![Perseid Meteor Shower - a meteor streaks across the sky 2016 in Spruce Knob West Virginia Credit NASA Bill Ingalls](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/splashy_hero_large/public/2021-07/Perseid%20Meteor%20Shower%20-%20a%20meteor%20streaks%20across%20the%20sky%202016%20in%20Spruce%20Knob%20West%20Virginia%20Credit%20NASA%20Bill%20Ingalls.jpg?h=15d64c94&itok=y1BDWhF-)
Astronomy
Earth & Space Learning and Content Frameworks
Exploring the Universe Hands-on Activities
![Photo of the materials used in the Exoplanet Transits activity](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/6_exoplanet_transits.jpg?h=deaec4b9&itok=Vt3nb0bG)
Exploring the Universe: Exoplanet Transits
![Learners pull on elastic bands to simulate the stretching of the universe](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large/public/expanding_activity.jpg?itok=hhho-4X-)
Exploring the Universe: Expanding Universe
![A family looks at an image through a blue filter](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2022-02/ExSci_Space_20180929_1190_edit.jpg?h=3d346970&itok=-dNccHVd)
Exploring the Universe: Filtered Light
![two learners and a facilitator examine three ice orbs](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/images/catalog/ExSci_Space_Promo_20160717_1136-XL.jpg?h=69f2b9d0&itok=dAweqpib)
Exploring the Universe: Ice Orbs
![a learner creates and draws an extremophile that could live on another planet](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/images/catalog/ex3-L.jpg?h=a31ffb6c&itok=kaOWQ5zU)
Exploring the Universe: Imagining Life
![Girl using paint in nebula spin art activity](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2021-12/Nebula%20Spin%20Art%20ExSci_Space_20191111_0278.jpg?h=b2774bcf&itok=UrHJdm8w)
Exploring the Universe: Nebula Spin Art
![Photo of the various materials used in Objects in Motion](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/11_objects_in_motion.jpg?h=deaec4b9&itok=hvuQ1cLA)
Exploring the Universe: Objects in Motion
![Photo of the materials in Pack a Space Telescope](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/12_pack_telescope.jpg?h=d53cd676&itok=QL-6smD1)
Exploring the Universe: Pack a Space Telescope
![two educators playing space guess quest](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2021-06/space%20guess%20game%20wideshot.jpg?h=ba3016cf&itok=3Gs4FPnW)
Exploring the Universe: Space Guess Quest Game
![Learners and a Facilitator look into the Star Formation basket](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large/public/images/catalog/exsci_space_20191111_0069.jpg?itok=znAIqtyt)
Exploring the Universe: Star Formation
![Learner demonstrates how an electroscope interacts with static electricity](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/static_activity.jpg?h=af834073&itok=O_SL-dac)
Exploring the Universe: Static Electricity
![A learner and facilitator place a heavy ball in the middle of a fabric stretched well](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2022-02/ExSci_Space_Promo_20160717_1608.jpg?h=f68eb11e&itok=bOFNTwNs)
Exploring the Universe: Orbiting Objects
Solar System Hands-on Activities
![Facilitator and learner look at a meteorite sample](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/images/catalog/exsci_space_20191111_0598.jpg?h=ab1e97c0&itok=WLgeWS-G)
Exploring the Solar System: Asteroid Mining
![Big Sun Small Moon activity with children explores the concept of apparent size and allows visitors to experience this phenomena using familiar objects - a tennis ball and a beach ball](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2023-12/big_sun_small_moon_activity_with_children_explores_the_concept_of_apparent_size_and_allows_visitors_to_experience_this_phenomena_using_familiar_objects_-_a_tennis_ball_and_a_beach_ball_2.jpg?h=1907b506&itok=xQCjeuZi)
Exploring the Solar System: Big Sun, Small Moon
![Learner investigates the crater made in the sand after dropping a weight into the sand box](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/exsci_space_craters_activity.png?h=9e6c9da4&itok=RpZIqLlV)
Exploring the Solar System: Craters
![learners assemble their space craft models](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/images/catalog/exsci_space_20191111_0144.jpg?h=94b330ba&itok=83RF9VDc)
Exploring the Solar System: Design, Build, Test activity
![Group of learners participating and enjoying the Hide and Seek Moon activity](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2022-02/ExSci_Space_20180929_1134.jpg?h=fd382550&itok=eAF5Dzbs)
Exploring the Solar System: Hide and Seek Moon
![Facilitator demonstrates a magnetic field with a small model of Earth](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2022-02/MF_2.jpg?h=f2fcf546&itok=11kMbVmL)
Exploring the Solar System: Magnetic Fields
![A learner gives commands to another learner who is blindfolded and is navigating a obstacle course.](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/es_rovers.png?h=027877af&itok=HYtTqcX6)
Exploring the Solar System: Mars Rovers
![Family of four reads a game card for the Mission to Space board game](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2022-02/ExSci_Space_20191111_0802.jpg?h=b2774bcf&itok=OUhV54t4)
Exploring the Solar System: Mission to Space board game
