To celebrate the Total Solar Eclipse of December 14, 2020, we have prepared this website to provide you with resources to engage your community. This event presents a special opportunity for students to learn more about the science of eclipses.
When possible, we will advertise the link(s) of the live streaming(s) even in these times with remote teaching in many schools in the world. For the countries where the eclipse will be visible as total (Chile, Argentina) or partial (Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Uruguay, Paraguay and Brazil) it is important to take care about Eye Safety and Solar Filters.
Any amateur or professional astronomer, scientist or teacher is invited to participate.
We would like to enthusiastically continue the Astronomy Day in Schools and hope you enjoy!
Officially register your event activity here.
This initiative is run by the IAU Working Group: Astronomy Education Research and Methods (AE R&M, Commission C1: Astronomy Education and Development
Paulo S. Bretones
IAU Commission C1 President
Akihiko Tomita
Sub-WG Astronomy Education Research and Methods
The Teachers and Educators Training (TET) Chair
Paulo Bretones, IAU Commission C1 President, Brazil (Chair)
Akihiko Tomita, Wakayama University, Japan (Co-Chair)
Rosa Doran, NUCLIO – Núcleo Interactivo de Astronomia, Portugal
Urban Eriksson, Lund University, Sweden
Edward Gomez, Las Cumbres Observatory, United Kingdom
Carmen Pantoja, University of Puerto Rico, United States of America
Rosa Maria Ros, IAU Commission C1 WG Network for Astronomy School Education (NASE) Chair, Spain
Boonrucksar Soonthornthum, Southeast Asia Astronomy Network, Thailand
Links to some live broadcasts
“RÍO NEGRO: EL CAMINO DEL ECLIPSE”
The program will broadcast images from four locations in the Río Negro Province. It will begin at 11:30am (Argentine time = UTC-3).
Río Negro Province – Argentina
NASA to Provide Spanish-Language Coverage, Livestream of Solar Eclipse
NASA – Eclipse Coverage Spanish
NASA Coverage, Livestream of Solar Eclipse
NASA – Eclipse Coverage English
The web page of the IAU Working Group on Solar Eclipses contains a wide variety of material and links relevant to observing solar eclipses. It is suitable for the general public as well as advanced amateur astronomers and professional astronomers. Maps of the paths of totality and annularity, cloudiness statistics based on past spacecraft observations, information on the safety of eclipse observations, and many other pieces of information are linked. The website should be viewed as a “one-stop shop” for eclipse information.
Visit WebsiteSome maps showing the path of the Eclipse and times
NASA Eclipse WebsiteThe app is completely free and available in both English and Spanish. The app uses the fully interactive, high-resolution maps created by Xavier Jubier
Background videos about eclipses
Classroom activities about eclipses
English version Spanish versionThe main objective of NASE is to educate new generations of teachers and re-educate the current ones.
We work with university professors in order to train future teachers and we cooperate with the departments of education in order to train experienced primary and secondary school teachers.
NASE created a basic course for training teachers aiming at:
1) teaching astronomy to teachers,
2) teaching teachers how to teach astronomy.
Workshop 3: A study of lunar and solar eclipses
Workshop Slide
Activity Videos
Teacher’s Guide
The mission of HOU is to train teachers on the use of modern tools and resources for science education and engage students in international scientific projects. We also aim to promote interactive science projects among HOU countries and
engage educators and students in a truly global cooperation. No borders or frontiers.
The GTTP goal is to create a worldwide network of Galileo Ambassadors and Galileo Teachers. These Ambassadors train Teachers in the effective use and transfer of astronomy education tools and resources into classroom science curricula. The Galileo Teachers are equipped to train other teachers in these methodologies,
leveraging the work begun during IYA2009 in classrooms everywhere.
Why does Eclipse Happen? (January 2017 Webinar)
ASP-GTTP Webinar
NUCLIO is a non-profit institution created in 2001 by professional and amateur astronomers. Its objectives are the dissemination and teaching of Science, in particular Astronomy and Astrophysics.
Visit SiteOpen Astronomy Schools, one of the IAU100 Global Projects, is a project that intends to invite the already existing community of teachers and trainers involved in teacher training events since 2009 in the framework of projects like the Galileo Teacher Training Program, Universe Awareness and others.
Visit SiteThe Einstein Schools Programme, one of the IAU100 Global Projects, will help schools and students across the world explore the fascinating force of gravity, which acts across the universe.
Visit Site ResourcesA child’s early years are widely regarded to be the most important for children’s development and education. The idea behind Universe Awareness is to educate children aged 4-10 years (especially those from underprivileged communities) about astronomy, because it embodies a unique combination of scientific and cultural aspects.
Visit SiteCreating Eclipses in the Classroom
Access here
Safe Sun Viewer
Access here
Space Scoop brings you the latest astronomy news from across the Universe each week. The articles cover all the most exciting cosmic events in a language that’s easy to understand. With Space Scoop you can learn about the latest missions aboard the International Space Station, watch as new planets are born and travel with us to the early Universe. All our news and pictures come directly from 13 of the best space agencies in the world, and we bring them to you without delay.
Visit Site via UNAWE Visit SiteastroEDU makes the best science activities, particularly those with an astronomical, earth or space science focus, accessible to educators around the world. astroEDU is an open-access platform for peer-reviewed science education activities.
Visit siteBuild a Safe Sun Viewer
Access here
Teacher’s guide for the solar eclipse in 2007 by Nicoletta Lanciano. It includes activities and modelization of the phenomena, myths, elements of history of sciences and individual report.
PDF BookThe first interdisciplinary teacher community of Iran those teachers from each three levels: Elementary, Secondary school and high school can be members
and work in astronomy and nature fields simultaneously.
IAU Symposium 367: Education and Heritage in the Era of Big Data in Astronomy
The primary goal of this Symposium is to give perhaps for the first time a global vision of Education and Heritage in the frame of the goals of the IAU, taking into account the Plan 2020-2030 and to propose an eventual ‘next steps’ road map and a global astronomy education agenda for the next decade, while honoring the education from the past.
The symposium presents teacher-training presentation and workshops taking advantage of the eclipse in Argentina. Link to the live stream site is also there.
Are you running an event for the 2020 Eclipse, please complete the below form and we can list your event on this website
For more information feel free to contact
Tomita, Akihiko
Here are some resources that provide information on safely observing the Eclipses:
IMPORTANT!!!!
Daylight observation of the Sun by appropriate projection or filters*;
* NEVER observe the Sun directly without the aid of suitable filters or projection methods, as it may cause blindness.