The Universe At Your Fingertips Activity: Galaxy Sorting

When faced with a new kind of object, the first thing scientists usually do is describe what it looks like. Then they identify features that appear the same as or different from other members of the new class. Finally, they try to understand what causes these similarities and differences. The images here are intended for use with the Galaxy Sorting (H-7) activity from Universe at Your Fingertips. Print out the images (link below) to make a set of cards for each group of students.

The objectives are to have students compare specific similarities and differences among galaxies by examining features visible in the photographs, identify types of features found in galaxies, and discuss what the classification groups they devised might tell them about galaxies.

Galaxy Sorting images (pdf file, 1.62MB)