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.”

Given a pile of leafy tree branches the participants were challenged to divide their pile in two, based on leaf size, then further divide each pile on the basis of some other leaf appearance.  And so forth.

This hands-on activity introduced them to the “either – or” choices of the traditional dichotomous keys used by naturalists and biologists.

With keys in hand the group hitched a “hay ride” to the forested section of the Bray Hollow Nature Conservancy and the Pitt County Environmental Education Center where they identified a number of trees.

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.

Photo Album

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Title: Jumping into Science Research
Location: ECU Howell Science Complex
Meeting Room: Will be posted as the dates get closer, see below.
Dates: See below
Time: All Meeting Times are 9:30 am to 11:30 am

2009
October 24 – Student Academy of Sciences District Meeting
November 7 – Session 1:  Getting Started
December 5 – Session 2:  Doing What Scientists Do

2010
January 16 – Session 3: You’ve got data.  NOW WHAT?
February 6 – Session 4: Stepping Up On the Stage (Date recently updated!)

Quick Description:

This program consists of a series of four hands-on working sessions throughout the school year guided by experienced science educators.  These workshops will be further supplemented by phone and e-mail support from an assigned project adviser.  Together these “guides” will enable the participant to produce a scientific research project.  All meeting times are 9:30 am to 11:30 am.

Files for download/print:

Electronic Brochure:  Jumping_into_Science_brochure-electronic_10-27-09.pdf (Updated 10-27-09!)
Registration Materials: Jumping_into_Science_registration_10-21-09.pdf

Note: All meetings will take place at the ECU Howell Science Complex unless notified in advance

Directions to ECU Howell Science Complex:

See a Google Map here, otherwise check out the ECU Campus map here (Building 5).

Title: IYA 2009: Galilean Nights
Date: 10-22-2009 (10-23-2009 is our cloud date – same times)
Time: 7 pm to 10 pm
Location: A Time for Science (Directions)
Files: Click here for a handout of this event.  Also, see the release forms on the forms/files page.

Description:

From the IYA Website:

“Wind the clock back 400 years and follow in the footsteps of a giant — experience now just what first amazed Galileo in 1609! The latest Cornerstone project of the International Year of Astronomy 2009 (IYA2009), Galilean Nights, will see thousands of public observing events around the world replicating Galileo’s observations and bringing what he saw 400 years ago to the public of today. From 22 to 24 October, amateur and professional astronomers, science centres, schools and all interested groups are invited to be part of the Galilean Nights project and to register their events on the project website galileannights.org. We can all make this a worldwide success.”

Join us at A Time for Science Nature and Science Learning Center in association with Bray Hollow Nature Conservancy on Thursday, October 22 from 7pm to 10 pm (weather permitting) and add your numbers to those around the globe.  Friday, October 23 will be our “cloud” date.  There will be telescopes and binoculars trained at Jupiter, the moon and other objects in the evening sky.  A Sky Show will also be presented

You must preregister for this event!

Registration is: CLOSED

You can read our review of the night’s activities here.  Thanks for coming out!