Astronomy Science Projects (Page 3)

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

You've heard of gold mining and coal mining, but think outside the box...or the planet...what about asteroid mining? Scientists, engineers, and business people believe asteroid mining is feasible, and they are in the beginning stages of long-term plans to mine asteroids for valuable resources during space missions. You don't want to miss out on all the fun; in this science project, you will come up with your own scientific plan for an asteroid mining company. We will help get you started by… Read more

The Moon and the Stars

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Everyone loves looking at the full moon, but are these nights the best time to go stargazing? Can the moon interfere with certain astronomical observations? Read more

Measuring the Moon's Brightness

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Sometimes a full moon can be so bright, you can walk around in the dark without a flashlight. How much brighter is a full moon than the other phases of the moon? How is the brightness of the moon measured? Read more

Catching Stardust

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

How do astronomers collect stardust? They design and build satellites that are launched into space to collect particles on specially designed panels. Satellites can be sent to orbit around an object of interest: a planet, moon, or comet. In this experiment, you can build your own mini satellite and use it to collect some pretend stellar debris. If you simulate an asteroid impact, how much stellar dust will your satellite collect? Will placing your satellite at different "orbital" distances from… Read more

Test the Webb Space Telescope's Amazing Multiple Mirrors and Sunshield

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Can you imagine designing and building a space telescope the size of a tennis court? Believe it or not, that is someone's job! Hundreds of engineers were involved in getting the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) into space. This telescope has the potential to enable astronomers to see light from when the Universe was first formed. No one knows what amazing discoveries this might lead to, but already, JWST has delivered astounding deep space images that offer an unprecedented look at… Read more

Using a Digital Camera to Measure Skyglow

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

This is a great project for someone interested in both stargazing and photography. Bright city lights and even the light of the full Moon obscure the dimmest stars, which can make identifying constellations more difficult. In this astronomy science project, you will calibrate a digital camera to measure the skyglow in different locations. This can be a great tool to comparing the quality of different star viewing locations. Read more

Space Radiation Protection

Science Fair Project Idea

Engineering Design Process

The radiation sources recommended in this experiment are low-dose radioactive sources and do not require a license to purchase; they are safe to work with as long as these common-sense safety tips are followed: Wear disposable gloves when handling any radioactive source. Never rub your eyes or mouth while you are handling the radioactive source. NEVER swallow any radioactive source and use protective glasses when bringing a source within a few inches of… Read more

Calculating the Circumference of the Earth

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

How big a ruler would you need to measure the circumference of the Earth? Did you know that you can do it with a yardstick? (And you won't have to travel all the way around the world!) Read more

Using Kepler Space Telescope Data to Identify an Exoplanet

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

The Kepler space telescope is a retired space telescope launched by NASA to discover Earth-size planets orbiting other stars. Named after astronomer Johannes Kepler, the spacecraft was launched on March 7, 2009, into an Earth-trailing heliocentric orbit. The principal investigator was William J. Borucki. After nine years of operation, the telescope's reaction control system fuel was depleted, and NASA announced its retirement on October 30, 2018. Designed to survey a portion of Earth's region… Read more

Where Did All the Stars Go?

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

One of my favorite things to do when I was a kid was to go outside and look at the stars. As an adult, I moved to a major city and the stars seemed to vanish from the sky. Where did they go? Read more

Astronomy Science Projects (45 results)

Explore Our Science Videos