Astronomy education as a research area systematically investigates how individuals and groups learn astronomy across formal and informal settings, including schools, universities, planetariums, and public outreach environments. It integrates methods from education research, cognitive science, and discipline-based education research to study conceptual understanding of astronomical phenomena, common misconceptions (e.g., about seasons, lunar phases, or cosmic scales), and the development of spatial and quantitative reasoning. The field employs qualitative and quantitative methodologies to design, implement, and evaluate curricula, instructional strategies, visualizations, and assessments, with a focus on improving domain-specific learning outcomes, scientific literacy, and the effective use of observational and simulation-based tools.
From false claims that a historic lunar fly-by was staged in a movie studio to unfounded narratives that footage of the crew was AI-generated, the Artemis II mission has been clouded by a blizzard of misinformation.
Space Exploration
Apr 11, 2026
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95
When NASA flight director Zebulon Scoville was working a shift during the uncrewed Artemis I test flight, he realized the US space agency wasn't consistently livestreaming the spacecraft's journey to Earth.
Space Exploration
Apr 11, 2026
0
29
An astronomer at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo is using data from the Canada–France–Hawaiʻi Telescope (CFHT) on Maunakea to help reconstruct a slow-motion cosmic collision, one that has been unfolding for hundreds of ...
Astronomy
Apr 1, 2026
0
60
When people think of asteroids, they tend to picture rare, civilization-ending impacts like those depicted in movies such as "Armageddon." In reality, the asteroids most likely to affect modern society are much smaller. While ...
Planetary Sciences
Mar 12, 2026
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37
Women and ethnic minority groups are still significantly underrepresented in astronomy and geophysics despite attempts to bring about change over the past decade, research has shown.
Astronomy
Jul 10, 2025
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36
When Lungelo Zondi first learned about stars and galaxies at primary school in South Africa, she dreamed of having a live feed into the universe for uninterrupted space exploration.
Astronomy
May 13, 2025
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148
For the first time in history, we can explore the universe through a rich blend of senses—seeing, touching, and hearing astronomical data—in ways that deepen our understanding of space. While three-dimensional (3D) models ...
Astronomy
Apr 15, 2025
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29
Picture walking outside on a dark, cloudless evening. You look up to admire the stars—maybe even a planet, if you're lucky—and a sense of wonder washes over you. New research from the University of Washington shows this might ...
Astronomy
Oct 2, 2024
0
138
