The Whirlpool Galaxy was the first galaxy recognized to have a spiral shape, as observed by William Parsons in 1845. Today, we know that our own Milky Way is also a spiral galaxy. The Whirlpool Galaxy is located in the constellation Canes Venatici, and can be observed with a small telescope.
“Online explorations” are fun, interactive activities for exploring various space science topics. “Galaxies Galore, Games & More” explores the shapes of galaxies and how to classify them.
Classroom Activities are aligned with national education standards and include student activity sheets, science background information, and vocabulary. This PDF deck of eight cards features different galaxies and the constellations in which the galaxies are found.
“Star Witness News” stories are written for grades 5–8 and are based on Hubble press releases. “Close Encounters of the Galactic Kind” highlights a Hubble atlas that features 59 interacting galaxies.
“Graphic Organizers” are T-charts and Venn diagrams that compare and contrast various celestial objects and phenomena. The downloadable organizers are available in teacher versions (full chart) and student versions (blank organizer with images). This Venn diagram shows the similarities and differences between edge-on and face-on views of spiral galaxies.
Lithographs are Hubble Space Telescope images of celestial objects that include informational text and inquiry-based classroom activities. This lithograph features the spiral arms and dust clouds of a nearby galaxy also known as M51.
“Myths vs. realities” is a collection of common misconceptions about celestial objects and phenomena. The misconception is stated in the “myth” while the “reality” explains the true situation. “Myths vs. realities: Galaxies” addresses common misconceptions about galaxies.
“Fast Facts” is a collection of tables that provide vital statistics for the planets and other celestial objects. This table lists key facts about the Whirlpool Galaxy in an easy-to-read format.
“Q&As” is a collection of questions that might be asked about various celestial objects and phenomena. “Q & A: Galaxies” provides answers to questions typically asked about galaxies.
