Videos and Auxiliary Content
Videos and Slides
The Properties of Light video (2 minutes) introduces the main idea of this investigation, and why star clusters are used.
Assessment video: H-R Diagram (5 minutes without pauses) portrays a group of students discussing what they learned about stars and the H-R Diagram. Students are periodically asked to discuss and vote on the correct idea and to explain why.
The resources below are from a teacher workshop on this investigation. They include a talk video (31 minutes + 13 mins Q&A) from an astronomer familiar with this astronomical topic and the accompanying talk visuals (speaker slides).
Video: Clare Higgs, "CMDs in the Wild"
Speaker slides
Options for Extended Exploration
- Investigate if there is a relationship between the size of open star clusters and their ages.
- Compare star cluster CMDs to see if a relationship exists between the age of an open cluster and its location relative to the galactic plane.
Make Your Own Rubin Voices Trading Card
Use this activity:
- To encourage students to imagine themselves in a STEAM career.
- To Introduce the variety of occupations involved in Observatory operations.
- As a "get to know you" activity