![The near side of the Moon, as seen by the cameras aboard NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft (NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University, 2017)](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/moon_lro_credit-_nasa-gsfc-arizona_state_university2017.jpg?h=549d8674&itok=ilv8hD8B)
Exploring the Solar System: Observe the Moon
![A young learner in a grassy field safely observes an image of the Sun being projected on a solarscope using the Exploring the Solar System: Observe the Sun activity.](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2022-02/ExSci_Space_20181018_1057.jpg?h=2b5cd828&itok=rwKBEqtA)
Exploring the Solar System: Observe the Sun
![Group shot of learners creating their pocket solar systems](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2022-02/ExSci_Space_20180929_1292.jpg?h=6285e0f9&itok=dta_kSGU)
Exploring the Solar System: Pocket Solar System
![Solar Eclipse ativity with young museum visitors at 2017 Science Museum of Minnesota Earth Day event](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2024-01/Solar%20Eclipse%20ativity%20with%20young%20museum%20visitors%20at%202017%20Science%20Museum%20of%20Minnesota%20Earth%20Day%20event%20credit%20Science%20Museum%20of%20Minnesota%20for%20NISE%20Network%20_T3B0605.jpg?h=f2fcf546&itok=IKk315g7)
Exploring the Solar System: Solar Eclipse
![A family of three crafts their rockets out of paper, stickers and tape](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2022-02/ExSci_Space_20180929_2223.jpg?h=9434c9bd&itok=K7jUTk8L)
Exploring the Solar System: Stomp Rockets
![Facilitator and Learner use a block with a rover image to transport astronauts](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2020-10/ExSci_Space_20200908_0143%20Story%20Blocks.jpg?h=4c7240b8&itok=AOU7zznV)
Exploring the Solar System: Story Blocks
![Screen shot of the DIY Sun Science app with Children using DIY Sun Science app activities](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2023-12/DIY%20Sun%20Science%20press-collage-2_spanish.jpg?h=d1cb525d&itok=iq2Fwa0J)
DIY Sun Science App
![screenshots of the DIY Solar System app on a phone and tablet](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large/public/2023-10/diysolarsystem_image_v3.jpg?itok=VrB-erZb)
DIY Solar System App
Collections of Solar System Resources
![An image of a lunar eclipse](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2021-02/lunar%20eclipse.jpg?h=9e8cc5ff&itok=CnNAOD5H)
Lunar Eclipses
![2017 solar eclipse square format](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2021-01/2017-solar-eclipse-square.jpg?h=2a479378&itok=w31Ah-pR)
Solar Eclipses
![mars panorama photo from pathfinder](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2021-01/mars%20pano%20pathfinder.jpg?h=ce654f63&itok=w1k3nQOU)
Mars
![Asteroid Bennu mosaic image taken by OSIRIS-REx spacecraft in 2018 Image Credit to NASA, Goddard, and University of Arizona](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2021-06/Asteroid%20Bennu%20mosaic%20image%20taken%20by%20OSIRIS-REx%20spacecraft%20in%202018%20Credit%20%20NASA%20Goddard%20University%20of%20Arizona.png?h=e5ceaf69&itok=b5R-KZew)
Asteroids, Comets, Meteors, and Meteorites
![James Webb Telescope](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2020-12/webb_0.jpg?h=6f7544a1&itok=GFUWqWZ4)
James Webb Space Telescope
![Apollo 11 lander](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2020-12/apollo%2011%20lander.jpg?h=47f36b53&itok=9ZkmUHvr)
Moon
![A model of the intense magnetic fields around the Sun](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2020-12/hot%20lines.jpg?h=c673cd1c&itok=O2NBc--d)
Telescopes and the Electromagnetic Spectrum
![Children and adult investigating globes of ice in Icy Orbs activity](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2020-12/her%20kit%20earth%20space%20ExSci_Space_Promo_20160717_1163.jpg?h=a963c1fc&itok=_HlAAs4d)
Explore Science: Earth & Space Toolkits
Night Sky Storytelling
- The Astronomy of Many Cultures: A Resource Guide compiled by Andrew Fraknoi
- NASA's Universe of Learning Native American Sky resources:
https://universe-of-learning.org/contents/events/science-briefings/science-briefing-the-native-american-sky - Cosmic Serpent - Bridging Native Ways of Knowing and Western Science in Museum Settings
https://www.informalscience.org/sites/default/files/CS-LegacyDoc27Nov2012.pdf - Native Sky Watchers - Two Eyed Seeing – NASA & Indigenous Astronomy – For the Benefit of All
https://www.nativeskywatchers.com/two-eyed-seeing-nasa.html - Indigenous Education Institute (IEI): http://indigenouseducation.org
- Learn more about Indigenous ways of knowing and making local connections in the NISE Network guide Working with STEM Experts: A Guide for Educators in Museums and Other Informal Learning Settings
DIY Apps for At Home Exploration
![Screen shot of the DIY Sun Science app with Children using DIY Sun Science app activities](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2023-12/DIY%20Sun%20Science%20press-collage-2_spanish.jpg?h=d1cb525d&itok=iq2Fwa0J)
DIY Sun Science App
![screenshots of the DIY Solar System app on a phone and tablet](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large/public/2023-10/diysolarsystem_image_v3.jpg?itok=VrB-erZb)
DIY Solar System App
More Resources
- NASA's Universe of Learning https://www.universe-of-learning.org/resources
- NASA Museum & Informal Education Alliance (free registration required)
Celestial Events
Meteor showers, lunar eclipses, full moons, planetary events, and more!
