Sponsored by A Time for Science (Nature and Science Learning Center) and in conjunction with millions of people around the world participating in the Cornerstone project of the International Year of Astronomy 2009 (IYA2009), Galilean Nights, over 100 folks came out to the Bray Hollow Nature Conservancy on Thursday October, 22, 2009 to enjoy gazing at the celestial sights that Galileo introduced the world to 400 years ago.
As sunset approached a partial cloud cover of high cirrus and some puffy cumulus threatened to rule out any chance of star gazing. However, by the time the sun set completely the clouds had dissipated and a beautiful sky presented itself. Ten telescopes were made available by members of the Carolina Skies Astronomy Club and other members and friends of the ATFS organization. Everyone who attended had a chance to see first hand the craters on the Moon, the planet Jupiter and its Galilean moons, and a number of other objects including the Andromeda Galaxy and the Ring Nebula. And a guided tour of the night sky featuring several of the more prominent constellations as well as the stories and legends accompanying them was presented by the Director of Education for ATFS. Our stalwart registration crew was assisted by student volunteers from D.H. Conley High School who also provided assistance in the parking of cars and the direction of participants to the event site.
This event also qualified as a TACO event (Take a Child Outside) which is a nation-wide program started in response to the publication of Richard Louv’s book Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder. TACO events are designed to help break down obstacles that keep children from discovering the natural world. By arming parents, teachers and other caregivers with resources on outdoor activities, the goal of organizations associated with TACO is to help children across the country develop a better understanding and appreciation of the environment in which they live, and a burgeoning enthusiasm for its exploration.
See the original event post here.
Photo Album
On Friday, October 16, 2009, fourteen Home-Schoolers and seven adults found a little time for science and joined us at the Center to enjoy the “adventures of a dichotomous key.”
On return to the Center’s “laboratory” (a.k.a. “The Rec. Room”) participants then “immortalized their favorite leaves in paint and cotton/polyester, making leaf prints on their selected tee shirts. All had fun and left with a self-made memento of their experience.
