Author Archives: astroteacher

Chasing Shadows and Eating the Moon

Posted on May 10, 2020

Several years ago, a speaker told the audience at a conference I was attending how elementary teachers have very few opportunities for professional development in the area of science, and take advantage of fewer.  The amount of professional development in … Continue reading →

Posted in Science Education, Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Seeing the Night Sky is a Basic Human Right

Posted on March 29, 2020

Several years ago, there was an effort in a number of communities to codify a “Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights.” These documents remain as guides for the development of activities in both the classroom, and out of school time venues. … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

A Teachable Moment?

Posted on June 1, 2019

This past April, while attending the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) conference in St. Louis, Missouri, a friend came up to me and asked what I thought of the image of the black hole.  My reply: “what black hole?” The … Continue reading →

Posted in Astronomy, Education Matters, Science Education, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Windows, Mirrors, and Sliding Doors to the Universe

Posted on May 10, 2019

The phrase a “window to the universe” has become ubiquitous every time a new observatory or astronomical instrument is built. While there is a certain aesthetic to the phrase, when applied so often it becomes easy to not think about … Continue reading →

Posted in Education Matters, Science Education, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Feats Above

Posted on January 12, 2019

That’s one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind.  – Neil Armstrong This is the moon landing of free soloing.  – Tommy Caldwell Driving around a corner, you go through a tunnel.  Coming out, it is all … Continue reading →

Posted in Space Exploration, Stories, Uncategorized, Yosemite | Leave a comment

Lunar Inspiration

Posted on December 13, 2018

From December 2018 through July 2019, the world is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the first missions where humans orbited, then landed, on the Moon.  A total of nine Apollo missions went to the Moon and returned safely to Earth.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Education Matters, Space Exploration, Stories | Leave a comment

The Eternal Recurrence of the Mars Hoax

Posted on August 22, 2018

It is a testament to how people tend to hear what they want to hear.  The first time was in August 2003 as people were preparing to observe the closest Mars opposition in approximately 60,000 years.  A fairly innocuous statement … Continue reading →

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