Students Across Texas Celebrate Astronomy Day

摘要

Over the past three years, McDonald Observatory has offered special As-tronomy Day videoconference programs to students across Texas—the second largest state in the U.S. (Only Alaska is larger). Videoconferencing allows many students and teachers access to our Observatory, which is remotely located 180 miles (290 kilome-ters) from any major city. McDonald Observatory partners with Connect2Texas~1 to advertise the Astronomy Day event. Connect2Texas provides the electronic bridge between schools and the Observatory. They also provide an online evaluation for teachers to complete. In 2009 the Astronomy Day videoconference celebrated the International Year of Astronomy and the historic observations made by Galileo Galilei. During the videocon-ference, the classes explore the Moon or Venus by making real-time telescopic obser-vations. Students also receive an introduction to the Observatory, an opportunity to per-form an activity relating to Galileo's observations, and an interview with an astronomer. A website provides teachers pre-and post-video conference materials, instructions, and a certificate of completion that can be customized for each student. The website also lists content alignment with state science education standards.