International Year of Astronomy 2009
Events
IYA Open Evening Weds 1st April 2009
"Fun, informative and inspiring" - about 250 adults and children took advantage of our free event in celebration of the International Year of Astronomy 2009.
The Astrophysics group put on a whole range of activities. The event began with astronomy author Ian Ridpath exploring the moon landings 40 years on. Planet expert Suzanne Aigrain made planets and comets using old tennis balls, sand and ice with the help of a little liquid nitrogen. Kids of all ages enjoyed exploring the planet by navigating Alasdair Allan's helium balloon through a series of hula hoops, while radio astronomer Chris Brunt detected anything from Dads to frozen fruit using a satellite TV dish.
The youngest visitors had fun creating craters in trays of flour, colouring star charts and sundials to cut and fold, and making their own telescopes. Many kids went home clutching their own chunk of space rock.
The wonders of space were on display throughout the evening. Scale models of the planets of the solar system hung from the ceiling. A colourful From Earth to the Universe exhibition toured the Universe. And everyone was delighted when the clouds cleared to views of the Moon, Saturn's rings and other starry sights through the telescopes.
Revisit Mars and the Moon as shown in 3D by Prof. Matthew Bate
Out and about
If you missed our open evening, catch
Astrophysics group members out and about at these events:
Contact
iya@astro.ex.ac.uk
School of Physics
Stocker Road
University of Exeter
Exeter EX4 4QL
