Stars Have Stories

Videos

Click on the video below to watch the Stars Have Stories series. You can see the other videos in the series by clicking on the list icon in the upper right-hand corner of the video.

Twinkle, twinkle, little star, is a lullaby known by many, yet how much do you really know about the stars above? Astronomer and UWM Planetarium director Dr. Jean Creighton explores these glittering bursts of light we see each night in her Stars Have Stories series, hosted by the UWM Alumni Association Future Panther Academy. Watch the videos and check out the corresponding activities.

What do you see during day and night?

Together we will go on a tour of the day and night sky. What is there to see?

WATCH: Dr. Jean Creighton presents on the differences between stars during the day and stars at night.

LEARN: Day & Night Activity

Where are the stars?

Explore the history of stars. What clues do they leave? If we lived for a very long time, the constellations we see now would be different.

WATCH: Dr. Jean Creighton discusses how stars change over time.

LEARN: Historical Stars Activity

How much do stars shine?

We see bright stars in the sky. How much light do they produce?

WATCH: Dr. Jean Creighton presents on how stars make light and answers questions about our solar system.

LEARN: Shining Stars Activity

How far away are stars?

Is that bright star in the sky actually that bright or is it simply nearby?

WATCH: Dr. Jean Creighton demonstrates how far away we are from stars, and shares a fun way to test distance.

LEARN: How Far Are We? Activity

How fast do stars move?

How fast are stars zipping through space? Do they make steady long-lived friendships with other stars?

WATCH: Dr. Jean Creighton presents on the speed of stars and how we can measure things like speed.

LEARN: Stars In Motion Activity

How hot can a star be?

Discover how we can take the temperature of a star.

WATCH: Dr. Jean Creighton shows us the blazing heat of stars and how we can measure things like heat.

LEARN: Burning Bright Activity

How are stars born?

Where and how are stars born? This question propelled Dr. Jean’s career.

WATCH: Dr. Jean Creighton talks about how stars are made, what they are made of, and how long it takes them to form.

LEARN: Comic Origins Activity

How do stars help us tell stories?

Different cultures around see different star patterns in the sky. Hear some of these stories.

WATCH: Dr. Jean Creighton tells us about how different cultures see the stars.

LEARN: Stories In The Sky Activity

SOFIA & Special Mailbag Session

Dr. Jean talks about her time in space and answers viewer questions.

WATCH: Dr. Jean Creighton was chosen to go up in space and watch our planet from the world’s largest moving observatory.