Teacher Resources

The International Year of Astronomy 2009

2009 is the International Year of Astronomy (IYA). Worldwide, observatories, professional and amateur astronomers, as well as schools and libraries are engaging in a variety of astronomy-related public events. JAC and the other Mauna Kea Observatories are having a lot of educational and fun events for the Big Island.

School Visits

Joint Astronomy Centre staff is actively engaged in visiting schools and community centers throughout the Big Island of Hawai`i. We also conduct teacher training upon request. If you would like to have an astronomer or engineer visit your class room (pre-school, K-12, college) or your community center, please contact us at:
Inge Heyer
Public Information Officer
Joint Astronomy Centre
660 N. A`ohoku Place
Hilo, HI 96720 USA
Tel: 808-969-6524
Email: outreach@jach.hawaii.edu


Careers in Astronomy

There are many different jobs needed to run an observatory. Follow this link, and find out more about our employees, their jobs and their skills.


This link shows a poster (PDF, 44x60, 24 MB) illustrating the various jobs and careers.


Upcoming Events of Interest to Teachers

  • 11/14: Mentoring Workshop at `Imiloa in Hilo ($50, details TBA).

    • The Great 2012 Scare, and what you can do about it!

    There's been a lot of nonsense going around about the supposed end of the Mayan Calendar in 2012 and the corresponding end of the world. This has no basis in fact, so please tell your students and their parents not to worry about this. To help you with your arguments, here is Your 2012 Defense Kit put together by Sky and Telescope Magazine and distributed by the American Astronomical Society (and hopefully many other groups).


    Various Teaching Tools

    Galileo Teacher Class

    The IYA 2009 Galileo Teacher Class involved many hands-on activities. Please go to the Galileo Class website to obtain the information on these activities.

    Lunar Impact Exercise

    This exercise serves to learn how the craters on the Moon came to be, and how their appearance depends on the nature of the impacting object.

    The Solar System Ballett

    This exercise serves to learn about the planets, their motions, their distances and their individual characteristics.

    AstroQuiz Challenge

    We have a new fun astronomy quiz for astronomers of all ages and levels. Go to the AstroQuiz Challenge to find out if you're an apprentice, journeyman, master or wizard.

    Asteroid Target Practice

    This link has a poster (PDF, 44x60, 5.7 MB) showing the Sun, planets and several moons. Pictures 1 and 2 illustrate how these have been covered with velcro (fuzzy side). Then cover some ping-pong balls with velcro (sticky side); these are your asteroids. Now have fun bombarding the Solar System (Picture 3).

    Glorious Galactic Centre

    See the Center of our Milky Way in all its glory, courtesy of the Wide Field Camera of the United Kingdom Infrared Telescope (scroll your mouse back and forth to zoom in and out).


    JAC Staff in the Community

    The following links show JAC staff engaged in school and community activities on the Big Island of Hawai`i.


    A large number of science and educational links can be found on our Links Page.

    Resources will be added here as they become available.

    If there are any resources you'd like to see here, please email us.