Scavenger hunts

The Scavenger Hunt activities are designed to help pupils explore the SDSS imaging data by hunting for specific types of astronomical objects using the SDSS Navigate window. In this page you can find instructions on how to use SDSS Navigate, PowerPoint slides, and student worksheets in support of the Scavenger Hunt activities.

There are two versions of the Scavenger Hunt. The first one asks students to pan freely through SDSS data with Navigate, in order to find examples of specific types of objects. The second one is a “Reversed” Scavenger Hunt, where students are given a list of coordinates that they need to enter onto Navigate and classify the object(s) at each set of coordinates.

The student worksheet, PowerPoint slides, and completed worksheets for each type of Scavenger Hunt can be accessed in the OneDrive link below (note: the PowerPoint slide deck is the same for both versions, with a distinction only at the end).

Using Navigate

Above is a screenshot of the Navigate tool. The menu on the left is used to search for objects. This can be done by inputting coordinates in the RA and Dec boxes or by searching specific names in the Name box.

The menu on the right shows information about the selected object such as its coordinates, the type of object and its magnitudes in different bands. Magnitudes indicate the brightness of a star. Remember, larger values magnitudes represent fainter objects. To learn more about magnitudes, visit our Voyages page on magnitudes.

Also on the right you can click on Explore to see more information about the selected object such as an image or its spectrum. To learn more about spectra visit our Voyages page on spectroscopy.

To move manually through the universe use your mouse to drag or zoom in to an area.