Programs

In 2024, the NASA Night Sky Network (NSN) celebrated 20 years of supporting the amateur astronomy community. This successful program is an integral part of NASA's Science Activation Collaborative, supporting more than 400 amateur astronomy clubs across the United States. Astronomy clubs engage the public through events at schools, museums, observatories, and sidewalks, directly connecting people with the wonders of the night sky.

Since its inception, NSN clubs have reported reaching nearly 8 million individuals, fostering a deep appreciation for astronomy and space science in communities large and small. The ASP has led this program from the beginning, creating countless resources for the clubs, hosting monthly webinars, and fostering communication through a dynamic website and community.  The network's success stems from its ability to leverage the passion and expertise of amateur astronomers, effectively bridging the gap between NASA's scientific endeavors and public understanding. As the NSN enters its third decade, it continues to play a pivotal role in inspiring curiosity and promoting education in astronomy nationwide. 

Eclipse Ambassadors, Eclipse Stars, and their path to engaging people in Total Solar Eclipse events on April 8, 2024

Eclipse Ambassadors off the Path

The NASA Science Activation program’s Eclipse Ambassadors off the Path program in partnership with the ASP was a wild success in preparation for the April 8, 2024 Total Solar Eclipse across America. We shared the excitement of the Eclipse last June in our 2023 Annual Report soon after the event. The program recruited over 700 partnerships between an undergraduate student and an eclipse enthusiast/amateur astronomer to train and support the coordination of events with resource toolkits as they held events throughout communities. At schools, libraries, parks, and community centers, Eclipse Ambassadors reached more than 200,000 people through the April 8, 2024 Eclipse and a majority of efforts focused on underserved audiences.

ASP Eclipse Stars

The ASP Eclipse Stars project, funded by National Science Foundation’s Division of Astronomy, began just nine months prior to the April 8, 2024 Total Solar Eclipse with the intent to train and support astronomers, K-12 science teachers, and other educators to engage a broad audience in the awe and wonder of totality. A total of 304 scientists (74) and educators (230) participated.  Each participant received a physical toolkit of materials for modeling the Sun-Earth-Moon system, making the geometry of eclipse concrete for learners of any age.  They also participated in three hours of professional development.  Alumni of the Eclipse Stars program reported a total number of 135,700 children, students, and people of all ages engaged in this spectacular event!

Eclipse Engagement in Prisons

Through a partnership with NASA and other projects, the ASP participated in giving incarcerated youth and adults, along with their families, the opportunity to witness the event and participate in real citizen science. 

Studies show that educational opportunities for incarcerated learners reduce recidivism rates by an estimated 42% (Davis et al., 2014). This grassroots project reached out to the incarcerated population with materials and glasses, citizen science participation and sharing information. Activities included observation notes for the Eclipse Soundscapes Citizen Science Field Notes project with the ASP awarding certificate of participation for each completed contribution.

In addition, the ASP mailed 40+ pairs of glasses in response to letters from the families of the incarcerated who were participating. Families and incarcerated participants and their families were able to share a connection of the experience while separated. 

Creating Kits for the Blind and Low Vision

ASP received an extension to a previous project, Big Astronomy, giving us the opportunity to create 200 toolkits for museum staff, schools, astronomers and other astronomy educators who interact with Blind/Low Vision (BLV) communities. These kits included content about constellations, light pollution, and multi-wavelength astronomy. Typically, educational environments, such as museums, do not consider accommodations for BLV populations, so we also included guidelines to welcoming these audiences. With these practices and materials, the educators who received these kits were ready to go!