Create phylogenetic trees and explore genetic relationships between species with NOVA's Evolution Lab.

Click here for an archive of science activities for the classroom.

Early risers during the first few weeks of February may see all five of the visible planets across the dawn sky. Lowest toward the east are tiny Mercury, with brilliant Venus a little higher. Saturn is about half-way up the eastern sky, and Mars is even higher toward the south. Bright Jupiter is farthest toward the west. Even from the light-polluted city sky, Venus and Jupiter are easy to find. Get up about 45 minutes before sunrise on a clear morning, and give it try. Use this diagram to spot the others. Planets appear to "line up" periodically, and it's fun to try spotting them from our own back yards.

In addition, you may have heard about a possible new planet in our solar system. Evidence seems to indicate that a large planet may be out beyond Pluto. The orbits of several Kuiper Belt Objects seem to point to a large mass out there, too far away to see, but possible to model mathematically. Check NASA's web site at for more information.