The Astronomy of Many Cultures

This downloadeable resource guide, for instructors and students in introductory astronomy courses, focuses on the contributions to astronomy of African, Asian, Hispanic, South Pacific, Islamic, and Native American cultures. It also contains a section on reports and articles for achieving greater diversity in science. Written by Andrew Fraknoi, the guide is part of a series sponsored by the Heliophysics Forum of the Space Missions Directorate at NASA. It includes written, on-line, and audio-visual materials, which can be used directly in the classroom, for student papers, or for personal enrichment.

Material Type: Homework/Assignment, Lecture Notes, Reading

Author: Andrew Fraknoi

Women in Astronomy

Please note: An updated, expanded version of this guide for 2022 is available at: http://bit.ly/womenastronomers This is a guide for Astronomy 101 instructors (and other educators) on the issues that have faced women in astronomy and the work of some of the women who can serve as role models for the next generation. Written by Andrew Fraknoi (Foothill College), it is part of a series called “Unheard Voices,” sponsored by the Heliophysics Forum of the Space Missions Directorate at NASA. The guide includes written, on-line, and audio-visual materials, many of which can be used directly in the classroom or for student papers. It features sections on: the history of women in astronomy in general, materials on selected women astronomers of the past, issues facing women in astronomy today, and materials on selected contemporary women astronomers.

Material Type: Teaching/Learning Strategy

Author: Andrew Fraknoi

Douglas College Astronomy 1105

Douglas College Custom Edition for Astronomy 1105. Based on Open Stax Astronomy.

Material Type: Textbook

Authors: Astronomy at Douglas College, Department of Physics, OpenStax

Introduction to Astronomy

Word Count: 49379 (Note: This resource's metadata has been created automatically by reformatting and/or combining the information that the author initially provided as part of a bulk import process.)

Material Type: Textbook

Author: Florida State College at Jacksonville

Astronomy Activities

This file contains two activities created by Robert Wagner of Harrisburg Area Community College. The Scientific Article Assignment provides a framework for students to analyze and interpret a level-appropriate scientific article. The Solar Observation project guides students through a more extensive observation activity, and includes a setup for data recording and reporting.

Material Type: Activity/Lab

Author: OpenStax, Rice University

Introduction to Astronomy

Word Count: 39860 (Note: This resource's metadata has been created automatically by reformatting and/or combining the information that the author initially provided as part of a bulk import process.)

Material Type: Textbook

Projects for Introductory Astronomy

These projects can be used in any introductory astronomy sequence. All projects are designed to be done individually. Follow-up can be done in various ways: 1) with peer-review components online through forums or in class; 2) through in-class discussions; 3) through presentations. All projects except the Research Project are intended to be short (take about 1-2 hours or less). This is one part of an astronomy resource collection by Lane Community College. This collection was built by Andrea Goering (goeringa@lanecc.edu) and Richard Wagner (wagnerr@lanecc.edu), instructors of physics and astronomy at Lane Community College in Eugene, Oregon, USA. Development of these resources was funded through LCC's OER Initiative (https://inside.lanecc.edu/oer). We'd love to hear about your use of these resources! Let us know what you're using, sign up for updates, and submit corrections, suggestions, or comments here: https://forms.gle/un49RUNs55GU3ZNF6 Find the full collection here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/142FgVMDHZ7bu53gihe3kJ_-5PzsnuzfMklJ1ZLMFk2E/edit#gid=315930953

Material Type: Homework/Assignment

Authors: Andrea Goering, Richard Wagner

Activities for Solar System Astronomy

These activities cover topics in Solar System Astronomy, aligned with the OpenStax Astronomy textbook. Topics cover chapters 1-5, 6-13, and sections of 14 and 21 covering exoplanets. All activities are designed to be done in small groups in the classroom, but most can be adapted for use as homework or projects. Quantitative and Hands-on activities may be used as labs. This is one part of an astronomy resource collection by Lane Community College. This collection was built by Andrea Goering (goeringa@lanecc.edu) and Richard Wagner (wagnerr@lanecc.edu), instructors of physics and astronomy at Lane Community College in Eugene, Oregon, USA. Development of these resources was funded through LCC's OER Initiative (https://inside.lanecc.edu/oer). We'd love to hear about your use of these resources! Let us know what you're using, sign up for updates, and submit corrections, suggestions, or comments here: https://forms.gle/un49RUNs55GU3ZNF6

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Full Course, Homework/Assignment

Authors: Andrea Goering, Richard Wagner

Online and Open Resources to Accompany OpenStax Astronomy

A topically arranged list of openly available Astronomy teaching resources, designed to enrich classroom/lecture experiences or to provide to students for their own exploration. Each resource includes a link, baseline licensing/usage guidelines, and alignment to topics and OpenStax Astronomy textbook chapters. Compiled by Lauren Woolsey, Adam VanDyke, and Robert Wagner.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Interactive, Simulation

