Issues in Earth Science

Eww, There's some Geology in my Fiction!"

You need a buddy to get outside the West Valles Marineris Dome, and Demetrius is having some problems in that area.  Will he be able to make his first excursion outside the dome in time to watch the transit of Phobos?

Find out in Standing in the Shadow of Phobos by Mary Alexandra Agner.

The teacher resources for this story engage students in the modeling of planetary motions, based on observational evidence.

Be sure to also check out past stories and classroom activities in Past Issues.

We feature short fiction stories for middle and high school students that illustrate key earth science concepts in the plot of the story.  These are fun but educational stories suitable for the classroom.

Past Issues

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Current issue:

Will Demetrius find the independence to make his first excursion outside the West Valles Marineris Dome in time to watch the transit of Phobos?

Standing in the Shadow of Phobos by Mary Alexandra Agner.

Teacher's Resources for Standing in the Shadow of Phobos include examination of various models for our solar system using observatonal evidence, including observatons made in the story.

Illustration for Standing in the Shadow of Phobos by Erin Colson

Standing in the Shadow of Phobos

by Mary Alexandra Agner

Demetrius jumped onto his sister's bed, bouncing twice. He reached up to take down her wire-suspended reproduction of some old Earth building. It was the perfect place for his handmade model of Jupiter. He eyed the distance between wire and doorway: his calculations said four more centimeters to the left would be more accurate but Ann was going to be home soon from school. This would have to do.

He threaded the wire through the loop on Jupiter's north pole and tied it off. He frowned as Jupiter hung slightly sideways.

He heard the front door shut. Demetrius hopped to the floor and ran out of his sister's room, closing the door behind him.

Ann came down the hall. "Hey, junior astronomer, how was school?"

  

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