NASA refreshes Program Facilitator Guides and adds Finding Exoplanets resources

NASA’s Universe of Learning has refreshed several Program Facilitator Guides and introduced a new "Finding Exoplanets" guide, the team announced Jan 21, 2026. The Program Facilitator Guides are resources for informal educators that cover astrophysics themes and help organizations share NASA science.

Since their introduction, the guides have supported libraries and community centers; "The Programming Guide is just amazing … that resource alone is really great for planning. There’s so many opportunities for programs… and there’s room for your own creativity as well," shared one educator.

The updates were informed by feedback collected through evaluation surveys, focus groups, and webinars, and events held last year gave the guides a 91% favorable usefulness rating. Updates include a dedicated web page under the “Informal Educators” menu, an easy-to-access URL (https://universe-of-learning.org/program-guides), new PowerPoint slides and Kahoot quizzes to complement themes, and a move to a more user-friendly activity template.

In collaboration with a SCoPE grantee, the team designed resources around methods astronomers use to find exoplanets: the "Finding Exoplanets" Program Facilitator Guide, the "Lights, Coronagraph, Action!" Activity Guide for direct imaging, and the "Exoplanet Detectives" Activity Guide for transits.

Key Topics

Science, Program Facilitator Guides, Finding Exoplanets, Scope, Direct Imaging, Transits