Author Archives: astroteacher

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 →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

A Pilgrimage to a Volcano

Posted on July 4, 2018

At approximately 8:30am on Sunday, May 18, 1980, I unexpectedly woke from a sound sleep.  At the time it seemed odd I woke at that particular time.  As the morning progressed, it was evident many others around western Washington state … Continue reading →

Posted in Earth History, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

The Centrality of Phenomena

Posted on May 21, 2018

The quest for relevance and equity in science education Those of us who work in science education and outreach, including the staff at the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, do so out of a sense of hope and belief our … Continue reading →

Posted in Education Matters, Science Education | 1 Comment