Describes a project that enriches astronomy lessons with hands-on activities facilitated by an astronomer. The project links professional and amateur astronomers with middle-level classroom teachers and informal educators. Families and community organizations are also involved in the project. Provides information on how to join the ASTRO network.…

Used classroom observations, personal interviews, and pre-instruction/post-instruction administration of the Texas Attitude Survey and the Astronomy Diagnostic Test to evaluate hands-on instructional innovations in a college astronomy course. Modified instruction based on student concerns; scores for the second course showed significant…

Described is an overview of the Voyager 2 encounter with Neptune. Discussed are the trajectory, atmosphere, rings, satellites, magnetosphere, and future of Voyager 2. (YP)

Presents activities that focus on shadows to teach about seasonal changes and the earth's tilting axis. Includes suggestions for indoor discussions, diagrams, and models, and for outdoor observations and measurements of shadows. (SV)

Describes Neptune through Voyager 2 including the discovery, location, atmosphere, ring arcs, radiation, two satellites, and Voyager's goals. Provides several diagrams and pictures. (YP)

Discusses the need for the integration of scientific research and science education, graduate education in astronomy, the current status of federally funded research and education, and the impact of budget cuts on scientific research and education. (JRH)

Describes two activities to help students think about and understand the concepts of star brightness and apparent and absolute magnitude, as well as how a star's location in the universe affects these characteristics. (JRH)

Describes the construction of models of two-dimensional surfaces with negative curvature that are used to illustrate differences in the triangle sum rule for the various Big Bang Theories of the universe. (JRH)

Discusses the place that Robert Hooke has in science history versus the scientific contributions he made. Examines the relationship between Hooke and his contemporary, Isaac Newton, and Hooke's claims that Newton built on his ideas without receiving Newton's recognition. (26 references) (MDH)

Bibliographic guide of women astronomers and their work. Includes general references on women in astronomy, as well as specific women astronomers including Baliunas, Bell Burnell, Burbidge, Cannon, Faber, Fleming, Furness, Geller, Herschel, Hogg, Huggins, Klumpke Roberts, Leavitt, Maury, Mitchell, Payne-Gaposchkin, Ride, Rubin, Sitterly, Tater,…

Discusses aspects of Christopher Columbus' decision to sail west in order to reach Asia. Includes discussions concerning the shape and size of the earth as determined up to Columbus' time and conclusions he made during the journey based on his calculations. (MDH)

Describes introducing archaeoastronomical concepts into science courses ranging from eighth grade to introductory college level. Archaeoastronomers attempt to reconstruct the astronomical techniques, religion, and lifestyle of ancient civilizations by connecting studies of their agriculture, folklore, architecture, and art. (PR)

Describes the development of a theme-based, multidisciplinary course. The article partitions into the following sections: (1) Constructing the Course; (2) Putting the Ideas to Work; (3) Connecting Science and Society; and (4) The Arts and Astronomy. (ZWH)

Presented is a map of the night sky in the northern hemisphere during the month of March 1991. A calendar of celestial highlights including the positions of the planets and several stars is included. (CW)

An activity in which students compare the sun's brightness with that of a light bulb of known luminosity (in watts) to determine the luminosity of the sun is presented. As an extension, the luminosity value that the student obtains for the sun can also be used to estimate the sun's surface temperature. (KR)