Ancient Skies, Modern Tools: Stellarium in the Classroom
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Register
- Non-member - $120
- Member - $120
A three workshop series for astronomy educators to learn to use the free astronomy visualization software Stellarium in the classroom. Experienced educators from the ASP will showcase Stellarium’s applicability for presenting and creating student-centered labs and activities to explore basic astronomical phenomena. Each workshop in the series builds on the previous one. Registration includes all three workshops.
Receive a discount if you register for this workshop, Ancient Skies, Modern Tools: Stellarium in the Classroom (package of 3) and The Nuts and Bolts of Teaching Astronomy Content Series (package of 4). 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 Nuts and Bolts of Teaching Astronomy Content Series package, then "Complete Registration Now". Note: you must be logged in to complete registration and receive the discount in your cart.
Workshop 1: Introduction and Basics will cover the basics of using Stellarium and how it can be used to visualize various astronomical ideas such as constellations, the celestial sphere, daily motion of the Sun, Moon, planets, and stars, eclipses, retrograde motion, and more. After the workshop participants will use and play with Stellarium on their own and work through an example lab to familiarize themselves with the software.
Workshop 2: Stellarium as a Teaching Tool will highlight how Stellarium can be used to teach astronomical concepts rather than lecturing using slides. ASP staff will demonstrate how to generate data for students to then interpret so they can master basic astronomy ideas. After the workshop participants will brainstorm and then develop a Stellarium-based lab or activity they would like to use with their own students.
Workshop 3: Participant Showcase will invite participants to share and discuss the ideas they have worked on since Workshop 2, getting feedback from their peers and ASP staff. The labs participants come up with will live in a shared repository for all to access, use, and modify.
Each workshop is 1.5 hours long. Participants should expect to spend around 2 hours between the workshops on relevant assignments.
Participants will gain the following through participation in the workshop:
- Strategies we have found to successful at engaging learners of all ages
- Access to astronomy experts who will facilitate the workshop.
- A certificate of completion for participating in 8 clock hours of professional development.
Registration: $120 for all 3 workshops
Attendance/Refund Policy
Live attendance is strongly encouraged and expected in order to get the most out of the interactive session. Recordings will be provided for those who cannot make the live session or who want to review the content. 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 07/16/2025 at 10:00 AM (PDT)
Part one of a three workshop series for astronomy educators introducing the free astronomy visualization software Stellarium. Experienced educators from the ASP will showcase Stellarium’s applicability for presenting and creating student-centered labs/activities to explore basic astronomical phenomena.
Part one of a three workshop series for astronomy educators introducing the free astronomy visualization software Stellarium. Experienced educators from the ASP will showcase Stellarium’s applicability for presenting and creating student-centered labs/activities to explore basic astronomical phenomena.
Workshop 1: Introduction and Basics will cover the basics of using Stellarium and how it can be used to visualize various astronomical ideas such as constellations, the celestial sphere, daily motion of the Sun, Moon, planets, and stars, eclipses, retrograde motion, and more. After the workshop participants will use and play with Stellarium on their own and work through an example lab to familiarize themselves with the software.
This workshop is 1.5 hours long.
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.
Brian Kruse
Director, Teacher Learning Center and Formal Education Programs
Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Brian Kruse manages the ASP's Project ASTRO National Network and Bay Area Project ASTRO, programs which have partnered astronomers with classroom teachers. A veteran classroom teacher, Brian has taught middle school earth science and physical science, and high school physics, earth science, physical science, and integrated science. He has also served as a NASA Explorer Schools Coordinator, where he worked with teams of teachers to foster NASA-inspired whole-school impacts. When not working, Brian is frequently found hiking and birding with camera in hand.
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Contains 4 Component(s) Includes a Live Web Event on 07/30/2025 at 10:00 AM (PDT)
Part two of a three workshop series for astronomy educators introducing the free astronomy visualization software Stellarium. Experienced educators from the ASP will showcase Stellarium’s applicability for presenting and creating student-centered labs/activities to explore basic astronomical phenomena.
Part two of a three workshop series for astronomy educators introducing the free astronomy visualization software Stellarium. Experienced educators from the ASP will showcase Stellarium’s applicability for presenting and creating student-centered labs/activities to explore basic astronomical phenomena.
Workshop 2: Stellarium as a Teaching Tool, July 30 will highlight how Stellarium can be used to generate data that allow students to “discover” astronomical concepts rather than lecturing using slides. ASP staff will demonstrate how to use stellarium to extract data that students will then interpret so they can master basic astronomy ideas. After the workshop participants will brainstorm and then develop a Stellarium-based lab or activity they would like to use with their own students.
This workshop is 1.5 hours long.
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.
Brian Kruse
Director, Teacher Learning Center and Formal Education Programs
Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Brian Kruse manages the ASP's Project ASTRO National Network and Bay Area Project ASTRO, programs which have partnered astronomers with classroom teachers. A veteran classroom teacher, Brian has taught middle school earth science and physical science, and high school physics, earth science, physical science, and integrated science. He has also served as a NASA Explorer Schools Coordinator, where he worked with teams of teachers to foster NASA-inspired whole-school impacts. When not working, Brian is frequently found hiking and birding with camera in hand.
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Contains 4 Component(s) Includes a Live Web Event on 08/13/2025 at 10:00 AM (PDT)
Part three of a three workshop series for astronomy educators introducing the free astronomy visualization software Stellarium. Experienced educators from the ASP will showcase Stellarium’s applicability for presenting and creating student-centered labs/activities to explore basic astronomical phenomena.
Part three of a three workshop series for astronomy educators introducing the free astronomy visualization software Stellarium. Experienced educators from the ASP will showcase Stellarium’s applicability for presenting and creating student-centered labs/activities to explore basic astronomical phenomena.
Workshop 3: Participant Showcase, August 13 will invite participants to share and discuss the ideas they have explored and are developing after Workshop 2. They will get feedback from their peers and ASP staff. All labs participants develop will live in a shared repository for all to access, use, and modify.
This workshop is 1.5 hours long.
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.
Brian Kruse
Director, Teacher Learning Center and Formal Education Programs
Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Brian Kruse manages the ASP's Project ASTRO National Network and Bay Area Project ASTRO, programs which have partnered astronomers with classroom teachers. A veteran classroom teacher, Brian has taught middle school earth science and physical science, and high school physics, earth science, physical science, and integrated science. He has also served as a NASA Explorer Schools Coordinator, where he worked with teams of teachers to foster NASA-inspired whole-school impacts. When not working, Brian is frequently found hiking and birding with camera in hand.
