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Phillips Exeter — Phillips Exeter Academy Programs for Educators — Mathematics, Humanities, Science, Astronomy, Diversity Leadership, AI

Exeter Astronomy Education Conference

Sunday, June 21, 2026In-person

The Exeter Astronomy Education Conference is a weeklong gathering of secondary school astronomy educators at all experience levels. Attendance is by application only.

Details

Dates
Sunday, June 21, 2026
Format
In-person
Location
Duration
4-5 days
Event type
Institute

Who it's for

High SchoolTeachers

Subjects

Topics

Join us June 21-26, 2026

  • Morning sessions: 9 a.m.-noon
  • Afternoon sessions: 1:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
  • Optional evening events: 7 p.m.-10 p.m. (weather-dependent evening observatory sessions)
  • Tips and tricks for successful astronomy education.
  • Goals of astronomy courses: Syllabus construction to accommodate the rapid developments in science.
  • Meeting the needs of the students and the course: Prerequisites.
  • Textbooks and software: available resources for the educator.
  • Observing components: Computer use in the field.
  • Merging observational astronomy into classroom discussion.
  • Equipment selection: Cost versus performance analysis.
  • Equipment use: From binoculars to CCD imagers.
  • External resources: User groups, associations, planetariums, other schools, etc.
  • Course-long projects in observational astronomy.

Conference Application

The application for the Exeter Astronomy Education Conference is now open.

Conference Leadership

The conference is led by a team of teachers in the field of Astronomy.

Keynote Speakers

All conference participants are invited to attend keynote talks. Opening keynote speaker is Logan McCarty, associate dean of science education at Harvard University. The closing keynote is Diane Ackerman, poet, naturalist, and author of The Planets: A Cosmic Pastoral.

View Event & Register →

This link takes you to Phillips Exeter's website.