The Astronomy of Middle-earth: Astronomical Motifs and Motivations in the Work of J.R.R. Tolkien

One of my continuing areas of research is the numerous astronomical motifs and motivations in the work of J.R.R. Tolkien, and the application of these concepts to the teaching of science. Below are citations and links to some of my work. Comments are always welcome.

• "Shadow and Flame: Myth, Monsters, and Mother Nature in Middle-earth." To appear in The Mirror Crack'd: Fear and Horror in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings and its Sources, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2008.
   

• “Muggles, Meteoritic Armor, and Menelmacar: Using Fantasy Series in Astronomy Education and Outreach." 212th Meeting of the American Astronomical Society, St. Louis, Missouri, June 1-5, 2008.
   

• "Shadow and Flame:  Myth, Monsters, and Mother Nature in Middle-earth." 43th International Congress on Medieval Studies, Kalamazoo, MI, May 8–11, 2008. 
   
• "Teaching Tolkien in Science Classes." Teaching Tolkien Roundtable. 43th International Congress on Medieval Studies, Kalamazoo, MI, May 8–11, 2008.
   
• "(V)Arda Marred: The Evolution of the Queen of the Stars in Tolkien's Legendarium." Mallorn: Journal of the Tolkien Society 45, 2008: 31-6.
   

• “'Rose-stained in the Sunset': Elwing and her Possible Planetary Counterpart." Amon Hen: Bulletin of the Tolkien Society, 209, 2008:17-20.
   

• "SAURON, Mount Doom, and Elvish Moths: The Influence of Tolkien on Modern Science." Tolkien Studies, 4, 2007: 223-33.
   

• "(V)Arda Marred: The Evolution of the Queen of the Stars in Tolkien's Legendarium." Annual Tolkien Conference, University of Vermont. April 14, 2007
   

• "Swords and Sky Stones: Meteoric Iron in The Silmarillion." Mallorn: Journal of the Tolkien Society 44, 2006: 22-26.
   

• "Swords and Sky Stones: Meteoritic Iron in The Silmarillion." Gathering of the Fellowship, Toronto, CA, July 1, 2006.
   

• "Astronomical Motifs in Middle-earth: Lost in Translation?"  Parme Nole: Journal of the Northeast Tolkien Society #15-16, 2006: 33-41.
   

• "A Little Earth of His Own: Tolkien's Lunar Creation Myths." Tolkien 2005, Birmingham, UK. August 12, 2005.
   

• "Tolkien's 'Burning Briar' - an Astronomical Explanation." Mallorn, 43, 2005: 49-52.
   

• "A Definitive Identification of Tolkien's 'Borgil': An Astronomical and Literary Approach." Tolkien Studies 2, 2005: 161-170. part 2 of article
   

• "A Elbereth Gilthoniel: The Cosmological Goddesses of Middle-earth." June Baker Higgins Gender Studies Conference, CCSU. April 1, 2005.
   

• "Scientific Motifs in Middle-earth: Lost in Translation?" Popular Culture/ American Culture Association Annual Meeting, San Diego. March 26, 2005.
   

• "The Astronomy of Middle-Earth: Teaching Astronomy through Tolkien," in Andrew Fraknoi and William Waller, eds. Cosmos in the Classroom 2004. San Francisco: Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 2004: 237-245.
   

• "Teaching Through Tolkien: The Astronomy of Middle-earth," poster presentation, Astronomical Society of the Pacific, Cosmos in the Classroom, Boston, MA. July 16, 2004.
   

• "The Historical Discovery of a New Element, Orodruinium," APS News Zero Gravity column, April 2004.
   

• "Teaching Through Tolkien: The Astronomy of Middle-earth,"   American Physical Society National Meeting, Montreal, CA. March 23, 2004. Featured in meeting press release.
   

• "The Astronomy of Middle-earth." RingCon, Bonn, Germany. November 23, 2002.