‘A Very Successful Star Party at St Columb Major School’

Wednesday 9th March 2011

After being cloudy all day, we were very lucky for the skies to clear for the star party arranged for the school at St Columb Major. Five members of Brannel Astronomy, Phil Brotherwood, Glynn Bennallick, Mike Thompson, Richard Saw and Frank Johns set up a number of telescopes in the school yard in order to explain the night sky to the pupils and their parents.

This particular night was chosen because the crescent moon would be visible as well as the planet Jupiter, together with the very recognisable constellations of Orion and the Plough (Ursa Major) amongst others.

The children and parents started gathering before it was dark, but the moon was sufficiently bright to allow viewing at that time. There was a steady stream of visitors over the next couple of hours and it is estimated that 30-40 children and adults participated.

The Moon with its craters and mountains clearly highlighted in the crescent resulted in many ‘wows’. Both children and parents were delighted to be able to see three of the Moons of Jupiter. They also observed The Great Orion Nebula, The Plaiedes, the Milky Way and other celestial objects.

The organizing teacher at the school, Chloe Haines, said that the evening was a great success and the children had been enthused by learning more about the night sky.

Several parents requested advice in the selection and purchase of telescopes, and members of Brannel Astronomy readily agreed to provide such advice in the future.

Brannel Astronomy has developed close ties with St Columb Major School and has set up annual astronomy evenings for gifted and talented children in the area, most recently last month.