put yourself in the shoes (or stand!) of a telescope.

Audience: Ages 10+, Formal Education, Informal Education

Type: Activity, Facilitator Guide

Topic 3 Background Information

Why Do We Put Telescopes in Space?: Link

Hear about the advantages and disadvantages of placing telescopes in space rather than on earth in this video.

Audience: Ages 11+, Background Information

Type: Video

How Do Telescopes Work?: Link

This article explains how telescopes allow astronomers to see faraway objects with the use of lens or mirrors.

Audience: Ages 8+, Background Information

Type: Article