"About Birthstones birthstones A birthstone is the "gemstone associated with the date of one's birth, the wearing of which is commonly thought to bring good luck or health. Supernatural powers have long been attributed by astrologers to certain gemstones." - from Encyclopedia Britannica Birthstones come in a colorful array of sparkling jewels and glowing gemstones, each one with its own place in history and myth. From folklore tales, Biblical texts, and the annals of history, these gems have had a special place in both the hearts and minds of humanity. Discover historical facts, origins, trivia, fun facts, myths, and more about each month's birthstone by selecting the month of your choice from the menu at the left. "

created by elem. students.

info on birthstones and gems

"Mineral Sciences Exhibitions"

perception of color and other neat stuff

gems and minerals

"Rare Minerals, Meteorites, Equipment and Analytical Services Excalibur Mineral Company, World leaders in the supply of rare species Serving the scientific and collector communities since 1974 "

"Explore the wealth of information available here to learn about the Earth and Space sciences and related topics in the humanities including mythology, art, poetry, and more."

lots of great information

"Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. "

nice site to learn more about the sun, earth, etc.

"The Cassini spacecraft has captured a fresh view of Saturn from high above the planet's gorgeous rings and also provided a stunning video of its travels through the ring plane. The robotic probe has climbed to higher and higher inclinations over the past several months, providing looks at the planet and rings that scientists have eagerly awaited."

detailed pictures of Mars

"Galaxy Zoo: Hubble uses gorgeous imagery of hundreds of thousands of galaxies drawn from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope archive. To understand how these galaxies, and our own, formed we need your help to classify them according to their shapes - a task at which your brain is better than even the most advanced computer. If you're quick, you may even be the first person in history to see each of the galaxies you're asked to classify. More than 250,000 people have taken part in Galaxy Zoo so far, producing a wealth of valuable data and sending telescopes on Earth and in space chasing after their discoveries. The images used in Galaxy Zoo: Hubble are more detailed and beautiful than ever, and will allow us to look deeper into the Universe than ever before. To begin exploring, click the 'How To Take Part' link above, or read The Story So Far to find out what Galaxy Zoo has achieved to date."

"Welcome to Tonight's Sky. This site will help you plan you observing sessions by helping you find objects of interest in your sky. Based on your input below a list of objects will be produced that are visible at your location when you plan to observe. Any object below the local horizon will be excluded. On the next page you will see details about each object. You can then research any object of interest with the links provided. It is my intention to provide a sample of what you will see in the eyepiece of a 6" telescope. As a final step you can select the objects you plan to observe and a page will be provided for you to print and take with you when you go out. Happy hunting. "

great site about space, etc.

"an award-winning website with natural science content and materials for educators, students, and parents. "

Comparative planetary and stellar sizes