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TLDR
GCSE Astronomy is a flexible course you can study online from home, helping you understand space and build skills for future study or careers in science and technology. With growing interest in space exploration driven by the Artemis II mission and Global Astronomy Month, now is an ideal time to start GCSE Astronomy and learn about the Universe.
GCSE Astronomy is a flexible course that you can study online, from home with no specialist equipment. It will help you to understand space, develop key analytical skills, and prepare for future study or a career in science and technology.
April is Global Astronomy Month and, with the excitement around the Artemis II mission, now is the perfect time to start studying GCSE Astronomy.
An Exciting Time in Space Exploration
It’s Global Astronomy Month in April, and with the launch of Artemis II on 1st April 2026, the past week has been one of the most exciting weeks in space exploration history for decades.
NEC’s GCSE Astronomy tutor Dr Sheila Kanani, a planetary scientist with 20 years in the space industry, has been sharing her expertise with BBC Radio listeners.
Find out why now is the perfect moment to start studying the stars.
Artemis II and the Growing Interest in Space
History is happening right now!
In the early hours of 7 April 2026, the crew of NASA-led spaceflight mission Artemis II made history travelling more than 252,000 miles from Earth aboard their Orion spacecraft, ‘Integrity’.
The crew – NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen – travelled further into space than any humans in history, surpassing the distance record set by Apollo 13 over 55 years ago,
From their cabin on Integrity, Jeremy Hansen marked the moment:
“As we surpass the furthest distance humans have ever travelled from planet Earth, we do so in honouring the extraordinary efforts and feats of our predecessors in human exploration.”
For one of NEC’s tutors, it has been a week of barely contained excitement.
Meet Dr Sheila Kanani: Planetary Scientist, Educator, and NEC Tutor
Dr Sheila Kanani is NEC’s GCSE Astronomy tutor. A planetary scientist with 20 years in the space industry, an education officer at the Royal Astronomical Society, and one of the most engaging science communicators working in the UK today.
Since the launch of Artemis II she has appeared on BBC Radio 5 Live:
- with Adrian Chiles on 2nd April
- with Nicky Campbell on 7th April, the morning Artemis II broke the distance record.
Sheila’s response to being asked what excites her most about the mission?
“I’m just absolutely pure jealousy, the last few days I’ve been watching everything and devouring it. Not being old enough to have seen the original Apollo mission but being inspired by Apollo 13 the Tom Hanks film, I wanted to go into space, but now I want to go to the Moon.”
Behind the humour is a serious point about why this mission matters – not just for scientists, but for all of us, Sheila says:
“It’s not just the excitement and the capturing of the imagination, and the knock-on effects that this will have for young people wanting to be part of the space industry and wanting to do STEM subjects at school. It’s pure humanity coming together as well … some of those astronauts looking back on the Earth and being humbled by that blue marble, and seeing Venus in the background and seeing the Aurora of Earth is just so magical really.”
“There’s so much science to be learned, but it is just awe inspiring as well.”
How Artemis II is Inspiring Interest in GCSE Astronomy
Speaking to Nicky Campbell, Sheila described the impact of the coverage of Artemis II’s mission:
“I’ve been having conversations with people previously not interested in space – even though they’ve known me my whole life – coming up to me and saying, ‘How do I get more involved in astronomy?’, ‘How do I look at the Moon?’, ‘How can I do GCSE Astronomy?’”
Those conversations had happened in the days since Artemis II launched – driven entirely by people watching the mission unfold. And that was just among adults.
“The impact that this might have on young people is just astronomical.” – Sheila
It’s not just excitement for its own sake. Sheila spoke passionately about the real-world benefits of the space industry:
- satellite technology we use every day without realising it
- advances in cancer detection
- water recycling
- climate monitoring
and more has come directly from space research.
Global Astronomy Month: The Perfect Moment to Look Up
April is Global Astronomy Month, a worldwide celebration of the night sky that brings together people, communities, clubs, schools and organisations from across the planet. No matter where you live, or how much you know about astronomy, it encourages you to look up, share the wonder and connect with the sky above us.
This year, with Artemis II breaking boundaries and sharing images of Earth and the Moon with the watching world, it feels more relevant than ever.
In her Radio 5 interview with Adrian Chiles, Sheila spoke about the deeper significance of missions like this:
- the diversity and inclusion of the Artemis II crew – the first woman, the first Black astronaut, the oldest astronaut, the first non-American to see the Moon with their own eyes
and what it means to witness history being made in real time:
“It’s that collaboration, that global excitement of something that humanity is doing together, and that’s really important for me at the moment.”
What You Will Learn in GCSE Astronomy
If the coverage of Artemis II’s mission has sparked curiosity in you, or someone you know, to find out more about the Moon, space and the mysteries of the night sky, NEC’s GCSE Astronomy online course is a brilliant place to start to understand the fundamentals of astronomy.
GCSE Astronomy covers everything from stars and constellations to the solar system, cosmology and space exploration – all studied online, in your own time, with dedicated tutor support from one of the most knowledgeable and inspiring educators in her field.
Discover why you should study GCSE Astronomy.
Why Study GCSE Astronomy With NEC
The National Extension College (NEC) has been helping adult learners and home educators achieve their goals for over 60 years. With 95+ courses, a 99% pass rate, and qualifications from leading UK exam boards, we’re here to make learning possible and ensure that you can achieve your goals, your way.
Explore our GCSE Astronomy online courses:
- GCSE Astronomy
- Structured GCSE Astronomy – for those looking for more structured support and to complete a GCSE in a year.
If you’ve got any questions, our friendly Course Advice Team will be happy to talk you through the options.
Whether you’ve always loved stargazing, want to support a child who’s been captivated by the Artemis II mission, or are simply ready to find out more about the Universe we live in – this is your moment to start studying GCSE Astronomy.