A black hole is a dense, massive region of space that exerts inescapable gravitational pull on other objects. Formation of a black hole is an extremely important event in a galaxy's origin and evolution, and a black hole's size can indicate the age of the galaxy that surrounds it. Recent discoveries by astrophysicists are shedding light on how black holes form and behave during their existence....

The Brooks Astronomical Observatory, located at Central Michigan University, was built for research and public use. The website presents the history of the Observatory and its technological capabilities. Users can find a long list of scientific publications based on research performed at the observatory. The numerous astronomical topics researched include asteroids, stellar clusters, occultations,...

The California and Carnegie Planet Research website presents the University of California Berkeley and the Carnegie Institution of Washington's investigations of planets around other stars. In the Public link, users can find easily understandable details on the diversity of exoplanets and on planet detection techniques. Researchers can find more technical details in the Scientific Research Site...

This great educational site from Cal Tech offers all sorts of great resources to assist in learning about the universe. Using the fun gear-like menu on the left of the screen, visitors can pick from site areas such as the Cosmic Classroom (which offers classroom activities, lessons, reference info., and an Ask an Astronomer option), Cosmic Kids (where kids can learn about what's in space through...

The Canada - France - Hawaii Telescope (CFHT) is a non-profit organization managing a 3.6 meter telescope located on the dormant Hawaiian volcano, Mauna Kea. Visitors can read HOKU: An Online Newsletter for Educators and Parents. Researchers can learn how to prepare proposals to submit to CFHT, prepare an observation run, and observe at CFHT. Visitors can discover the CFHT's many research projects...

"Challenger Center uses students' natural enthusiasm for space to create innovative learning experiences for imaginative young minds." After learning about the Challenger 51-L crew, users can find information about visits to the Challenger Learning Center Networks' forty six sites located across the Unites States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Within the Teacher and Community Resources link,...

Since its launch on July 23, 1999, the Chandra X-Ray Observatory has been NASA's flagship mission for exciting and new X-ray astronomy projects. The project is overseen by the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, and visitors can start by clicking on the "About" area to learn about Chandra's mission, and also learn about the man behind the Observatory's name, Nobel-Prize winning physicist...

The CosmicQuest interactive learning Web site was developed and produced by Educational Web Adventures as part of the Children's Museum of Indianapolis. Three main activities are included on the site, the first of which is a Field Guide to the Universe. Here, students can explore fun facts and view interesting photographs of planets, spacecraft, and astronomers. Another activity lets kids design a...

What does the Milky Way sound like? The Chandra Data Sonification project transforms data from the NASA Chandra X-ray Observatory, the Hubble Space Telescope, and the Spitzer Space Telescope into sound so that stargazers can "listen" to the Galactic Center of the Milky Way, the supernova Cassiopeia A, and the "Pillars of Creation" star-forming region of the Messier 16 "Eagle Nebula." Each...

At this Web site, the Hawaiian Astronomical Society provides users with educational information for over seventy constellations. First, visitors can read the amusing myths associated with each constellation. Following, students will find interactive, wide view and binocular width maps depicting the locations of the constellations, stars and deep sky objects. Everyone can enjoy the many remarkable...