Astrophysics Missions, Grants, and Forum Nuggets for July 2012

2 2 NASA All-Stars Teacher Focus Group University of Chicago, June 2, 2012 Six Chicago Public Schools (CPS) high school teachers of physics, astronomy, and earth/space science participated in a Focus Group with University of Chicago outreach staff. The group discussed current instructional practices in CPS related to astronomy, including gaps in skills and knowledge, and the desired features of a teacher professional development (PD) program that focuses on using NASA mission-related content and data. The discussion furthered our conceptualization of the NASA All- Stars PD program and helped us identify where our NASA-funded content (the GR/XR and UVOIR Online Learning Modules in production) and other Science Mission Directorate content may supplement current instructional practices and curricular resources. L to R: Don York (Chicago), Soo Chang (CPS), Jacqueline Barge (CPS); Diane Hawist (CPS); Julia Brazas (Chicago), Christie Thomas (Chicago), Jack Callum (CPS), Russell Henderson (Chicago); not pictured: Isaac Robinovitz (CPS), Russ Revzan (Chicago).

3 3 NASA All-Stars Mentor Orientation University of Chicago, June 18, 2012 Five Chicago Public Schools teachers of physics, astronomy, and earth/space science will serve as mentors in our train-the-trainer-model professional development program (PD), NASA All-Stars. At our orientation meeting, teachers opened boxes of materials they will use with NASA’s Multiwavelength Universe online course offered by Sonoma State. In addition to the online course, the group will create a plan to incorporate NASA mission content with one of the lessons on the science, history, tools, and impact of gamma ray astronomy from our GR/XR Online Learning Modules. In the coming year, they will implement their lesson plan and from their experiences design a PD program for their peers to help prepare them to use NASA content in the classroom. L to R: Isaac Robinovitz (Westinghouse College Prep); Jacqueline Barge (Payton College Prep), Julia Brazas (Chicago), Russ Revzan (Chicago), Eman Sarhan (Amundsen H.S.), Mark Casey (Dunbar Vocational Academy); not pictured, Rachael Owens (Marshall Metropolitan H.S.)

4 4 Professional artists inspired by Kepler The Kepler website has recently been graced with artworks of exoplanets by professional space artists inspired by Kepler. Artists now include: Lynette Cook Dan Durda Lucy West Marilynn Flynn See

5 Exoplanet Exploration Program AAS Anchorage Student Event June 12, 2012 Dena’ina Convention Center, Anchorage, AK Held in partnership with the American Astronomical Society, 125 students and parents (including many homeschoolers) toured the exhibit hall, met with scientists and researchers, and heard a talk from Dr. John Grunsfeld, all in conjunction with the summer AAS meeting in Anchorage, AK. ExEP E/PO worked closely with the AAS to coordinate this event with local students, local organizations, the NASA Astrophysics Forum, and AAS exhibitors. NASA PCOS from Goddard worked to coordinate Dr. Grunsfeld’s appearance. Participating Projects included (in order of event program): NASA’s Physics of the Cosmos and Fermi Mission, University of Alaska Anchorage Planetarium, NASA Lunar Science Institute, NASA Exoplanet Exploration Program, Infrared Processing Analysis Center (IPAC), NASA WISE mission, Space Telescope Science Institute, National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Apogee Imaging Systems, Northrup Grumman, Chandra X-ray Center, AAS Solar Physics Division, SOFIA, Montana State Public Outreach team, and the Anchorage chapter of the FAA. Local News Coverage: Dena’ina Convention Center: Anchorage, AK

6 Exoplanet Exploration Program JPL Open House June 9-10, 2012 Pasadena, CA The Exoplanet Exploration Program coordinated the Universe theme area of the JPL Open House. In addition to the Exoplanet Program, this area included the Herschel, Planck, WISE, Spitzer, NuStar, and Kepler missions, and an Ask a Scientist area. Approximately 38,000 visitors attended this year’s JPL Open House.