NAME: Unfolding the Universe

DATE: October 14, 2008

VENUE: Expoflora Area in Herastrau park

TARGET GROUP: All students from "Tudor Vianu"
National High School of Computer Science

COMMITTEE: Ion Cosmin, Petre Mihnea

COORDINATING TEACHER: Ioana Stoica and Corina Achinca

ATTENDENCE: Students from grades K-12, along with their parents, and former students.(about 300 students, 4 teachers & 100 parents)


GOALS:

� Observing planet Jupiter and its satellites (Ganymede, Callisto, Europa, Io) using a telescope;
� Distinguishing the craters seen on the moon�s surface making use of a telescope;
� Noticing the differences between the image of a planet and a star through a telescope;
� Distinguishing several constellations with the naked eye (Summer Triangle, Cygnus, Cassiopeea);
� Acknowledging Bucharest�s high level of light pollution;
� Approximating the magnitude referring to the number of stars seen from the Northern Cross constellation (Cygnus); our calculations have shown a magnitude level of 3.


DESCRIPTION:

       On the evening of the 14th of October 2008, having a clear night, we gathered in the Expoflora area in Herastrau park to watch the moon and the stars through the telescope.
       We had an astronomy specialist, our physics teacher Ioana Stoica & 3 telescopes(brought by: Ion Cosmin, Petre Mihnea and Bogdan Stoica) .
       Not only students from our high school watched trough the lenses, but also some of the people walking in the park who were attracted by our activity. The whole action took place from 8:30 PM to 10:30 PM.
       We managed to do everything we proposed. It was great fun, but we have also learnt a lot about the solar system.

       Our event was sustained by local community: parents brought sandwiches, cookies and teachers helped us identify constellations & planets. This activity helped us integrate World Space Week event in our local community.
       We enjoy very much this kind of activities!!!

For more photos view gallery