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= **ABOUT THE TEAM ;D** = = **Smith Middle School is part of the Troy School District in Southeast Michigan. Our wonderful school district consists of twelve elementary schools, four middle schools, and four high schools. Our district was fortunate enough to be able to participate in the NASA Downlink. Some of our students had the privilege to ask astronauts in the space station about the life away from Earth, along with more questions on extraterrestrial topics. Colonel Gregory Johnson, the last commander of the Endeavor mission visited our school and showed us pictures and videos about his life in space. This event inspired many more students to become involved in astronomy. Smith Middle School is one of the four best middle schools in the district**. =

**STEPS IN THE PROCESS OF SCIENCE**

= = =** Step 1 - Preliminary Question(s) **=
 * Does the number of impact craters vary with distance to the asteroid belt?
 * === Does the number of impact crater vary between Northern and Southern Hemispheres? ===
 * **What hemisphere has the most apparent brightness of auroras?**
 * **What is the size of the largest mountain on Mars compared to Earth?**
 * **Are there deserts on other planets? If so, how large are they?**
 * **Do other countries on Earth have wave like shapes of sand?**
 * **Is Mt. Vesuvius active?**
 * **Is Mt. Vesuvius active?**

= = = = =** Step 2 - Initial Observations **=

**1. RESEARCH QUESTION:**

Does the number of impact craters vary with distance to the asteroid belt?
**2. SOURCES TO VIEW ASTRONAUT PHOTOS:**
 * __http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/__
 * __http://visibleearth.nasa.gov/__
 * __http://earthfromspace.so.edu/__
 * __http://ares.jsc.nasa.gov/ares/eeab/atmosphere.cfm__

**3. LIST OF SPECIFIC DATA TEAM WILL LOG FROM EACH ASTRONAUT PHOTO:**
 * 1) ** Image ID/ website/ URL **
 * 2) ** Latitude/Longitude **
 * 3) ** Other **
 * 4) ** Citation **
 * 5) ** The planet we are dealing with (Earth or Mars?) **
 * 6) ** Focal lens length **

4. HYPOTHESIS:
 * If the planet's location is closer to the asteroid belt, then it is more likely to have a larger number of impact craters. **

= = = = =** Step 3 - Background Research **=

**1. IMPORTANT TERMS AND DEFINITIONS:**
 * ** Impact Craters - indents in the planet's surface made by asteroids that hit the planets. **
 * ** Asteroid Belt - the ring of asteroids in between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. **
 * ** Earth - the third planet from the sun. **
 * ** Asteroid - rocky objects that revolve around the sun that are too small and numerous to be considered planets. **
 * ** Mars - fourth planet from the sun **
 * ** Latitude and Longitude - Imaginary lines drawn over planets that form a grid and help locate exact locations. **

**2. EARTH SYSTEM INFORMATION:** **The earth system our question relates to is the litho/geosphere. It deals with the craters made on planets' surfaces.**

**3. FORMATION PROCESS:** **If an asteroid is within a planet's gravitational pull, they might get pulled into the planet's atmosphere, hit the surface, and create an impact crater.**

**We need to describe the color, shape, texture, shown in the picture as well as circumference, diameter, and location (absolute and relative).**
 * 4. FEATURE DESCRIPTION OR CHARACTERISTICS: **

http://www.passc.net/EarthImpactDatabase/Worldmap.html [|www.impacts.rajmon.cz/index.html] [|www.uwgb.edu/dutchs/planets/impact1.htm]
 * 5. ASTRONAUT IMAGES (2-3) THAT INCLUDE THE FEATURE YOU ARE STUDYING (links, ID#s, or images): **

**Earth and Mars (Northern and Southern Hemispheres).**
 * 6. GEOGRAPHIC REGION OF FOCUS: **

**7. IF YOU WILL CONDUCT A PLANETARY COMPARISON, PLEASE EXPLAIN:** We are going to compare Mars' body to that of Earth's because Mars is closer to the asteroid belt, whereas Earth is farther away.

**8. OTHER DETAILS IMPORTANT FOR YOUR RESEARCH:**
 * **Records of asteroid impacts for both planets**
 * **Distance from asteroid belt**
 * ** Average number of craters for Earth and Mars **


 * Keep track of your sources in your bibliography.**

= = = = = = = = = = =** Step 4 - Experiment Design **=

**1 . FINAL RESEARCH QUESTION: ** **Does the number of impact craters vary between Earth and and Mars (which is closer to the asteroid belt)? Also, where do they hit (the Northern or the Southern Hemisphere)?**

** 2. HYPOTHESIS ** **(Include a brief explanation of observations & other knowledge that support this hypothesis):** If a planet is closer to the asteroid belt, then it is more likely to have a larger number of impact craters.

