This summer we spent a week at a place called Othona - a Christian community situated on the Dorset coast. I was looking for a family retreat that would also be a holiday for everyone.
The theme for the week we chose was Astronomy. There were exceedingly good talks each day, given by Roger the radio-astronomer, some opportunities to look through a very big telescope, and activities for all ages to participate in.
One of the memorable activities was the enacting of 10 earth years' planetary motion of our solar system. Each 'planet' was given a set distance to stand away from the 'sun' (a stick in the ground). A drum was beat to signify a 10th of an earth year. Each planet was told the rate they must pace in orbit of the sun in terms of drum beats.
Izzy was earth. (She painted the bib herself). She had the easy job of one pace per beat, and so completed a full orbit in 10 paces. Aidan was mercury, so was whizzing around at 3 paces per beat.
On this scale, the first 4 planets are all really close to the sun. Neptune and Uranus are very far distant.
Can you spot Neptune?
Other photos from the week:
Izzy painting Earth, me painting Saturn
Home made sundials (that really work)
Seeing sunspots with a telescope and a sunny day
Crabbing
Cutie
PS Thanks to Jo for many of these pictures
0 comments:
Post a Comment