What is the NCCN Project ?

NASA Community College Network

The SETI Institute’s NASA Community College Network (NCCN) is a major initiative to bring NASA Subject Matter Experts (SME), research findings, and science resources into the nation’s community college system. NCCN is a constituent team of the Science Activation program, part of NASA’s Science Mission Directive (SMD).

Guided by needs assessments of both community college instructors (CCIs) and SMEs to engage in outreach, NCCN will consist of three key engagement deliverables:

1) To broker direct partnerships between NASA science subject matter experts and community college instructors teaching astronomy, space science and related courses.

2) To provide a set of high-quality, curated, audience-appropriate NASA resources created with or by NASA scientists to support their outreach and engagement and implemented by the community college instructor.

3) To provide professional development and training for both groups:

a) Community college instructors: we want to support or extend their knowledge of NASA science or research topics and help them communicate new or more engaging concepts to their students.

b) NASA subject matter experts: we want to help them engage effectively with the instructors and students at community colleges. For scientists new to outreach, we want to help them understand community college audiences and how best to work with them.

NCCN is funded by NASA SMD Cooperative Agreement 80NSSC21M0009

News & Events

Sun, May 21, 2023

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket propels the Dragon spacecraft to ISS

Congratulations to Axiom, SpaceX and the Mission 2 crew for a successful launch!

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket propels the Dragon spacecraft to ISS

Thu, Apr 13, 2023

An Introduction to NASA's MicroObservatory Robotic Telescope Network

Join us for an exciting webinar on NASA's MicroObservatory!

 

An Introduction to NASA's MicroObservatory Robotic Telescope Network

Mon, Mar 20, 2023

Labs for Astronomy 101

Do you need new labs for your class, or do your labs need need to be refreshed?

Join a panel of community college astronomy professors discuss the life of labs and share new ideas to add more and exciting labs your class.

Labs for Astronomy 101

Sat, Mar 18, 2023

Become a NASA Partner Eclipse Ambassador !

Do you love eclipses and want to share the wow of space science with your community? Apply to become a NASA Partner Eclipse Ambassador!

In 2023 and 2024, two eclipses will be happening across the United States. In an exciting new partnership, Undergraduate Students and Amateur Astronomers will engage their local communities, providing solar viewing glasses as well as context for underserved communities off the central paths. 

 

 

Become a NASA Partner Eclipse Ambassador !

Fri, Mar 10, 2023

Asteroid on Possible Collision Course with Earth... in 2046.

Asteroid 2023 DW has a 1 in 560 chance of arrival on Valentine's Day 2046.

 

 

Asteroid on Possible Collision Course with Earth... in 2046.

Sun, Jan 22, 2023

Green Comet ZTF

Discovered in 2022, Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) may be visible to northern observers during the end of January to early February.

Green Comet ZTF

Tue, Jan 10, 2023

Kepler-186f : New Earth-like Planet Discovered

NASA’s Kepler Space Telescope discovered an Earth-like planet circling a nearby star within the Goldilocks zone of our galaxy. Kepler-186f is around 500 light-years from Earth in the Cygnus constellation.

Kepler-186f : New Earth-like Planet Discovered

Fri, Nov 04, 2022

Artemis I Mission

Artemis I Moon Rocket Arrives at Launch Pad Ahead of Historic Mission - Nov 4, 2022.     

Follow along as NASA prepares for the historic Artemis I Mission to establish a sustainable presence on the Moon to prepare for missions to Mars.   

Artemis I Mission