2025 Nuts and Bolts of Teaching Astronomy Content Series
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Register
- Non-member - $149
- Member - $149
From telescopes and the EM spectrum to our solar system this four part workshop series will cover a range of astronomy topics taught in a science classroom and give examples of labs and activities experienced teachers have found successful. These workshops are perfect for those teaching astronomy for the first time this fall, as well as experienced teachers who are interested in discovering new resources and connecting with peers.
The free Intro to The Nuts and Bolts of Teaching Astronomy workshop is not a pre-requisite for this series but is recommended.
Purchase this package of all four workshops for $149, or go back to the catalog to register for the individual workshops at $40 each.
Receive a discount if you register for The Nuts and Bolts of Teaching Astronomy Content Series (package of 4) and Ancient Skies, Modern Tools: Stellarium in the Classroom (package of 3). Purchase both packages totaling seven workshops valued at $269 for just $249! Instructions to see discount: Click the green "Register" button above, then click "add to cart and complete later". Go back to the catalog and click "Register" for the Ancient Skies, Modern Tools package, then "Complete Registration Now". Note: you must be logged in to complete registration and receive the discount in your cart.
This package of content specific workshops includes all four in the series. All four workshops are on Wednesdays and will run from 10 am to 12 pm Pacific Time / 1 pm to 3 pm Eastern Time. Attending live is strongly recommended but recordings will be made available for those who cannot attend live or who would like to review any part of the workshops.
The Telescope and Multiwavelength Astronomy - June 25 Everyone knows astronomers use telescopes to study the Universe, but how do they actually work? And why do we need so many different kinds, both on the ground and in space? In this two-hour workshop, discover the differences between telescopes, and how they allow astronomers to explore the Universe using every wavelength in the electromagnetic spectrum.
Stars - July 9 Looking up at the night sky, we marvel at the myriad stars. What are they really? Are they all the same? How do we classify them? And what does this tell us about our own star, the Sun? Join us as we explore the stars, their classification and life cycle.
The Scale of the Universe - July 23 When we look at distant stars and galaxies, we are also looking back in time. How do we know how far away those objects are? How do we reconcile our perception of distance with that of time? In this workshop, we explore the history of the Universe, and how astronomers measure cosmic distances.
Exploring the Solar System - August 6 For millennia, humans have watched the planets move across the night sky. In recent decades, robotic explorers have gone to many of them, including landing rovers to directly examine their surfaces. In this workshop, explore our solar system, how we classify its objects, and what we have learned from our explorations.
Participants will gain the following through participation in the workshops:
- Classroom-tested resources and activities that facilitate student-centered learning.
- Strategies for engaging learners.
- Access to astronomy education experts who will facilitate the workshop.
- A certificate of completion for participating in 2 clock hours of professional development for each workshop.
- Upon completion of the entire series of 4 workshops, participants can earn semester graduate units from the University of the Pacific for an additional fee.
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Contains 4 Component(s) Includes a Live Web Event on 06/25/2025 at 10:00 AM (PDT)
Everyone knows astronomers use telescopes to study the Universe, but how do they actually work? And why do we need so many different kinds, both on the ground and in space? In this workshop, discover the differences between telescopes, and how they allow astronomers to explore the Universe using every wavelength in the electromagnetic spectrum.
In this two-hour workshop, join experienced teachers who have taught astronomy to cover the “nuts and bolts'' of what a telescope is and how it works. The workshop will also provide a refresher on the electromagnetic spectrum and its use in investigating astronomical phenomena. Explore the different kinds of telescopes and how they provide a window on the Universe in every wavelength of the electromagnetic spectrum. This workshop is perfect for those teaching astronomy for the first time this fall, as well as experienced teachers who are interested in discovering new resources and connecting with peers.
Participants will gain the following through participation in the workshop:
- Classroom-tested resources and activities that facilitate student-centered learning.
- Strategies for engaging learners.
- Access to astronomy education experts who will facilitate the workshop.
- A certificate of completion for participating in 2 clock hours of professional development.
- Upon completion of the entire series of 4 workshops, participants can earn semester graduate units from the University of the Pacific for an additional fee.
Registration: $40
Attendance/Refund Policy
Live attendance is strongly encouraged and expected in order to get the most out of the interactive session. Full refund is available for cancellations up to 14 days prior to the start of the workshop. If you need to cancel please email learn@astrosociety.org.
