Astronomy at Foothill College
Andrew Fraknoi

Articles and Resource Guides on the Web
by Andrew Fraknoi

1. Articles [some on astronomy, some on astronomy education]

An Ancient Universe (for teachers; on how we know the age of the universe is much longer than creationists claim; with B. Partridge, G. Greenstein, and J. Percy): http://education.aas.org/publications/ancientuniverse.html
(an earlier version, with classroom activities can be found at: http://www.astrosociety.org/education/publications/tnl/56/index.html)

Astronomy Education in U.S. (a general review of the many arenas where it takes place): http://www.astrosociety.org/education/resources/useduc.html

Astronomy Textbooks, Used Book Chains, and Big Macs: A Perspective (in Astronomy Education Review): http://aer.noao.edu/cgi-bin/article.pl?id=152

Dealing with Astrology, UFOs, and Faces on Other Worlds: A Guide to Addressing Astronomical Pseudoscience in the Classroom (in Astronomy Education Review): http://aer.noao.edu/cgi-bin/article.pl?id=70

Enrollments in Astronomy 101 Courses: An Update (in Astronomy Education Review): http://aer.noao.edu/cgi-bin/article.pl?id=12

How Fast Are You Moving When You Are Sitting Still? (the motions of the Earth for teachers): http://www.astrosociety.org/education/publications/tnl/71/howfast.html

Insights from a Survey of Astronomy Instructors in Community and Other Teaching-Oriented Colleges in the United States (in Astronomy Education Review): http://aer.noao.edu/cgi-bin/article.pl?id=89

Light as a Cosmic Time Machine (brief introduction for the general public): http://www.pbs.org/seeinginthedark/astronomy-topics/light-as-a-cosmic-time-machine.html

Lives of the Stars (a brief introduction for the general public): http://www.pbs.org/seeinginthedark/astronomy-topics/lives-of-stars.html

Mars (a brief introduction for the general public): http://www.pbs.org/seeinginthedark/astronomy-topics/mars.html

“Music of the Spheres” in Education: Using Astronomically Inspired Music (in Astronomy Education Review): http://aer.noao.edu/cgi-bin/article.pl?id=193

So You Want to Start a Project ASTRO Site (Q & A on program where astronomers adopt a classroom): http://www.astrosociety.org/education/astro/about/astrofaq.html

Steps and Missteps Toward an Emerging Profession (Education and Outreach in Astronomy): http://www.astrosociety.org/pubs/mercury/34_05/epo.pdf

Teaching Astronomy with Science Fiction (in Astronomy Education Review): http://aer.noao.edu/cgi-bin/article.pl?id=33

Teaching What a Planet Is: A Roundtable on the Educational Implications of the New Definition of a Planet (in Astronomy Educat. Review): http://aer.noao.edu/cgi-bin/article.pl?id=207

What’s a Planet and Why is Pluto not in the Planet Club Anymore (brief introduction): http://www.pbs.org/seeinginthedark/astronomy-topics/planets-and-pluto.html

Your Astrology Defense Kit (a skeptical article to help educators respond to astrological claims): http://www.astrosociety.org/education/astro/act3/astrology3.html#defense

2. Educational Activities

A Flag for Your Planet (Family Activity): http://www.astrosociety.org/education/publications/tnl/66/flag3.html

Family Heroes: Should Uncle Fred be in the Sky? [thinking about constellations]:
http://www-tc.pbs.org/seeinginthedark/pdfs/family_heros.pdf

Finding Your Way to Mars, Pennsylvania: An Astronomy and Geography Activity: http://www.pbs.org/seeinginthedark/pdfs/geography_astronomy_activity.pdf

Picture an Astronomer Activity: http://www.astrosociety.org/education/astro/act1/astronomer.html

Sky Heroes: Reinventing the Constellations (for classrooms): http://www.pbs.org/seeinginthedark/pdfs/Sky_Heroes.pdf

Starry Lives, Starry Skies: Observing Different Stages in Stellar Evolution:
http://www-tc.pbs.org/seeinginthedark/pdfs/starry_lives_starry_skies.pdf

Surfing the Solar System Web-based Quiz Game: http://www.astrosociety.org/education/surf.html

Testing Astrology Activities: http://www.astrosociety.org/education/astro/act3/astrology.html

3. Resource Guides

Astronomical Pseudo-science: A Skeptic’s Resource List (astrology, UFO’s, creationist cosmology, etc.): http://www.astrosociety.org/education/resources/pseudobib.html

Astronomy and the Arts (poetry, music, and art):
http://www.pbs.org/seeinginthedark/resources-links/astronomy-and-the-arts.html

Astronomy Classroom Activities on the Web: An Annotated Topical Guide (for K-12 teachers): http://www.astrosociety.org/education/activities/astroacts.html

Astronomy and Poetry: http://aer.noao.edu/cgi-bin/article.pl?id=10

Environmental Issues & Astronomy (light pollution, observatory sites, frequency spectrum allocation, etc.): http://www.astrosociety.org/education/resources/environment.html

Exchanging Messages with Extraterrestrial Civilizations: http://www.astrosociety.org/education/family/resources/seti.html

The Astronomy of Many Cultures: http://www.astrosociety.org/education/resources/multi.html

Science Fiction with Good Astronomy (a topical listing and brief review): http://www.astrosociety.org/education/resources/scifi.html

SETI (The Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence): A Basic Reading List:
http://www.seti.org/publications/bibliography.php

Websites on College Astronomy Teaching (teaching strategies, resources, labs, demos, etc.): http://www.astrosociety.org/education/resources/educsites.html

Women in Astronomy Bibliography (general references and specific readings for 36 women astronomers): http://www.astrosociety.org/education/resources/womenast_bib.html

Site designed by Brian Day, P.A.S.