Since 1997, I have built and/or maintained over 15 websites. Currently, besides my own (this, photos, coins, and podcast), I maintain really only one other - my "Journey Through the Galaxy" site.
Journey Through the Galaxy - Link
This was my first, my original website, begun way back in 1997 with a friend, David McDonald, for an internet design competition called "ThinkQuest." We won semi-finals that year, re-entered in 1998 and 1999 and didn't end up winning anything else.
I updated it for awhile, re-designed it before I went to college in 2001, then let it sit. Around 2003/04, I did another major re-design and expansion of the site, maintained it for a good 1-2 years, and have since let it sit. Now, starting seriously around October 2008, I've been working on yet another major refurbishing/redesign/expansion of the site which - besides expanded, new, and updated information - finally includes full-CSS integration, CGI (finally now that I have my own web server), and JavaScript to write out common elements such as the navigation and footer. I hope plan to have it completed in time for the 2009-10 academic school year ... actually, in time for teachers to peruse it and make lesson plans for that school year.
The site has been visited by over 100,000 people since it was created, been viewed in over 125 different countries, is included in numerous library systems at major institutions, and is used by teachers as supplements and in some cases eTexts to cut their own costs.
The site was reviewed in The Internet Scout Project's "Scout Report"'s Physical Sciences issue on August 6, 2004 (Volume 10, No. 30). The review is quite complementary:
"This website, supported by Case Western University, "explores our solar system, stars, extra-solar planets, the theories about the past and future of the universe, and human exploration of space." The valuable materials are provided in two varieties: a regular version designed for grade school students and an advanced version intended for college students. The easily navigable website is first divided into five main topics and subsequently separated into a series of subtopics. For instance, under the Solar System link users can find five tabs containing data and tutorials on the sun, planets, asteroids, comets, and the edge of the solar system. With numerous helpful diagrams and images throughout the website, astronomy students are sure to benefit from this website."
The site was included in the book Exploring Earth and Space Systems by Kent Franklin (© 2005). The book is intended to be used by students in Minnesota to help with proficiency in the new Earth and Space Systems standards. My site got placed in the same chapter as Astronomy Picture of the Day, and my complementary copy of the book included a letter from the author, part of which says:
By the way, of all the astronomy-related websites I previewed for inclusion in my website, [y]ours was by far the most organized and easy to follow. Good job and congratulations!