Playlists

An interactive museum of astronomy reasoning instruments.

Explore observables, models, and inferences—like doing experiments on ideas.

Curated concept journeys you can assign or work through in order.

For Astro 101 lectures

Astro 101 Core Concepts

Level 101

Build foundational astronomy reasoning by linking Earth-sky geometry, measurement, and light into one guided progression.

A broad starter journey covering the core ideas students need before branching into specialized topics.

8 demos ~72 min 6 required
  • Moon Phases: Light, Not Shadow
  • Seasons: Why Tilt Matters
  • Eclipse Geometry: Shadows in Space

Earth & Sky Starters

Level 101

Build fast intuition for sky geometry by connecting phases, eclipses, seasons, and apparent size in one coherent reasoning loop.

A short starter set for building intuition about sky geometry using a consistent predict→play→explain flow.

4 demos ~45 min 3 required
  • Moon Phases: Light, Not Shadow
  • Eclipse Geometry: Shadows in Space
  • Seasons: Why Tilt Matters

For inquiry labs (Station mode)

Solar System Geometry

Level 101

Use geometric models to explain changing sky appearances across the Sun-Earth-Moon-planet system.

A geometry-first sequence for stations where students compare multiple observable sky changes using one shared reasoning frame.

5 demos ~50 min 5 required
  • Angular Size: The Sky’s Ruler
  • Moon Phases: Light, Not Shadow
  • Eclipse Geometry: Shadows in Space

For self-study

Orbits & Gravity

Level MIXED

Connect orbital patterns to conservation principles and gravitational dynamics across multiple systems.

A progression from descriptive orbital laws to dynamical causes, with enough depth for independent practice.

4 demos ~50 min 4 required
  • Kepler’s Laws: Patterns of Planetary Motion
  • Conservation Laws: Energy & Momentum
  • Binary Orbits: Dynamical Reasoning Lab

Planetary Conjunctions — Starter

Level 101

Interpret conjunction timing as a geometric consequence of relative orbital periods and observer perspective.

A short sequence that builds intuition for conjunctions as a geometric + timing consequence of orbital motion.

2 demos ~25 min 1 required
  • Planetary Conjunctions: Alignments in the Sky
  • Kepler’s Laws: Patterns of Planetary Motion

For instructors (modules)

Light & Measuring the Universe

Level MIXED

Show how light-based observables become quantitative distance, temperature, and composition inferences.

A module-ready path for connecting instrumentation and spectra to the core measurement logic of modern astronomy.

5 demos ~58 min 5 required
  • Electromagnetic Spectrum: Light Beyond Visible
  • Blackbody Radiation: Thermal Spectrum and Temperature
  • Telescope Resolution: Sharper Eyes