**3. IMAGE DATA COLLECTION:**



**4. OTHER DATA SETS:**

**5. MEASUREMENTS:**


 * Keep track of your sources in your bibliography.**

= = = = = = = = = = = = =** Step 5 - Collect and Compile Data **=

**1. MASTER DATA TABLE:** ID || Focal Lens Length || Latitude || Longitude || Planet || Other || Citation ||
 * Image
 * ISS012-E-15881 || 50mm || 51.5N || 68.5W || Earth || Gray and White || gatewaytoastronomy.com ||
 * ISS020-E-26195 || 800mm || 19.1N || 19.2E || Earth || 345-370 million years old || visibleearth.nasa.gov ||
 * ISS015-E-17360 || 400mm || 23.9S || 132.3E || Earth || Orangish Brown || gatewaytoastronomy.com ||
 * ISS018-E-14908 || 800mm || 22.9N || 10.4W || Earth || A fence of dirt around it || gatewaytoastronomy.com ||
 * ISS014-E-15775 || 400mm || 35N || 111W || Earth || It looks steep || gatewaytoastronomy.com ||
 * ISS014-E-11841 || 400mm || 24.4N || 24.4E || Earth || Brownish-Black || gatewaytoastronomy.com ||
 * ISS018-E-23713 || 800mm || 21N || 76.9E || Earth || India, filled with what looks like water || gatewaytoastronomy.com ||
 * ISS018-E-6051 || 800mm || 23.9S || 132.3E || Earth || Desert, Brown, cracks, small crater || ares.jsc.nasa.gov ||
 * ISS014-E-19496 || 800mm || 29N || 7.6W || Earth || Land is rough, all around the area || gatewaytoastronomy.com ||
 * ISS028-E-44433 || 800mm || 20N || 76.5E || Earth || Grayish Brown, appears to have water || gatewaytoastronomy.com ||
 * ISS017-E-20538 || 400mm || 22.1N || 23.7E || Earth || In Canada || visibleearth.nasa.gov ||
 * ISS007-E-05697 || 180mm || 24S || 132.5E || Earth || Much of the surface is old and dry || visibleearth.nasa.gov ||
 * ISS012-E-15881 ||  ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||
 * ISS014-E-11841 ||  ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||
 * ISS0 ||  ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||
 * ISS0 ||  ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||
 * ISS0 ||  ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||

**2. NEW DATA REQUEST INFO:**

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =** Step 6 - Display Data **=

**1. DATA TABLE(S): Under __each__ data table, list 1-3 observations.**

**2. GRAPHS: Under __each__ graph, list 1-3 observations.**

**3. MAPS: Under __each__ map, list 1-3 observations.**

**4. IMAGE ILLUSTRATIONS: Under __each__ image illustration, list 1-3 observations.**

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =** Step 7 - Analyze and Interpret Data **=

**1. RESEARCH QUESTION:**

**2. HYPOTHESIS:**

**3. ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA:**

**DATA ANALYSIS #1:**
 * **RESTATE A SPECIFIC DATA DISPLAY __OBSERVATION__ FROM STEP 6:**


 * **__INTERPRETATION__ OF WHAT THAT OBSERVATION MEANS WITH RESPECT TO YOUR QUESTION:**


 * **ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE THAT SUPPORTS YOUR INTERPRETATION:**

**DATA ANALYSIS #2:**
 * **RESTATE A SPECIFIC DATA DISPLAY __OBSERVATION__ FROM STEP 6:**


 * **__INTERPRETATION__ OF WHAT THAT OBSERVATION MEANS WITH RESPECT TO YOUR QUESTION:**


 * **ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE THAT SUPPORTS YOUR INTERPRETATION:**

**DATA ANALYSIS #3:**
 * **RESTATE A SPECIFIC DATA DISPLAY __OBSERVATION__ FROM STEP 6:**


 * **__INTERPRETATION__ OF WHAT THAT OBSERVATION MEANS WITH RESPECT TO YOUR QUESTION:**


 * **ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE THAT SUPPORTS YOUR INTERPRETATION:**

**DATA ANALYSIS #4:**


 * **RESTATE A SPECIFIC DATA DISPLAY __OBSERVATION__ FROM STEP 6:**


 * ** __INTERPRETATION__ OF WHAT THAT OBSERVATION MEANS WITH RESPECT TO YOUR QUESTION: **


 * ** ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE THAT SUPPORTS YOUR INTERPRETATION: **


 * Add additional data analysis information as needed.**


 * CONSIDERATION OF ISSUES POTENTIALLY AFFECTING YOUR RESEARCH **
 * 1. POTENTIAL ERRORS OR INACCURACIES: **


 * 2. POTENTIAL MISINTERPRETATIONS: **


 * 3. LIMITATIONS OF DATA: **


 * 4. OTHER: **

= = = = = = = = = = =** Step 8 - Draw Conclusions **=


 * 1. SUMMARIZE CONCLUSIONS ABOUT THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION: **
 * We learned... **
 * that the most visible craters are in the Northern Hemisphere of Earth.
 * that our data showed more craters in the Eastern Hemisphere in Earth.
 * We learned negative coordinates mean south our west.
 * that craters can erode.

This was not able to be proven because of insufficient data.
 * 2. SUMMARIZE INFORMATION ABOUT WHETHER YOUR HYPOTHESIS WAS REFUTED OR SUPPORTED? **

Are older craters larger? Are there more craters on other planets than Earth?
 * 3. NEWLY SPARKED RESEARCH QUESTION(S): **


 * 4. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: **


 * 5. REFLECTION OF RESEARCH: **

= = = = = = = = = = =** Step 9 - Share Research **=

= GLOSSARY =

= BIBLIOGRAPHY = = =

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