NASA Science Events and Activities
Let NASA bring the universe to you!
We’re inviting every student, educator, and lifelong learner to share in the excitement of scientific discovery and space exploration through unique opportunities from NASA’s Science Activation Program – a community-based approach to connect NASA science with learners of all ages. Check out these events and activities for educators, families, and students in kindergarten and up.
December 19, 2023: Night Sky Network Webinar – Astronomy Picture of the Day with D. Robert Nemiroff
Join this annual Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) webinar with the NASA Night Sky Network as Dr. Robert Nemiroff shares with us about the APOD archive, which contains the largest collection of annotated astronomical images on the internet.
Time: 9 p.m. EST

On-Demand Events & Activities
Help Combat Dangerous Mosquitos & Supplement NASA Satellite Data
Mosquitos aren’t just annoying, they’re a serious health risk worldwide. Millions of people die each year from mosquito-borne disease. While climate and weather conditions can suggest to scientists where to expect spikes in mosquito populations during the year, we don’t know for sure what is happening unless we make observations on the ground. With NASA’s GLOBE Observer Mosquito Habitat Mapper (brought to you by Science Activation’s NASA Earth Science Education Collaborative), you can use an app to document potential mosquito habitats (like standing water) and identify mosquito types near you. Your observations augment broad scale satellite-based research to help reduce risk of vector-borne disease in your community, and worldwide!
Watch this on-demand webinar with SciStarter LIVE to learn more about how you can have fun and make a positive impact while doing NASA Citizen Science.

Girls STEAM Ahead with NASA Program Cookbook
Girls STEAM Ahead with NASA is a project within NASA’s Universe of Learning that empowers libraries and community-based organizations to engage girls and their families in exploring the wonders of NASA science and celebrate the contributions of women to science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM).
The Girls STEAM Ahead with NASA Program Cookbook has been designed to guide educators in creating their events. It includes “recipes” about different astrophysics-related topics with sample scenarios, accessibility tips, information on how to request a subject matter expert for the events, and much more!

JWST STEM Toolkit
The James Webb Space Telescope will be a giant leap forward in our quest to understand the universe and its origins. Webb will examine every phase of cosmic history from the first luminous glows after the Big Bang, to the formation of galaxies, stars, and planets, to the evolution our own solar system. NASA has put together a Webb STEM Toolkit so that students can participate in the excitement of the James Webb Space Telescope too! Whether you’re a student ready to learn or an educator looking to #UnfoldtheUniverse with your students, this Toolkit contains wonderful resources, activities, videos, lesson plans, and more.

Explore Planetary Defense
Did you know that NASA has an entire office dedicated to defending our planet?!
Asteroids and comets have slammed into planets, moons, and asteroids throughout our solar system, including our Earth. NASA scientists and engineers are studying asteroids and comets, where they are, and how to deflect them from Earth in the future.
In fact, in November 2021, NASA launched the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) – the first-ever spacecraft designed to impact an asteroid as a test of technology. But don’t worry – DART’s target asteroid is NOT a threat to Earth. DART is targeting an asteroid system that’s a perfect testing ground to see if intentionally crashing a spacecraft into an asteroid is an effective way to change its course, should an Earth-threatening asteroid be discovered in the future.
Families and informal-educators can help learners discover how planetary scientists explore the characteristics of asteroids and comets using candy bars, dry ice, and more with these hands-on, interactive asteroid/planetary defense activities and resources from the Lunar & Planetary Institute.
