Essential Information
| Location | |
|---|---|
| Key Stage | GCSE |
| School Subject | Astronomy |
| Resource Type |
Classroom activity
Video and audio
|
Hello astronomers! On this page you will find free videos and worksheets to help you with GCSE Astronomy.
You can download the Edexcel specification for GCSE Astronomy from their website here.
Worksheets are organised by the topics they relate to in the specification, but in some cases they can extend your learning beyond the exam topics too. Remember to have a look at our animated videos and further reading as well!
Worksheets organised by topic
Sun Earth Moon (Topic 4, 10)
Observation (Topic 4, 5, 6)
Planetary systems (Topic 8, 12)
Planetary systems (Topic 7, 8, 11, 12)
Stellar evolution (Topic 13, 14)
Galaxies and Cosmology (Topic 15, 16)
Videos to watch
Coordinate Systems
Coordinate systems confusing you? Join our astronomers as we break down coordinates here on Earth, and coordinate systems used for the night sky!
Our Sun
Join astronomers from the Royal Observatory Greenwich to find out more about our life-giving star.
Great Galaxies
Join the astronomers at the Royal Observatory Greenwich as they explore the structure of our home galaxy, and look at other galaxies in the Universe.
Measuring the Universe
This video explains how we can measure the distance to near and far objects in the universe using parallax, 'standard candles' and the Doppler effect.
How do we know how old the Sun is?
ROG astronomer Brendan explains how we determine the age of our Solar System from space rocks and how we can work out how long the Sun has left before it engulfs the inner planets.
Stars and the H-R Diagram
Royal Observatory Greenwich astronomers explain how stars can be categorised and their evolution studied by tracking their movement across a very important graph in stellar evolution - the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram.
What’s inside a black hole?
Royal Observatory astronomer Rad explains where black holes come from, how we know they’re there and the strange effects they have on surrounding matter.
How will the Universe end?
Life on Earth, our Sun and Solar System, the Milky Way – all good things must come to an end. But what about the fate of the Universe itself?
Further reading
The determination of longitude (Topic 4)
The Royal Observatory Greenwich is the home of Harrison's chronometers and central to the search for longitude! You can come and visit us to extend your learning, or do some further reading on the topic using the pages below:
Longitude found - the story of Harrison's Clocks | Royal Museums Greenwich
Longitude found: Nevil Maskelyne and the lunar method | Royal Museums Greenwich
Time | Royal Museums Greenwich
If you would like to book a self-guided visit of the Royal Observatory, please fill out our enquiry form:
Banner image credit: Pillars of Creation © Hassan Hatami
Shortlisted in the Annie Maunder Open Category, ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year Competition 2025