 Teaching Astronomy and Space Science
A Workshop for Graduate credit at Xavier University
At the Cincinnati Observatory Center
June 8-12 (6:00-11:00pm)
Instructor: Dean Regas
Outreach Astronomer, Cincinnati Observatory Center Prerequisites: None Course Description: The focus of this workshop is to assist science teachers in presenting astronomy units to grades 5-12. The sessions will be a mixture of lecture, hands-on activities, and field experience - using telescopes to view the heavens. Topics include the Sun, Moon, constellations, planets, seasons, eclipses, and archeoastronomy. Special emphasis will be placed on cycles, the Sun, and seasons that include demonstrations of safe solar viewing. Participants will also be connected to local astronomy resources and equipment as well as practice with the best sky simulation software. Course goals: At the completion of this course, students will be able to: - Understand the cycles of the Sun, Moon, planets, and stars
- Identify major stars and constellations and well as the five visible planets
- Trace the history of astronomy and analyze how our understanding of the universe has changed
- Compare and contrast the geocentric and heliocentric views
- Construct and use basic astronomical instruments
- Present an astronomy lesson to the class
For more information or to register please contact Nancy Downing at 513-745 3477 The course number is EDXC 532 
Professional Development Are you looking for a unique way to spice up your Professional Development programs? The Cincinnati Observatory can help your teachers reach for the stars. Over the past seven years, the Cincinnati Observatory has established itself as the cutting edge of science education. The Outreach Program has delivered educational programs to over 100 tri-state schools and reached hundreds of teachers. Our PD programs are a superb way to enhance your astronomy units and directly improve student learning. Programs can be designed for all grade levels and meet district goals. They include multi-media presentations, telescopes, and actively involve your teachers in hands-on, inquiry-based activities. It is an exceptional way to inspire your teachers while allowing them to make a solid connection to a local scientific institution. Costs start at only $100. If you have any questions or would like to schedule a program, please call Dean Regas at 513-321-5186.
Some Good Astronomy Websites NASA Educator Resource Center @ the University of Cincinnati Bad Astronomy http://badastronomy.com Astronomy Picture of the Day http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html Star Date (the radio program on WVXU) http://stardate.org Galileo www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/galileo Sun and Solar Stuff www.spaceweather.com Deep Space Objects www.seds.org/messier Searching for Planets http://www.nineplanets.org/hypo.html Hubble Space Telescope http://hubblesite.org/ Space.com www.Space.com Mars Rovers http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/ What the Greeks Knew http://galileo.phys.virginia.edu/classes/109N/lectures/gkastr1.html Heavens Above - Finding Satellites www.heavens-above.com Clear Sky Clock Cincinnati http://www.cleardarksky.com/c/CncntObCOHkey.html Eclipses http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/eclipse.html Sky and Telescope http://skytonight.com Comet updates http://www.aerith.net/comet/weekly/current.html Apollo Moon missions http://www.apolloarchive.com/apollo_archive.html Stellarium simulation program http://www.stellarium.org | 
