Andrew Fraknoi

• Award-winning science educator and communicator

• Teaches “Astronomy and Physics for Poets” to 900+ students/year

• Former Executive Director, Astronomical Society of the Pacific (14 years)

• Lead author of Astronomy (OpenStax free textbook)

• Editor of The Universe at Your Fingertips teaching guide

• Founding editor of Astronomy Education Review

• Frequent public speaker and media guest (radio, TV, NPR)

• Fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and California Academy of Science

• Asteroid 4859 named Asteroid Fraknoi in his honor

Andrew Fraknoi is a celebrated astronomy educator and communicator, renowned for making complex astronomical discoveries and ideas accessible to students and the public. At Foothill College, he teaches courses such as Astronomy and Physics for Poets, reaching over 900 students each year.

For 14 years, Fraknoi served as Executive Director of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, where he edited the magazine Mercury, launched the teacher newsletter Universe in the Classroom, and founded programs like Project ASTRO and Family ASTRO, bringing professional and amateur astronomers into K–9 classrooms and community events nationwide.

A prolific author and editor, Fraknoi is the lead author of Astronomy, a free electronic textbook from OpenStax, and editor of The Universe at Your Fingertips, one of the most widely used astronomy teaching guides. He has also published a children’s book (Disney's Wonderful World of Space) and science fiction stories in anthologies such as Building Red: Mission Mars and Science Fiction by Scientists.

Fraknoi founded and moderates the national Cosmos in the Classroom conference, connecting hundreds of astronomy instructors to improve teaching for non-science majors. He is a frequent media guest on radio and television, including NPR, KQED, and syndicated shows like the Mark and Brian Show, and has appeared on The Today Show, Larry King Live, and MSNBC.

He serves on the board of the SETI Institute, is a Fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, and was the first community college faculty member elected to the California Academy of Science. He has been recognized with numerous awards, including Professor of the Year for California, the Annenberg Prize, the Gemant Prize, and the Klumpke-Roberts Prize. In honor of his contributions, Asteroid 4859 was named Asteroid Fraknoi.

Fraknoi’s work spans teaching, writing, outreach, and educational innovation, inspiring students, teachers, and the public to explore the universe with curiosity and rigor.