Why Teach Astronomy in School?
By: Lenka Otap
Tags: Astronomy, Education, STEM, Science, Teaching

“Astronomy is useful because it raises us above ourselves; it is useful because it is grand; …. It shows us how small is man’s body, how great his mind, since his intelligence can embrace the whole of this dazzling immensity, where his body is only an obscure point, and enjoy its silent harmony.”

— Henri Poincare, Physicist

Exciting and fascinating as astronomy might be, some might ask how astronomy is useful and how it can be connected to real-life practical problems. Why should it even be taught in school?

Even though astronomy is taught in most schools worldwide, these are still questions that both teachers and students sometimes ask themself, and the answers might not seem to be clear. Astronomy might seem more of a hobby, than a useful skill in everyday life.

Since I am doing a master’s thesis about astronomy teaching, I have dug up some great arguments, most are directly inspired by the article “Why is Astronomy Useful and Should be Included in the School Curriculum” by John R. Percy.

An interdisciplinary subject

Astronomy is one of the most cross-disciplinary subjects. It can be connected to most other natural sciences such as biology in the search for life and our origins, geology when considering Earth as a planet, chemistry as the elements originate in cosmological events, math and physics for obvious reasons, and humanities such as history, arts, religion, and philosophy.

Sciences

Physics: Astronomy can be used to illustrate many concepts of physics, such as gravity, light, and light spectra.

Astronomy can be used to illustrate many concepts of physics, such as gravity, light, and light spectra. Mathematics: Historically, there has been a lot of mathematical development through astronomy, such as trigonometry, logarithms, and calculus, and hence astronomy can be used to illustrate those branches in mathematic.

Historically, there has been a lot of mathematical development through astronomy, such as trigonometry, logarithms, and calculus, and hence astronomy can be used to illustrate those branches in mathematic. Geology: Astronomy has advanced the geological sciences by providing a variety of environments of other planets and moons.

Humanities

History: In scientific revolutions, astronomy stands out. Astronomy has historically contributed to many practical applications.

In scientific revolutions, astronomy stands out. Astronomy has historically contributed to many practical applications. Philosophy: Astronomy reveals our cosmic root and place in space and times. It asks the most fundamental questions: What is the origin of the universe, galaxies, stars, planets, atoms, the molecules of life, what is the origin of us and life itself, and are we alone in the Universe?

Technology and applications

The interest and practice of astronomy have led to various kinds of discoveries and technological advancements.

Timekeeping: One of the most important historical practical applications is timekeeping: Calendars, days, seasons, and years originate from the orbital movement and rotation of Earth around the Sun, and it should be part of general education to know about.

One of the most important historical practical applications is timekeeping: Calendars, days, seasons, and years originate from the orbital movement and rotation of Earth around the Sun, and it should be part of general education to know about. Navigation: Astronomy has contributed to the development of the GPS and other satellite navigation systems. Einsteins relativity theory has made it possible to make exact corrections to the measurements.

Astronomy has contributed to the development of the GPS and other satellite navigation systems. Einsteins relativity theory has made it possible to make exact corrections to the measurements. Natural phenomena : Astronomy explains tides and impacts of asteroids and comets with the Earth.

: Astronomy explains tides and impacts of asteroids and comets with the Earth. Detectors and imaging: Astronomy has led to technological advances in low noise radio receivers and detectors for photography and electronic cameras. The image processing techniques for astronomy are also used in medicine.

Astronomy has led to technological advances in low noise radio receivers and detectors for photography and electronic cameras. The image processing techniques for astronomy are also used in medicine. Computers: Astronomers use a large fraction of all the supercomputers in the world, driving the need for further development forward.

Bringing people together

Astronomy not only brings different subjects together but also different people across time, cultures, and borders.

International: Astronomical observations require data from different latitudes and longitudes and thus foster international co-operation.

Astronomical observations require data from different latitudes and longitudes and thus foster international co-operation. Generations: Some observations require decades and centuries of time, thus linking generations of different times.

Some observations require decades and centuries of time, thus linking generations of different times. Culture: Astronomy is deeply rooted in our culture because of its philosophical implications, and due to the time scales of observations, it also links cultures of different times.

Developing different kinds of thinking and attitudes

“When I think of science and scientists I think of kids who never lost their curiosity and wonder”

— Neil deGrasse Tyson

Curiosity: Astronomy harnesses our curiosity, imagination, and exploration. We have gone to the Moon and back, always pushing our geographical limits, ready to explore further in the Solar system.

Astronomy harnesses our curiosity, imagination, and exploration. We have gone to the Moon and back, always pushing our geographical limits, ready to explore further in the Solar system. Abstract thinking: Due to the enormous distances and time scales, astronomy is great at training the sense of thinking more abstractly about scales of time, distance, and size.

Due to the enormous distances and time scales, astronomy is great at training the sense of thinking more abstractly about scales of time, distance, and size. Rational thinking: If taught properly, astronomy can promote rational thinking and understanding the nature of science through observations and simulations.

If taught properly, astronomy can promote rational thinking and understanding the nature of science through observations and simulations. Environmental awareness: Astronomy explains and demonstrates long-term changes in the weather and the effect of solar radiation. Also, seeing our planet in a greater context from space can make us realize how special and fragile our planet is.

Beauty and art

“Art and astronomy have something in common. All you need is an open mind. You don’t need a fancy education to find it interesting.”

The above words were said by an artist and exhibition owner of Glasslåven Arts Centre in Norway, which I visited in February 2020. I wrote it down because it made a lot of sense to me.

Astronomy reveals a Universe which is vast, varied, and beautiful — the beauty of the night sky, the spectacle of an ecplise, the excitement of a black hole. (John R. Percy)

Astronomy has not only scientific value, but emotional, aesthetic, and artistic values, inspiring artists, poets, stories, and movies. It can be the perfect combination of science and creativity.

Final words

I never had much astronomy in school myself. I had some basics about our solar system and the planets in public school. There was no astronomy in high school.

I always pondered about space and the big questions about the origins of it all, about the planets, stars, and galaxies, but I have always seen it as just a hobby, something to entertaining my mind. Back then, it never occurred to me that astronomy could actually be useful and a serious carrier path (it was in the ´90s).

I still don’t know about the serious part. I have discovered that life should not be taken too seriously, and hence I have let my mind wander into space and I haven’t regretted it. I have found astronomy to be the perfect combination of science and creativity.

I am glad to see that astronomy has gotten a bigger part in the education systems worldwide nowadays, and hopefully, it will inspire young people to science and technology and help increase public scientific awareness, understanding, and appreciation.

Stay curious!