Kids and Astronomy

[Sausageman (Mike Boggan)]

While on my recent holiday, a week on south stradbroke Island and a week in the Qld outback, I ended up in a little town called "Goombungie", about 30minutes from Crows Nest.
I met the Deputy Mayor who happens to be a school teacher.
When she found out that I was an amateur astronomer, I became her best friend. She is teaching her students about the Universe and asked if I would bring my scope up and show the night sky to the kids.
She took them to the South Burnett observatory at Maidenwell, but it was cloudy that night. what else is new.!

How could I refuse .

BTW she throws a mean party...and I mean really mean....
(we had a fantastic night)

We have no date set yet, but I will be pushing for a Friday.
I am also working on making it a whole day affair, with a daytime Radio Astronomy session (courtesy of my Mentor, Noel), followed by an evening observing.

If any of you live near Toowoomba, and would like to donate your time and scope for an evenings viewing for kids, please PM me. The more the merrier.
Hopefully, I will be kitting the LX200 with the Starlight xpress and viewing the sky on a lap top.

I will be in contact with the school this week to organise a date.
I will also let them know about the Astrofest at Linville, but I couldn't see the kids staying overnight.

My work at the SETI Observatory, is specifically aimed at giving Rural schools access to Astronomy, Space and the Universe, this is just the first opportunity to do it.

A message for Ballaratdragon.
I read your post in a thread about keeping kids interested, and it was just what I needed for this venture, Thanks.

Mike.

[wavelandscott (Scott)]

Good luck with this worthwhile project!!!

You never know, your efforts might inspire the next big scientific thinker or discoverer of our time!

[h0ughy (David)]

Well done Mike, wish you all the best. Please, if they allow it take a photo of the kids at the scope, to show us the turnout and the enthusiasm!

[astrogeek (Leon)]

Good luck with it. Me and a friend have done several astro nights at a primary school in Melbourne with great success. The kids just love it, and so do the parents too. Its always a joy to see the kids so excited when they see saturn or jupiter, or sirius which was the fav of the kids last time I did it. "Can we please look at that bright one again Leon?" Kids are so funny sometimes

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Mike,

It makes it all worth it when you see there faces!!!!! More of a buzz than you can think of.

Well done.

[Sausageman (Mike Boggan)]

Thanks for the support guy's.
As I have said before, I usually take my scope to work when I am on night shift, and I love the reactions from the adults, some with words of astonishment that can't be repeated here.
I will enjoy working with the children very much.
Hopefully, I will get some photo's of the evening to display.

Mike