Date: Saturday, October 6, 2007
River Bend Astronomy Club
Astronomy Day, Edwardsville Children's Museum
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Event Report
Comments and anecdotes about the event:
Members of the River Bend Astronomy Club brought a variety of telescopes and binoculars to this event, including an 8 in SCT, a 10 in SCT, a hydrogen alpha Coronado Solar scope (60mm), a Calcium/Potassium Coronado Solar Scope (60 mm), and a pair of handheld binoculars on a homemade "hands free" stand. We were able to view our Sun, the Moon, and Venus. Outreach tables were set up where the Black Hole; Planet Quest; Telescope; Our Galaxy, Our Universe; Transits; and the newest kit on Our Solar System. On a separate table, we set up the chart showing the location of the planets and the current mission locations and provided handouts for visitors to mark these locations. We also handed out maps showing the ecliptic and current constellations for October, the Planet Quest Star map, and the Black Hole star map. The mission location handout also included a chart showing the missions types and the planets/solar system objects that have had one or more of these types of missions. There were 7 club members in attendance (5 adults and 2 children/teens), and 31 total visitors (at a ratio of 1 adult:2 children). During this event, Terry Menz held a separate class for 6 children of ages 7-9 on the topic of Current Missions. We used the activities from the newest Night Sky kit on Our Solar System to prepare for this class. The children first viewed a shortened version of the Powerpoint covering the missions to get an understanding of each type of mission NASA and other space agencies use to explore space. Then each child made their own mystery planet using rolled up newspaper and aluminum foil to make the planet, adding various materials to its surface. Then the students covered a paper towel roll with foil (and decorated them of course) to make a "telescope" to use for their first mission. A handout (see text of flyer belowalso see discussion log for word file attachment) was created specifically for this class for students to use to record their missions to explore a mystery planet. We placed the planets on the other side of the room and the children were asked to explore another child's planet, doing so using 3 separate missions. Questions regarding each mission were asked so students could understand the purpose for exploring other planets. Some of the questions the students wanted to have answered by their missions included: "Is there something dead on this planet?" "Are there volcanoes on this planet?" "Is this planet going to explode?" and "Is there life on this planet?" These activities were very successful for this group, and the children were very enthusiastic about each phase of their creation and exploration. MISSION LEADER:_______________________ EXPLORING STRANGE NEW WORLDS MISSION LOG Mission 1 Type of mission: Telescope Flyby Orbiter Probe Lander/rover Sample return Human 1. What did you learn about the planet from this mission? 2. What questions do you still have about this planet? 3. What type of mission or missions will help answer these questions? Mission 2 Type of mission: Telescope Flyby Orbiter Probe Lander/rover Sample return Human 1. What did you learn about the planet from this mission? 2. What questions do you still have about this planet? 3. What type of mission or missions will help answer these questions? MISSION LEADER:_______________________ Mission 3 Type of mission: Telescope Flybys Orbiter Probe Lander/rover Sample return Human 1. What did you learn about the planet from this mission? 2. What questions do you still have about this planet? 3. What type of mission or missions will help answer these questions? 4. New questionWhy should society help pay for another mission?
Members of the River Bend Astronomy Club brought a variety of telescopes and binoculars to this event, including an 8 in SCT, a 10 in SCT, a hydrogen alpha Coronado Solar scope (60mm), a Calcium/Potassium Coronado Solar Scope (60 mm), and a pair of handheld binoculars on a homemade "hands free" stand. We were able to view our Sun, the Moon, and Venus. Outreach tables were set up where the Black Hole; Planet Quest; Telescope; Our Galaxy, Our Universe; Transits; and the newest kit on Our Solar System. On a separate table, we set up the chart showing the location of the planets and the current mission locations and provided handouts for visitors to mark these locations. We also handed out maps showing the ecliptic and current constellations for October, the Planet Quest Star map, and the Black Hole star map. The mission location handout also included a chart showing the missions types and the planets/solar system objects that have had one or more of these types of missions. There were 7 club members in attendance (5 adults and 2 children/teens), and 31 total visitors (at a ratio of 1 adult:2 children). During this event, Terry Menz held a separate class for 6 children of ages 7-9 on the topic of Current Missions. We used the activities from the newest Night Sky kit on Our Solar System to prepare for this class. The children first viewed a shortened version of the Powerpoint covering the missions to get an understanding of each type of mission NASA and other space agencies use to explore space. Then each child made their own mystery planet using rolled up newspaper and aluminum foil to make the planet, adding various materials to its surface. Then the students covered a paper towel roll with foil (and decorated them of course) to make a "telescope" to use for their first mission. A handout (see text of flyer belowalso see discussion log for word file attachment) was created specifically for this class for students to use to record their missions to explore a mystery planet. We placed the planets on the other side of the room and the children were asked to explore another child's planet, doing so using 3 separate missions. Questions regarding each mission were asked so students could understand the purpose for exploring other planets. Some of the questions the students wanted to have answered by their missions included: "Is there something dead on this planet?" "Are there volcanoes on this planet?" "Is this planet going to explode?" and "Is there life on this planet?" These activities were very successful for this group, and the children were very enthusiastic about each phase of their creation and exploration. MISSION LEADER:_______________________ EXPLORING STRANGE NEW WORLDS MISSION LOG Mission 1 Type of mission: Telescope Flyby Orbiter Probe Lander/rover Sample return Human 1. What did you learn about the planet from this mission? 2. What questions do you still have about this planet? 3. What type of mission or missions will help answer these questions? Mission 2 Type of mission: Telescope Flyby Orbiter Probe Lander/rover Sample return Human 1. What did you learn about the planet from this mission? 2. What questions do you still have about this planet? 3. What type of mission or missions will help answer these questions? MISSION LEADER:_______________________ Mission 3 Type of mission: Telescope Flybys Orbiter Probe Lander/rover Sample return Human 1. What did you learn about the planet from this mission? 2. What questions do you still have about this planet? 3. What type of mission or missions will help answer these questions? 4. New questionWhy should society help pay for another mission?
Caroline Menz
Caroline Menz