Patrick M. Len
@pdog.bsky.social
Physics/astronomy instructor, Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA. 🔭
"Good Night, Low-Mass Star"
(h/t "Goodnight Moon" by Margaret Wise Brown)
A bedtime story for my introductory astronomy students, as an easter egg at the end of the nucleosynthesis presentation video.
🔭
(h/t "Goodnight Moon" by Margaret Wise Brown)
A bedtime story for my introductory astronomy students, as an easter egg at the end of the nucleosynthesis presentation video.
🔭
October 15, 2025 at 10:19 PM
"Good Night, Low-Mass Star"
(h/t "Goodnight Moon" by Margaret Wise Brown)
A bedtime story for my introductory astronomy students, as an easter egg at the end of the nucleosynthesis presentation video.
🔭
(h/t "Goodnight Moon" by Margaret Wise Brown)
A bedtime story for my introductory astronomy students, as an easter egg at the end of the nucleosynthesis presentation video.
🔭
@physgal.bsky.social I would like to be added to the ⚛️ list, please! orcid.org/0009-0007-78...
ORCID
orcid.org
August 23, 2025 at 1:58 PM
@physgal.bsky.social I would like to be added to the ⚛️ list, please! orcid.org/0009-0007-78...
Key nucleosynthesis processes for my introductory astronomy students, in order to identify the processes that produced each of the elements.
flic.kr/p/2qPACcJ
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flic.kr/p/2qPACcJ
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March 2, 2025 at 6:30 AM
Key nucleosynthesis processes for my introductory astronomy students, in order to identify the processes that produced each of the elements.
flic.kr/p/2qPACcJ
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flic.kr/p/2qPACcJ
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A simplified nucleosynthesis table, denoting the origin (but not relative amounts from each process) for each element. (Adapted from: Jennifer A. Johnson, "Populating the Periodic Table: Nucleosynthesis of the Element," Science, vol. 363 no. 6426 (1 February 2019)).
flic.kr/p/2qPu5NA
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flic.kr/p/2qPu5NA
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March 2, 2025 at 6:28 AM
A simplified nucleosynthesis table, denoting the origin (but not relative amounts from each process) for each element. (Adapted from: Jennifer A. Johnson, "Populating the Periodic Table: Nucleosynthesis of the Element," Science, vol. 363 no. 6426 (1 February 2019)).
flic.kr/p/2qPu5NA
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flic.kr/p/2qPu5NA
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Star stage diagram for my introductory astronomy students, the roadmap for our deep dive into watching stars grow up, and watching stars grow old.
flic.kr/p/2qNnFpm
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flic.kr/p/2qNnFpm
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February 23, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Star stage diagram for my introductory astronomy students, the roadmap for our deep dive into watching stars grow up, and watching stars grow old.
flic.kr/p/2qNnFpm
🔭
flic.kr/p/2qNnFpm
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Case study (fictitious) for introductory astronomy students to classify: "Haelym (2025 PD6) recently captured the asteroid Moem, making it its moon. This moon-capture process permanently damaged Haelym's surface."
Determine how Haelym (2025 PD6) should be classified now.
flic.kr/p/2qMvb4H
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Determine how Haelym (2025 PD6) should be classified now.
flic.kr/p/2qMvb4H
🔭
February 18, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Case study (fictitious) for introductory astronomy students to classify: "Haelym (2025 PD6) recently captured the asteroid Moem, making it its moon. This moon-capture process permanently damaged Haelym's surface."
Determine how Haelym (2025 PD6) should be classified now.
flic.kr/p/2qMvb4H
🔭
Determine how Haelym (2025 PD6) should be classified now.
flic.kr/p/2qMvb4H
🔭
Space X launch this morning, with a waning crescent moon and Scorpius! 🔭
January 24, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Space X launch this morning, with a waning crescent moon and Scorpius! 🔭
First day of introductory astronomy class! Going with the tried-and-true "Marketplace Astronomy" activity. Adapted from D. Schatz, "Why Should We Care About Exploding Stars?" Universe in the Classroom, no. 8, (spring 1987), astrosociety.org/file_download/inline/4fe17a73-1ab8-4a34-b28c-bfe9267bdb90 🔭
January 22, 2025 at 10:58 PM
First day of introductory astronomy class! Going with the tried-and-true "Marketplace Astronomy" activity. Adapted from D. Schatz, "Why Should We Care About Exploding Stars?" Universe in the Classroom, no. 8, (spring 1987), astrosociety.org/file_download/inline/4fe17a73-1ab8-4a34-b28c-bfe9267bdb90 🔭
Physics lab reports!
Me: Lab reports can be handwritten or typed; upload scans or document to Canvas for grading.
Student: (Submits a LaTeX file.)
🤔
Me: Lab reports can be handwritten or typed; upload scans or document to Canvas for grading.
Student: (Submits a LaTeX file.)
🤔
December 9, 2023 at 8:18 AM
Physics lab reports!
Me: Lab reports can be handwritten or typed; upload scans or document to Canvas for grading.
Student: (Submits a LaTeX file.)
🤔
Me: Lab reports can be handwritten or typed; upload scans or document to Canvas for grading.
Student: (Submits a LaTeX file.)
