Author Archives: astroteacher

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

Standing in the Shadow of the Moon

Posted on September 6, 2017

For two years and more, the total solar eclipse of August 21, 2017 consumed my life.  From writing and rewriting activities designed to teach about the eclipse, delivering numerous professional development sessions and workshops to teachers around the country, planning … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Astronomical Phenomena as a Provocación for Learner Engagement

Posted on July 4, 2017

The total solar eclipse taking place on August 21, 2017 is a natural phenomenon on a grand scale. Though only those on the narrow swath cutting across the country from Oregon to South Carolina will see totality, everyone throughout the … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Looking Afar to See Ourselves

Posted on April 15, 2017

Assimilating and accommodating new ideas and ways to do things is not always an easy task. Sometimes we find ourselves too close to old and comfortable ideas, unable to find a perspective from which to evaluate the potential for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment