Chasing Comets

NASA's misison Stardust used Aerogel (a compound produced artificially in our planet) to capture the dust coming from comets

Planetary Software that simulates space travelling. It has many add-on capability that enriches the available capabilities and applications of the software
 

Instructions on how to build a model of a comet

Comets are considered to be time capsules containing information about the conditions of the early Solar System. In order to understand what they are, where they come from, and their influence on the evolution of Earth, it is necessary to find out what material they contain. This demonstration and practical activity, along with the resulting discussion, gives an insight into the chemical constituents of comets. An additional activity (extension), which looks at the impact processes on Earth as well as calculations of the kinetic energy involved, is included.

This mission sent an impactor to a comet with the objective to analyse its constitution
 

An European Space Agency Mission that visited comet Halley

Images of comet ISON 2013 taken with SOHO

Images of comet ISON 2013 approaching the Sun

In order to understand the orbits of planets, comets, and other celestial bodies, it is necessary to examine the principles of how gravity and the velocity of an object interact to produce an orbit. It is a common misconception among students that planetary orbits are circular. This practical activity gives a space setting to speed-time graphs.  It shows how the speed of objects in elliptical orbits change as they orbit the Sun.  An extension activity which  looks at the geometry of ellipses and their relation to physical parameters in the Solar System  is included.

Activity book about the Solar System and the Universe, which also features ESA’s comet chaser Rosetta. It includes colouring sheets, mazes, a Solar System and Universe mobile, Paxi’s unique memory game, and much more!

Print out and build these cartoon models of Rosetta and Philae! All you need are small scissors and glue.

Site dedicated to the Rosetta mission with all relevant aspects of the mission
 

Educational material designed by the European Space Agency for the Rosetta Mission

This teaching resource, targeted at children between the ages of  8 and 11, will accompany them during their discovery of our Solar System. Guided by their teacher, the children will learn about the Sun, the eight planets, as well as many smaller bodies called asteroids and comets. This fun and creative research project will allow children to discover our closest neighbours in space and develop their communication skills by sharing their work with the class.