🤔
Additional solar system objects (Ceres, Chariklo, Ryugu, 300163 (2006 VW139), 2019 LF6, and a theorized primordial black hole) for students to sort using the International Astronomical Union classification questions. 🔭
flic.kr/p/2peMS88
flic.kr/p/2peMS88
November 9, 2023 at 5:08 PM
Additional solar system objects (Ceres, Chariklo, Ryugu, 300163 (2006 VW139), 2019 LF6, and a theorized primordial black hole) for students to sort using the International Astronomical Union classification questions. 🔭
flic.kr/p/2peMS88
flic.kr/p/2peMS88
Various solar system objects (Ceres, Vesta, Cruithne, Gonggong, Phobos, Mercury, the moon, and Pluto) for students to sort using the International Astronomical Union classification questions. 🔭
flic.kr/p/2peMhi3
flic.kr/p/2peMhi3
November 9, 2023 at 5:07 PM
Various solar system objects (Ceres, Vesta, Cruithne, Gonggong, Phobos, Mercury, the moon, and Pluto) for students to sort using the International Astronomical Union classification questions. 🔭
flic.kr/p/2peMhi3
flic.kr/p/2peMhi3
Student worksheet with instructions for sorting objects in our solar system (moons, solar system debris, dwarf planets, and planets) using the International Astronomical Union classification questions. 🔭
flic.kr/p/2peMS8J
flic.kr/p/2peMS8J
November 9, 2023 at 5:04 PM
Student worksheet with instructions for sorting objects in our solar system (moons, solar system debris, dwarf planets, and planets) using the International Astronomical Union classification questions. 🔭
flic.kr/p/2peMS8J
flic.kr/p/2peMS8J
Turning this "Observable Universe" diagram 180° results in a "Looking Out, Looking Back In Time" diagram. 🔭
flic.kr/p/2peipKs
flic.kr/p/2peipKs
November 8, 2023 at 3:47 PM
Turning this "Observable Universe" diagram 180° results in a "Looking Out, Looking Back In Time" diagram. 🔭
flic.kr/p/2peipKs
flic.kr/p/2peipKs
History of the universe from the early metal-poor stars, to the later metal-rich stars. 🔭
Stars eat hydrogen,
stars poop metals,
and we are made of starpoop.
flic.kr/p/2oFxbzk
Stars eat hydrogen,
stars poop metals,
and we are made of starpoop.
flic.kr/p/2oFxbzk
November 7, 2023 at 4:54 PM
History of the universe from the early metal-poor stars, to the later metal-rich stars. 🔭
Stars eat hydrogen,
stars poop metals,
and we are made of starpoop.
flic.kr/p/2oFxbzk
Stars eat hydrogen,
stars poop metals,
and we are made of starpoop.
flic.kr/p/2oFxbzk
Physics midterms!
Me: Attach your single-sided handwritten study sheet to the exam when you turn it in.
Student: (Attaches Möbius strip study sheet to exam.)
🤔
Me: Attach your single-sided handwritten study sheet to the exam when you turn it in.
Student: (Attaches Möbius strip study sheet to exam.)
🤔
October 16, 2023 at 10:01 PM
Physics midterms!
Me: Attach your single-sided handwritten study sheet to the exam when you turn it in.
Student: (Attaches Möbius strip study sheet to exam.)
🤔
Me: Attach your single-sided handwritten study sheet to the exam when you turn it in.
Student: (Attaches Möbius strip study sheet to exam.)
🤔
Sun-path diagrams for students to compare differences between here in San Luis Obispo, CA with Honolulu, HI, and Stockholm, Sweden. (Also making connections with solargraphy as well.) 🔭
October 16, 2023 at 6:06 PM
Sun-path diagrams for students to compare differences between here in San Luis Obispo, CA with Honolulu, HI, and Stockholm, Sweden. (Also making connections with solargraphy as well.) 🔭
Worksheet for students to work in small groups on identifying the moon position and locating the appropriate observer for different eclipse type. Each group is given two metal washers, and they discuss how to place those washers, followed by a whole-class discussion. 🔭
October 13, 2023 at 7:59 PM
Worksheet for students to work in small groups on identifying the moon position and locating the appropriate observer for different eclipse type. Each group is given two metal washers, and they discuss how to place those washers, followed by a whole-class discussion. 🔭
An astronomy magazine article:
"Every year, the constellations Canis Minor and Canis Major come to their early-evening peak of visibility in the night sky as winter winds down."
Modeling for students how to use a starwheel to determine a plausible date and time for this observation. 🔭
"Every year, the constellations Canis Minor and Canis Major come to their early-evening peak of visibility in the night sky as winter winds down."
Modeling for students how to use a starwheel to determine a plausible date and time for this observation. 🔭
October 12, 2023 at 5:03 PM
An astronomy magazine article:
"Every year, the constellations Canis Minor and Canis Major come to their early-evening peak of visibility in the night sky as winter winds down."
Modeling for students how to use a starwheel to determine a plausible date and time for this observation. 🔭
"Every year, the constellations Canis Minor and Canis Major come to their early-evening peak of visibility in the night sky as winter winds down."
Modeling for students how to use a starwheel to determine a plausible date and time for this observation. 🔭
For my astronomy students this semester, even more than learning how to do sun-sign and rising-sign astrology with their starwheels, they really liked the Barbenheimer tie-in. 🔭
October 11, 2023 at 2:31 PM
For my astronomy students this semester, even more than learning how to do sun-sign and rising-sign astrology with their starwheels, they really liked the Barbenheimer tie-in. 🔭
Student instructions
for a think-pair-share session
on using starwheels.
Is that a haiku?
Let me haiku that for you:
it's five-seven-five.
🔭
for a think-pair-share session
on using starwheels.
Is that a haiku?
Let me haiku that for you:
it's five-seven-five.
🔭
October 10, 2023 at 5:09 PM
Student instructions
for a think-pair-share session
on using starwheels.
Is that a haiku?
Let me haiku that for you:
it's five-seven-five.
🔭
for a think-pair-share session
on using starwheels.
Is that a haiku?
Let me haiku that for you:
it's five-seven-five.
🔭
Starwheel (planisphere) classroom activity for astronomy students.
October 9, 2023 at 6:05 PM
Starwheel (planisphere) classroom activity for astronomy students.