Utilizing the activity online
Saving the activity to disk
This activity was designed for use with Netscape Navigator 4.0 or Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0. Earlier versions of Netscape Navigator/Microsoft Internet Explorer will not work.
NOTE: Netscape Navigator 3.0 compatibility will be provided by December, 2001.
This activity has not been tested with any other browser.
Netscape 4.0+ can be found at http://www.netscape.com
Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0+ can be found at http://www.microsoft.com
This activity makes use of Java technology, version 1.0.2 (original Java). Any browser that is Java-enabled, such as Netscape or Internet Explorer, will be able to run this activity.
Other browsers may not have Java installed by default. However, Java is available as a plugin.
There is one page that has an MPEG and RealPlayer version of a short introduction to the Hubble Deep Fields. The activity does not require the student to view this movie. The MPEG movie can be played using Microsoft's MediaPlayer or Apple's QuickTime player. The RealPlayer version needs to have RealNetwork's RealPlayer.
In general, any computer capable of running Netscape Navigator 3.0 (or later) or Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 (or later) is all that is needed.
NOTE: Macintosh users must use Netscape 4 or better.
IBM compatible PC hardware requirements
| CPU | 486 or higher, any speed |
| Main Memory | Minimum: 8MB Recommended: 16MB |
| Operating System | Windows 95/98/NT |
| Display | Color required: Minimum 256 colors Recommended: 16K colors or better. Configured for 640x480 or larger. |
| Printer | None required |
| Disk Space | Only that required by Netscape Navigator Downloading the activity requires TBD |
Macintosh hardware requirements
| CPU | Any that will support Netscape 4.0 |
| Main Memory | Minimum: 8MB Recommended: 16MB |
| Display | Color required: Minimum 256 colors Recommended: 16K colors or better Configured for 640x480 or larger. |
| Printer | None required |
| Disk Space | Only that required by Netscape Navigator Downloading the activity requires TBD |
Most UNIX systems.
To clear the cache in Netscape 4.0+:
- Go to the Edit menu item.
- Select Preferences
- Click on plus sign next to Advanced
- Click on Cache
- Click on Clear Memory Cache
- Click on Clear Disk Cache
- Click on OK
- Try the activity again
To clear the cache in Internet Explorer:
- Go to the Tools menu item.
- Select Internet Options...
- Under the area called Temporary Internet files, click on Delete Files...
- There is no need to check the option Delete all offline content. Leave the box blank.
- Click on OK
This can occur with Internet Explorer 5 or greater combined with an updated version of Java, version 1.3 or 1.4. This page, and others that require feedback, exhibit this behavior: You are giving the activity the right information, but the activity doesn't seem to accept it. This is a bug in Java that will be fixed in a future release.
There are two solutions. One is to use Netscape instead. Otherwise, the new Java can be disabled in Internet Explorer.
To disable Sun Java in Internet Explorer:
- Go to the Tools menu item.
- Select Internet Options...
- Select the tab Advanced at the top-right of the dialog box.
- A long list of options will now appear, with the first two main sections called Accessibility and Browsing.
- Scroll down the list and find a section called Java (Sun). It should have a checkbox with a line that starts with Use Java 2...
- Click on the box so the checkmark disappears and the box is empty.
- Click on OK.
- Now make sure ALL Internet Explorer windows are closed. An easy way to do this is to simply reboot the computer.
- Restart the activity.
This is most commonly seen under Netscape 3. Typically, this has no effect on the page. If the page has not loaded properly, a simple "reload" or "refresh" of the page will suffice.
This occurs with Netscape 3. This is a bug in Netscape 3. It generally has no effect on the page.
If a popup window was not closed using the "CLOSE" button, it may still exist behind the main window. With Netscape 3 or when using Macintosh, the window simply stays behind the main window. Generally with the Macintosh, clicking again on the link will bring the popup window in front of the main window. However, with Netscape 3, you will have to switch windows.
If you always close these popup windows with the "CLOSE" button, this problem will not occur.
The sections "BIAS" and "SAMPLE SIZE", require that galaxies had already been picked, as one would do if going to "START SAFARI". If you try to do either section before "START SAFARI", you will get a message saying that you need to pick some galaxies. This is OK. The activity will make you pick galaxies, and then return you to the section you had started.
However, Netscape 3 has a bug and Netscape 3 will get confused. You initially go to the first page of the section, and then "magically" start picking galaxies. At this point, you get many errors. If you are using Netscape 3, always do "START SAFARI" before any other section.
IMPORTANT NOTE: This activity is not yet available for download.