Canku Ota

(Many Paths)

An Online Newsletter Celebrating Native America

June 5, 2004 - Issue 114

Favorite Sites

collected by Paul and Vicki

On Tuesday, June 8, 2004, many of us will get to see an astronomical performance not seen in 122 years. Venus will pass between the Earth and the Sun, visible as a small black dot moving across the face of the Sun. Called a "transit" by astronomers, this six-hour event will be seen in the eastern states, Europe and most of Asia. The following picks include maps showing exactly when and where, and instructions on viewing the transit safely. Never look directly at the sun.

Exploratorium: Transit of Venus
"Only six Venus transits have occurred since the invention of the telescope in the 1600s." And this is the first since the invention of live, Internet webcasts. Tune in during the transit, or come back an hour later, to view the event as seen from Athens, Greece. Before then, visit to learn what a transit is, and why it is important. Follow the Teacher's Guide link in the lower-left hand corner for printable handouts (in Word and PDF) for grades five through twelve.
http://www.exploratorium.edu/venus/

Smithsonian: Chasing Venus
"Chasing Venus tells the story of astronomers' pursuit of this phenomenon, through rare books and articles written on the subject over the last four centuries." In 1761 and 1869, astronomers attempted to use the Venus transit to compute the Astronomical Unit, the distance from the Earth to the Sun. At that time, they narrowed it down to between 94 and 96 million miles. In addition to the fascinating history of astronomical knowledge as seen from the vantage of six Venus transits, this Smithsonian site offers nineteen Venus-related lesson plans for grades K through twelve.
http://www.sil.si.edu/exhibitions/Chasing-Venus/

Nasa: Sun-Earth Day2004 Venus Transit
Whether you are a student, educator, or amateur astronomer, Nasa has a Venus Transit website just for you. Enter through the student gateway, choose your grade, and you'll be rewarded with concentration games, crossword puzzles, word searches, vocabulary lists, and feature articles on the history, science, and art of Venus' transit. To hear the John Phillips Sousa "Venus Transit March," composed in 1883, follow the Music link from any of the Background Reading sections for grades seven through twelve.
http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/sunearthday/2004/

Frogs - A Chorus of Color
Brilliant orange, bright blue, dazzling red—frogs come in an astonishing array of colors. This vivid assortment of hues hints at the remarkable diversity that exists among the frog species inhabiting the globe. From lush rainforests to parched deserts, frogs are found in nearly every environment on Earth, and their survival strategies range from surprising to bizarre.
http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/frogs/

Dakota Commemorative March 2004
On November 7, 2004, as in 2002, Dakota people from the United States and Canada will begin a 150-mile long Commemorative March through southern Minnesota in honor of their ancestors who were forcibly removed from the Lower Sioux Agency to concentration camps at Mankato and Fort Snelling in November of 1862. For the Dakota this commemoration signifies an opportunity to remember and grieve for the suffering endured by their ancestors as well as to relate a perspective of the event which has rarely been told.
http://www.dakota-march.50megs.com/index.html

STAR
Students And Teachers Against Racism announces their new website that offers insight into the Native American perspective to teachers and educators.
http://www.racismagainstindians.org/