Assesses the history and current trends in astronomy education. Emphasis is placed in precollege science education. Recommendations to remedy the current low emphasis on astronomy in the secondary education curriculum are advanced. (CP)

The authors illustrate the magnitude and application of the concept of a "googol" (ten raised to the one hundred power) in searching for entities that exist in such number. (MN)

Describes a program which can be written to represent stellar motion in the galactic plane. (CP)

Presents information on the properties and largest spirals of the Local Group galaxies. Explains the three categories of galaxies, identifies the brightest members of the Local Group, and discusses recent discoveries within the group. (ML)

Refutes the Doppler effect as the explanation of large red shifts in the spectra of distant galaxies and explains the relativistic effects in which the light sources approach the observer obliquely. Provides several diagrams and graphs. (YP)

Describes the Cygnus Loop, one of brightest and most easily studied of the older "remnant nebulae" of supernova outbursts. Discusses some of the historical events surrounding the discovery and measurement of the Cygnus Loop and makes some projections on its future. (TW)

The Lakota ethnoastronomy project researches Sioux astronomical practices, celestial lore, mythology, religion, and view of the universe and traces them through the nation's history, and has resulted in both an improved understanding of Sioux tradition and legislation to return federally held land to the tribe. (MSE)

Discusses the role and resources of planetary astronomy in planetary exploration. Identifies the categories of support made available by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and reviews the impacts of these findings on planetary researches. Analyzes the publishing habits of American astronomers. (ML)

Provides an historic overview of the conditions and obstacles encountered by women in pursuing careers in astronomy. Highlights the accomplishments and contributions made by successful women in the field. Reviews the current status and climate associated with women in astronomy and the sciences in general. (ML)

From an understanding of how the solar system was formed, scientists have determined the conditions under which life probably originated on earth and, by experiment, have demonstrated a number of possible theories. These conditions, experiments, theories, and related topics are discussed. (JN)

Students at Jones Middle School (Upper Arlington, Ohio) became involved when a nearby radio telescope was threatened by a land sale. Students not only learned about the basics of telescope use but also wrote to various local and national officials to "save the telescope." (DH)

Rather than memorize numbers for sidereal periods of planets (time to orbit the sun), students can learn to determine these times through simple calculations. Comparison of a planet's synodic period to earth's year of 365 days is made, then multiplication to derive a full circle of 360 degrees establishes the sidereal period. (DH)

Describes fourth graders' observations and hypotheses about the sun and moon and how the three-dimensional reality gradually replaced the inadequate two-dimensional models of textbooks. Discusses implications for instruction of this progression from concrete to abstract. (HTH)

Focusing on why the elliptical form in architecture is found only in the baroque period, discusses the development of the conic section and interactions in the baroque period with art, astronomy, and mathematics. An experimental approach to the topic carried out with high school seniors is reported. (Author/JN)

Native American science is defined as activities of native peoples of the New World in observing physical phenomena and attempting to explain and control them. Problems in studying native science, ethnoscience and native science, archaeostronomy and ethnoastronomy, ethnobotany, agriculture, technology, and future directions are discussed. (JN)