During the field trip, the kids were able to expand on their knowledge of the Milky Way (Via Láctea) in which our solar system belongs and discuss more about stars, such as the Sun. They even had the opportunity to look at the Sun through a solar telescope and see a solar flare! John Hiatt, our guide and local Astronomer, taught the kids how to find the North Star, the brightest star of Ursa Minor (Osa Menor), and in return the kids taught him all of the names of the planets in Spanish.
The kids explored the star charts on the walls of the Observatory to find constellations, galaxies, black holes and nebulae. The students learned that different cultures have specific ethnoastronomy and were able to look at and discuss the constellations used by the Lakota Indians. The children had lots of questions for John and spent the remainder of our time asking about astronomy research, the history of astronomy, telescopes, astronomy photographing, and space flights!
What an amazing opportunity for our kids! Thank you to John and the Little Thompson Observatory! We'll be sure to visit again soon!
Crystal Ferreira
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