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Contains 4 Component(s) Includes a Live Web Event on 07/09/2025 at 10:00 AM (PDT)
Looking up at the night sky, we marvel at the myriad stars. What are they really? Are they all the same? How do we classify them? And what does this tell us about our own star, the Sun? Join us as we explore the stars, their classification and life cycle.
In this two-hour workshop, join experienced teachers who have taught astronomy to cover the “nuts and bolts'' of stars, their classification and life cycle. Discover how the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram organizes what we know about stars, and how to use it to predict how a star will age. This workshop is perfect for those teaching astronomy for the first time this fall, as well as experienced teachers who are interested in discovering new resources and connecting with peers.
Participants will gain the following through participation in the workshop:
- Classroom-tested resources and activities that facilitate student-centered learning.
- Strategies for engaging learners.
- Access to astronomy education experts who will facilitate the workshop.
- A certificate of completion for participating in 2 clock hours of professional development.
- Upon completion of the entire series of 4 workshops, participants can earn semester graduate units from the University of the Pacific for an additional fee.
Registration: $40
Attendance/Refund Policy
Live attendance is strongly encouraged and expected in order to get the most out of the interactive session. Full refund is available for cancellations up to 14 days prior to the start of the workshop. If you need to cancel please email learn@astrosociety.org.
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Contains 4 Component(s) Includes a Live Web Event on 07/23/2025 at 10:00 AM (PDT)
When we look at distant stars and galaxies, we are also looking back in time. How do we know how far away those objects are? How do we reconcile our perception of distance with that of time? In this workshop, we explore the history of the Universe, and how astronomers measure cosmic distances.
In this two-hour workshop, join experienced teachers who have taught high school astronomy to cover the “nuts and bolts'' of the “cosmic distance ladder.” It is said a telescope is a time machine, allowing us to look deep into the past of the Universe. Distance and time are inextricably linked in astronomy. Discover how astronomers determine how far it is to these distant objects, and thus how far back in time we are looking. In this workshop we will explore the “nuts and bolts” of the phenomena astronomers use to construct the “cosmic distance ladder.” This workshop is perfect for those teaching astronomy for the first time this fall, as well as experienced astronomy teachers who are interested in discovering new resources and connecting with peers.
Participants will gain the following through participation in the workshop:
- Classroom-tested resources and activities that facilitate student-centered learning.
- Strategies for engaging learners.
- Access to astronomy education experts who will facilitate the workshop.
- A certificate of completion for participating in 2 clock hours of professional development.
- Upon completion of the entire series of workshops, participants can earn semester graduate units from the University of the Pacific for an additional fee.
Registration: $40
Attendance/Refund Policy
Live attendance is strongly encouraged and expected in order to get the most out of the interactive session. Full refund is available for cancellations up to 14 days prior to the start of the workshop. If you need to cancel please email learn@astrosociety.org.
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Contains 4 Component(s) Includes a Live Web Event on 08/06/2025 at 10:00 AM (PDT)
For millennia, humans have watched the planets move across the night sky. In recent decades, robotic explorers have gone to many of them, including landing rovers to directly examine their surfaces. In this workshop, explore our solar system, how we classify its objects, and what we have learned from our explorations.
In this two-hour workshop, join experienced teachers who have taught astronomy to cover the “nuts and bolts'' of solar system exploration. Rovers on Mars, spacecraft orbiting Jupiter and Saturn, not to mention the close flyby of Pluto and the images of mountains and glaciers on its frigid surface. What are the different ways in which we explore the solar system, and how do we interpret what we find? In this workshop we will explore what we know, and how we continue to investigate the objects within our own solar system. This workshop is perfect for those teaching astronomy for the first time this fall, as well as experienced teachers who are interested in discovering new resources and connecting with peers.
Participants will gain the following through participation in the workshop:
- Classroom-tested resources and activities that facilitate student-centered learning.
- Strategies for engaging learners.
- Access to astronomy education experts who will facilitate the workshop.
- A certificate of completion for participating in 2 clock hours of professional development.
- Upon completion of the entire series of 4 workshops, participants can earn semester graduate units from the University of the Pacific for an additional fee.
Registration: $40
Attendance/Refund Policy
Live attendance is strongly encouraged and expected in order to get the most out of the interactive session. Full refund is available for cancellations up to 14 days prior to the start of the workshop. If you need to cancel please email learn@astrosociety.org.
