The video "A Private Universe" evokes surprise and dismay among educators and scientists by demonstrating that even the brightest students fail to grasp a seemingly simple and fundamental concept--the reason for seasons. This literature review describes the findings of 41 studies that collectively illustrate why the concept proves difficult to…

We present an argument for, and suggested implementation of, a code of ethics for the astronomy education research community. This code of ethics is based on legal and ethical considerations set forth by U.S. federal regulations and the existing code of conduct of the American Educational Research Association. We also provide a fictitious research…

This paper reviews astronomy education research carried out among school students, teachers, and museum visitors over a 35-year period from 1974 until 2008. One hundred and three peer-reviewed journal articles were examined, the majority of whose research dealt with conceptions of astronomical phenomena with 40% investigating intervention…

This article discusses the legal and ethical requirements of human subjects research proposals in astronomy education research. We present an overview of the relevant laws, regulations, and guidelines that inform an Institutional Review Board evaluation of proposed research. We also present examples of potential research projects in astronomy…

In this article, we briefly outline and discuss the legal and ethical ramifications of doing astronomy education research, with an emphasis on the practical issues that researchers have to keep in mind when engaging in, and publishing about, research that involves human subjects.

This article describes the experiences of a former astronomer who is making the transition to astronomy education research as an international graduate student in the United States. The article describes the author's encounters with education research, its methodologies, and his changing research interests as he progresses through the graduate…

Both the "quiet" sun and the "active" sun are described. The quiet sun includes the solar phenomena that occur everyday and the active sun includes solar phenomena that appear nonuniformly on the sun and vary over time. A general description of the sun, sunspots, flares, plages, filaments, prominences, solar-terrestrial…

Describes the Alpha Centauri star system, which is the closest star system to the sun. Discusses the difficulties associated with measurements involving Alpha Centauri, along with some of the recent advances in stellar seismology. Raises questions about the possibilities of planets around Alpha Centauri. (TW)

Discusses the link between astronomical information and the ice ages. Explains the use of isotope measurement data from the sea-floor sediments, glacial ice, and water. (YP)

Discusses a study of the effects of music listening upon student achievement. Reports that seventh grade students listened to music while independently studying the earth-sun relationship. Concludes that there were no significant achievement differences among students who learned while listening to rock, classical, easy listening, or no music. (SG)

The importance of investigating the sun's interior is discussed. One method for probing the interiors of some pulsating stars is described. The relationship between the sun's solar oscillation frequencies and the sun's solar cycles is discussed. A project to place six instruments around the world to observe the sun's oscillations (GONG) is…

Discussed is the question of whether "heavy" neutrinos really do exist based on the evidence supplied by four research groups. The implications of its existence on the disciplines of particle physics, astrophsyics, and cosmology are discussed. Background information on the different types of neutrinos is provided. (KR)

This study explored the relationship between noctcaelador, psychological attachment to the night-sky, and the Five-Factor Model of Personality. University students (N = 108) were administered the Noctcaelador Inventory and Saucier's Big-Five Mini-Markers of Personality. Noctcaelador was significantly positively related to Openness to Experience…

Describes the major components of the solar system and proposes several features that a theory about the solar system should include. Contains explanations of several theories about the origin of the solar system. (TW)

This exploratory study determined whether a mathematical model of mastery learning provided a good fit for achievement data obtained from student progress in an introductory, college-level astronomy course for nonmajors. Results provide positive but not compelling evidence that the model of mastery learning is correct. (JN)