NASA Teacher Activities Available - Apply Now

1.  SETI's Astrobiology Summer Science Experiment for Teachers (ASSET) - science and curriculum institute for high school science teachers will be held 29 July through 3 August in San Franciso.  Presentations will be made by astrobiologists from SETI, NASA, and the California Academy of the Sciences, and participants will receive the Voyages Through Time curriculum.  All expenses are paid through grant funding; three graduate units of credit are available for a fee. 

Applications are due by 30 April 2013; to get more information and to apply, visit NASA/SETI ASSET .

2.  SOFIA Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors (AAA) Cycle 2 science flight applications are due by no later than 3 May 2013.  " Two member educator teams must have at least one grade 6 - 12 science teacher. The second team member may also be a math, science or technology teacher at elementary or secondary level, a community college instructor, or an informal educator."  Flights will take place between January through December 2014, and will generally be during the school year.  For more information and to apply, go to SOFIA Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors

For a list of other teacher opportunities currently available, visit:  http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/current-opps-index.html

Tehachapi Robotics Super Science Saturday 11/10/12

The second annual Tehachapi High School Robotics Club "Super Science Saturday" will be held on 10 November 2012 from noon to 6:00pm at the THS Cafeteria.  It will include hands-on displays, demonstrations and guest speakers; while the event is primarily geared towards elementary aged children, all are welcome.  Activities involve explosive chemistry, robotics, astronomy, quadrotors, engineering, gemology, and more.  Food is available for purchase.  For more information, contact Danielle Evansic at (661) 822-2130 or devansic@teh.k12.ca.us .

"Exploring Your Universe" at UCLA 11/10/12

UCLA and Astronomy Live! are hosting "Exploring Your Universe" at the UCLA campus, Court of Sciences and Kinsey Pavilion, on Saturday, 10 November 2012, from noon to 8:00pm.  The event (free admission, $11 parking on campus) will feature lectures, debates, displays, demonstrations, and telescope viewings, among other activities.  For more information, visit www.astro.ucla.edu/~outreach/eyu.html . 

"Moon Walk" at Prime Desert Woodlands 8/11/12

On 11 August 2012 beginning at 8:00pm, the Prime Desert Woodland Preserve in Lancaster (35th Street West and Avenue K-8) will host Jeremy Amarant from the SAGE Planetarium for a one-hour "Moon Walk" combining nature and astronomy.  Weather permitting, the AV Astronomy Club will have telescopes on hand for star and constellation viewing.  A $2 donation is welcome.  For more information, please call (661) 723-6077.

NASA "Discovery Dome-to-Go" Training on 3/1/12

NASA is offering training for formal/informal educators of students in grades 2-12 for use of the inflatable planetarium "Discovery Dome-to-Go" on Thursday, 1 March 2012, from 4:30 to 7:00pm PST at the AERO Institute in Palmdale.  Only a few spots remain open for this free training, which will provide materials and allow successful completers to check out the planetarium for lessons during the year.  For more information, please contact: Cheryl Craft at 661-276-5522 or email at cheryl.a.craft@nasa.gov

Lunar Eclipse Viewing at SAGE Planetarium Early Morning 12/10/11

The SAGE Planetarium at Avenue "R" and 20th Street East in Palmdale will be offering telescope positions to view the total lunar eclipse early on Saturday morning, 10 December 2011.  From 0330 to 0640, telescopes will be set up in the parking lot.  The moon will be visible in the northwest sky, with a partial eclipse beginning at 0445, total eclipse (moon will appear to turn a red-orange color) at 0606 (no telescope is needed with a clear field of view of the moon), great eclipse at 0631, and end of the eclipse at 0657.  For more information about lunar eclipses, visit http://shadowandsubstance.com/ or http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/OH/OH2011.html#LE2011Dec10T.

NITARP Teacher Applications Due by 9/23/11

"NITARP, the NASA/IPAC Teacher Archive Research Program, gets teachers involved in authentic astronomical research, by partnering small groups of educators with a mentor professional astronomer for an *original*
research project. The educators incorporate the experience into their classrooms and share their experience with other teachers. The program runs January through January. Applications are available *now* and due by 23 September 2011.

"The kinds of educators we are looking for are those [formal and informal educators of students grades 8-13] who already know the basics of astronomy, are interested in learning  exactly how astronomy research is conducted, and are willing to share  their experiences with colleagues and students in their environment. Three all-reasonable-expenses-paid trips are integral to the program!"

For more information and application details, visit http://nitarp.ipac.caltech.edu/.

Antelope Valley Astronomy Club

Antelope Valley Astronomy Club meets monthly on the second Friday of each month except December, at 7:00pm, at the SAGE Planetarium, 38060 20th Street East, Palmdale.  Additionally, there are events and presentations.  The next is a moonlit walk at the Prime Desert Woodlands in Lancaster, on 16 July 2011 at 8:30 pm.  For more information about the Club and its events, visit http://www.avastronomyclub.org/index.php .

AV Astronomy Club "Youth Exploring Astronomy" Essay Contest 4/1/11

The 11th annual Antelope Valley Astronomy Club's "Youth Exploring Astronomy" essay contest is being held, with submissions due by no later than 1 April 2011.  Fifth through eighth grade students are invited to participate, writing a 500-word typed essay on one of four topics; winners will have the opportunity to interact with AV scientists and industry leaders, and have a "behind-the-scenes visit with senior science staff at the Pasadena Jet Propulsion Laboratory."  For more information and the application form, please contact Debora Pedroza at debora.pedroza@gmail.com  or (661) 609-3923.