Author: OpenStax, Rice University

Interactive Lecture Slides for Stellar Astronomy

The lecture slides linked below cover a 10-week course on Stellar Astronomy using the OpenStax Astronomy textbook. Topics cover chapters 1, 2, 5, 15-23, and sections of chapter 24 concerning black holes. While aligned with topics in the textbook, slides are not a 1-to-1 mapping of the textbook and contain additional content, ideas, and discussion. Opportunities for active engagement and interaction using peer instruction techniques (think-pair-share and discussion questions) are built into the slides. References to related activities and labs are also included. Slides are provided as Google Slides documents for easy adaptation. Each chapter has a complete version of the slides along with separated slides for different topics in the chapter. This is one part of an astronomy resource collection by Lane Community College. This collection was built by Andrea Goering (goeringa@lanecc.edu) and Richard Wagner (wagnerr@lanecc.edu), instructors of physics and astronomy at Lane Community College in Eugene, Oregon, USA. Development of these resources was funded through LCC's OER Initiative (https://inside.lanecc.edu/oer). We'd love to hear about your use of these resources! Let us know what you're using, sign up for updates, and submit corrections, suggestions, or comments here: https://forms.gle/un49RUNs55GU3ZNF6 Find the full collection here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/142FgVMDHZ7bu53gihe3kJ_-5PzsnuzfMklJ1ZLMFk2E/edit#gid=315930953

Material Type: Full Course

Authors: Andrea Goering, Richard Wagner

OpenStax Astronomy

This sample shell is produced by the California Community Colleges CVC-OEI to support faculty in the use of Open Educational Resources and development of courses aligned to the OEI Course Design Rubric. The shell may be used for online, hybrid, &/or face-to-face classes. The shell is available for all faculty, not just those faculty in the CCC system. The team producing this shell includes Helen Graves, Liezl Madrona, Cyrus Helf, Nicole Woolley & Barbara Illowsky. If you are having challenges importing the shell, here are some steps to take. (1) Create an empty shell in your sandbox. (2) Import the Canvas Commons course into your shell. (3) Adapt the content as you wish. (4) If all else fails, contact your college IT person or Canvas administrator.

Material Type: Full Course

Black Lives in Astronomy

This focused resource guide, "Black Lives in Astronomy," includes specific written and video resources about and by 25 black astronomers, as well as general materials to examine the history and issues facing black members of the astronomical community. It includes both older, established scientists and people early in their careers. It is aimed at the Astro 101 and amateur astronomer level, and thus does not include any technical materials. I hope this resource will give instructors and students examples of authentic black voices that can be shown in class or used in assignments.

Material Type: Case Study, Homework/Assignment, Lesson Plan, Student Guide

Author: Andrew Fraknoi

Introduction To Astronomy (ASTR 101)

This course provides an introduction to the universe beyond the Earth. We begin with a study of the night sky and the history of the science of astronomy. We then explore the various objects seen in the cosmos including the solar system, stars, galaxies, and the evolution of the universe itself. As an online course, it is equivalent to 6 lecture hours, and satisfies science requirements for the AA and AS degree. It is designed to be thorough enough to prepare you for more advanced work, while presenting the concepts to non-majors in a way that is meaningful and not overwhelming. We will consider the course a success if you have learned how to think about the universe critically in an organized, logical way, and to have enhanced your appreciation of the sky around us.

Material Type: Assessment, Full Course, Reading, Syllabus

OpenStax Astronomy Slide Presentations in pdf form

The slideshows that go with OpenStax Astronomy are PowerPoint, which is great for editing and improving, but a bit awkward for instructors who need to load MS PowerPoint in order to present. I used the cc-by license to place them on Wikiversity. I also invite others to collaborate on developing OpenStax materials on Wikiversity and/or Miraheze.

Material Type: Lecture, Lecture Notes, Student Guide

Author: The authors of OpenStax Astronomy

Introduction to Astronomy

Introduction to Astronomy provides a quantitative introduction to the physics of the solar system, stars, the interstellar medium, the galaxy, and the universe, as determined from a variety of astronomical observations and models.

Material Type: Full Course

Author: Rappaport, Saul

Astronomie - Kurz und Bündig

Kurzbeiträge zu Themen der Astronomie Word Count: 5329 (Note: This resource's metadata has been created automatically by reformatting and/or combining the information that the author initially provided as part of a bulk import process.)

Material Type: Textbook

OpenStax Astronomy Data Sets

These data sets include astronomical constants, physical and orbital data for the planets, selected moons, future total solar eclipses, and related data regarding nearby stars, chemical elements, and constellations.

Material Type: Data Set

Author: OpenStax, Rice University

A Catalog of 250+ Pieces of Music Inspired by Serious Astronomy

This new annotated guide (part of a series devoted to resources for enjoying or teaching astronomy) features over 250 pieces of music inspired by serious astronomy, including both classical and popular music examples. YouTube links are given for the vast majority, so you (or your students) can listen to them. Among the pieces included is: 1) a Hubble Space Telescope cantata, 2) eight rock songs about black holes with reasonable science, 3) a supernova piano sonata, 4) a musical exploration of the Messier catalog of nebulae, clusters, and galaxies, 5) a moving song about Stephen Hawking, 6) Moon songs by the Grateful Dead, George Harrison, and the Police, 7) piano pieces “for children with small hands” named after the constellations, 8) operas about Galileo, Kepler, and Einstein, and many more.

Material Type: Module

Author: Andrew Fraknoi

Science Fiction Stories Based on Good Astronomy

See Note at End. This is a guide to science fiction stories and novels which are based on reasonably good science (and can thus be recommended in introductory astronomy courses.) The stories are organized by astronomical topic. While most of the stories are available only in print, a number are now published electronically free of charge, and links to those are included. NOTE: An updated version of this resource can be found at: http://bit.ly/astronomyscifi

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Case Study

Author: Andrew Fraknoi

Cosmology and Astronomy: Beginnings of Life (1)

This 10-minute video lesson looks at the beginnings of life on Earth. Life and photosynthesis start to thrive in the Archean Eon. [Cosmology and Astronomy playlist: Lesson 39 of 85]

Material Type: Lecture

Author: Khan, Salman