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  5. Teacher Guide - Exploding Stars
  6. Introduction

Exploding Stars

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Investigation total duration
2 hours

Teacher Guide - Exploding Stars

  1. Introduction
  2. Where This Fits in Your Teaching
  3. Next Generation Science Standards
  4. Background and Notes
  5. Student Ideas and Questions
  6. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Introduction

Rubin Observatory will detect 100,000 supernovae in galaxies over its ten year survey. Type Ia supernovae are of particular importance because they can be used to fill a niche in determining distances to galaxies that are now not accurately known.

Students learn how to identify the two most common types of supernovae from their pattern of brightness changes, then use model light curves to fit data from Type Ia supernovae along with the distance modulus equation to calculate the distances to host galaxies.

Learning Outcomes

  • Students analyze changes in supernova brightness to determine which type of supernova and progenitor star the data represents.

  • Students explain the unique properties of Type Ia supernovae that permit them to be used to measure distance.
  • Students use data from light curves to calculate supernovae distances.

Essential Questions

  • What types of stars or objects can explode as supernovae?
  • How can you determine the type of supernova?
  • How can supernovae be used to measure distances in space?

Preguntas Fundamentales

  • ¿Qué tipos de estrellas u objetos pueden explotar como supernovas?
  • ¿Cómo se puede determinar el tipo de supernova?
  • ¿Cómo pueden utilizarse las supernovas para medir distancias en el espacio?
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