Calendars
- New York Times astronomy events calendar and iCal/webcal link to add to iCloud, Google, or Outlook
- http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/sky-at-a-glance/
- https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/
- https://stardate.org/nightsky
- https://nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/planner.cfm
- https://in-the-sky.org/newscal.php
- http://earthsky.org/tonight
- American Meteor Society: https://www.amsmeteors.org/meteor-showers/meteor-shower-calendar/
- NISE Network compilation of asteroid, comet, meteor, and meteorite resources: https://www.nisenet.org/asteroids
What's up this month
- NASA JPL's What's Up in the night sky monthly video
- explore this website by searching the topic: Earth and Space Science - Earth, Moon and Sun
- explore this website by searching the topic: Earth and Space Science - Astronomy
Sun
- NASA SUN STEM toolkit https://www.nasa.gov/stem/nextgenstem/sun-toolkit.html
- NASA Parker Solar Probe activities http://parkersolarprobe.jhuapl.edu/Participate/index.php#Learn
Moon
- NISE Network Moon compilation of resources
Solar Eclipse
- NISE Network Solar Eclipse compilation of resources
Lunar Eclipses
- NISE Network Lunar Eclipse compilation of resources
Annual Events
- For a full list of events and resources throughout the year see: https://www.nisenet.org/seasons
-
NASA-related events, mission launches, first images, sample returns, anniversaries, and celebrations: https://informal.jpl.nasa.gov/museum/calendar
- Solar Week (last full week in March)
- Global Astronomy Month (April)
- Citizen Science Month (April)
- Yuri's Night (April 12)
- Black Hole Week (mid-May)
- Astronomy Day/Week (spring, held in April or May)
- International Dark Sky Week (first week in April)
- Earth Day (April 22)
- National Environmental Education Week (week of Earth Day)
- May the Fourth Be With You – Star Wars Day (May 4)
- International Day of Light (May 16)
- National Paper Airplane Day (May 26)
- Asteroid Day (June 30)
- Moon Landing – anniversary of Apollo 11 (July 20)
- International Observe the Moon Night (date selected in September/October)
- Astronomy Day/Week (fall, held in September/October)
- World Space Week (October 4-10)
- Earth Science Week (second full week in October)
- Solar Week (mid-October)
- Black Hole Friday (last Friday in November)
![Working with STEM Experts Guide cover including an image of expert puring a liquid and using a strainer with a girl and her family at a museum public event](/sites/default/files/styles/copy_50/public/2021-10/Working%20with%20STEM%20Experts%20Guide%20cover%20including%20an%20image%20of%20expert%20%20puring%20a%20liquid%20and%20using%20a%20strainer%20with%20a%20girl%20and%20her%20family%20at%20a%20museum%20public%20event%20CREDIT%20Marbles%20Kids%20Museum%20CROPPED.jpg?itok=O819TbQo)
Finding STEM Experts
See the "Space and Earth Science" and section of Working with STEM Experts: A Guide for Educators in Museums and Other Informal Learning Settings
Sun Earth Universe exhibition and Companion Website for Public Audiences
![Sun Earth Universe visitors using Sun exhibit flip doors](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2020-11/SEU79-X3.jpg?h=34bbd072&itok=_rRtIM1c)
Sun, Earth, Universe Exhibition
![Sun Earth Universe visitors using the Mission to Space board game3.jpg](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2020-11/SEU_2-X3.jpg?h=6448fdc1&itok=xXDJhUCB)
Sun, Earth, Universe Questions
![Sun Earth Universe visitors using the Mission to Space board game3.jpg](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2020-11/SEU_2-X3.jpg?h=6448fdc1&itok=xXDJhUCB)
Preguntas en Sol, Tierra, Universo