Table of Contents

Welcome to the 2009 edition of the education DVD from the Astrophysics Science Division at NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center. During the past 13 years we have brought you annual updates of the web sites for Imagine the Universe!, and StarChild, as well as an archive of the Astronomy Picture of the Day back to 1998. With our newest expansion to a DVD-ROM, we continue to include "guest sites", such as AstroCappella (on the 9th edition), the High Energy Groovie Movie (10th edition), Cosmicopia (11th edition), Blueshift (12th edition), and Cosmic Times (this edition). We also have an Educators' Index which lists the classroom resources from Imagine the Universe!, StarChild, APOD, and Cosmic Times. We hope that you will find that this current edition continues our tradition of providing an exciting and fun learning experience.

Please read the README file found on either disk if you have any questions or problems.

Below is a list of the sites included on this DVD. You will also find the online addresses for these sites, where you'll find updated information, activities, and active links to other sites.

Included on the DVD are:

Imagine The Universe! This site is dedicated to a discussion about our Universe... what we know about it, how it is evolving, and the kinds of objects and phenomena it contains. Emphasizing the X-ray and gamma-ray parts of the electromagnetic spectrum, it also discusses how scientists know what they know, what mysteries remain, and how the answers to remaining mysteries may one day be found. Lots of movies, quizzes, and a Teachers' Corner with lessons, presentations, teacher guides, and posters. Geared for ages 14 and up. This site can be viewed online at http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/.

StarChild: A learning center for young astronomers The 1998 Webby Award Winner for Best Education Website, StarChild is aimed at ages 4-14. It contains easy-to-understand information about our Solar System, the Universe, and space exploration. There are also activities, songs, movies, and puzzles! This site can be viewed online at http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/.

Astronomy Picture of the Day APOD offers a new astronomical image and caption each calendar day. We have captured the year 2008 entries of this award-winning site and included them on the disc. The images and information provide a wonderful resource for all ages. This site can be viewed online at http://apod.gsfc.nasa.gov/.

Cosmic Times Cosmic Times presents the history of our understanding of the nature of the Universe through the 20th and early 21st centuries. The series traces this history from the confirmation in 1919 of Einstein's theory of gravity, to Hubble's discovery of the expanding Universe, the development and evidence for the Big Bang, and finally the discovery of dark energy. The site includes downloadable posters, teacher's guide, and lessons for grades 7-12. This site can be viewed online at http://cosmictimes.gsfc.nasa.gov/.