Learner Experiences:
Astronomy excursion to The South African National Space Agency:
Hermanus, (Article written by Katy Sillem)
Miss Katy Sillem
On a beautiful Thursday morning the
Astronomy club, consisting of 30 students from grades 10, 11 and 12, Mr Sadar,
Mr Van Breda and Miss Sillem (UK Educator) set off on a two hour journey east, to Hermanus.
Their destination was the South African National Space Agency.
On arrival we were met by Elize Fraser who introduced us to the Space Science centre. After complimenting the learners on their presentation she gave them an overview of what went on at SANSA. This included the work of many highly qualified researchers who analyze the data collected from satellites about space weather and write research papers. She also stressed the fact that space science is regarded as a different field to astronomy…
We were then led to the lecture room. Discussion centred on the Agencies work in monitoring solar activity and the Earth’s magnetic fields. The learners were questioned about why the Earth’s magnetic field was important. This produced some insightful answers from students about the way it protects the earth from solar wind. This was complimented by a side show with a series of informative diagrams.
The learners were told how the Agency measures the Earth’s magnetic field both in Hermanus and on trips to the Antarctic. Learners were shown some equipment used by the researchers on these trips. The sensitivity of the equipment used and the need for a magnetically clean environment was highlighted by the example of no trains being allowed through Hermanus, due to being electrically powered, and therefore having an effect on the magnetic readings.
The learners were also informed on the various satellites South Africa has orbiting round the earth. These included Cubesats - these have been innovated at SANSA and which are tiny 10x10x10 cubic centimetre satellites - and the African Resource Research Satellite - providing information to aid the distribution of important resources around Africa in order to provide people with the resources they need.
A key aspect of this talk was the emphasis on the movement of South Africa to a Knowledge Economy and the need for young people to train in the Sciences, modern technologies and Mathematics. Space science is one of the developing fields – an area of growing importance with the reliance of wireless communication methods that are affected by the absorption of solar flares by the Earth’s magnetic field. The learners were also given many exciting and interesting examples of young people who had trained in similar fields and then come to the Space Science centre in Hermanus to continue their training and carry out research, and the roles that you could expect to come into once you had finished your initial training.
The learners were then shown the office where the Space Weather was monitored. There was a wall full of screens monitoring the Sun and Solar activity in various different ways. Two young researchers at the centre gave the students a brief overview of what each screen measured, what the measurements meant and what they was looking for. They described how if, for example, they were getting readings of particularly high solar activity the frequency of the armies radio communication would have to be increased so that communication could be maintained. An important job!
On arrival we were met by Elize Fraser who introduced us to the Space Science centre. After complimenting the learners on their presentation she gave them an overview of what went on at SANSA. This included the work of many highly qualified researchers who analyze the data collected from satellites about space weather and write research papers. She also stressed the fact that space science is regarded as a different field to astronomy…
We were then led to the lecture room. Discussion centred on the Agencies work in monitoring solar activity and the Earth’s magnetic fields. The learners were questioned about why the Earth’s magnetic field was important. This produced some insightful answers from students about the way it protects the earth from solar wind. This was complimented by a side show with a series of informative diagrams.
The learners were told how the Agency measures the Earth’s magnetic field both in Hermanus and on trips to the Antarctic. Learners were shown some equipment used by the researchers on these trips. The sensitivity of the equipment used and the need for a magnetically clean environment was highlighted by the example of no trains being allowed through Hermanus, due to being electrically powered, and therefore having an effect on the magnetic readings.
The learners were also informed on the various satellites South Africa has orbiting round the earth. These included Cubesats - these have been innovated at SANSA and which are tiny 10x10x10 cubic centimetre satellites - and the African Resource Research Satellite - providing information to aid the distribution of important resources around Africa in order to provide people with the resources they need.
A key aspect of this talk was the emphasis on the movement of South Africa to a Knowledge Economy and the need for young people to train in the Sciences, modern technologies and Mathematics. Space science is one of the developing fields – an area of growing importance with the reliance of wireless communication methods that are affected by the absorption of solar flares by the Earth’s magnetic field. The learners were also given many exciting and interesting examples of young people who had trained in similar fields and then come to the Space Science centre in Hermanus to continue their training and carry out research, and the roles that you could expect to come into once you had finished your initial training.
The learners were then shown the office where the Space Weather was monitored. There was a wall full of screens monitoring the Sun and Solar activity in various different ways. Two young researchers at the centre gave the students a brief overview of what each screen measured, what the measurements meant and what they was looking for. They described how if, for example, they were getting readings of particularly high solar activity the frequency of the armies radio communication would have to be increased so that communication could be maintained. An important job!
Trip to Sutherland by Zaitoon-Nisaa Khan
It was a very long, but entertaining drive on our way to Sutherland. When we finally arrived we made our way to the observatory situated a short distance from where we were staying. Upon arrival at the observatory, we sat down in a room and were shown a very informative video on Astronomy. One of the main focuses of the video was the Hubble Space Telescope, which has made groundbreaking discoveries for NASA and the world of astronomy.
The video also informed us on black holes, supernovas, galaxies as well as dark matter. The video provided us with an in depth look at outer space and I found it to be very interesting. After that, we went outside and even though it was a somewhat cloudy night, we looked through a few telescopes. In one of them, you could see quite a close up view of the moon.
The next day, we went back to the observatory and got a tour of it. Our tour guide was very good at his job and managed to explain all that was needed in his limited time. He even managed to answer a few of our questions. In the observatory, we saw miniature models of the big telescopes and there were many displays on the different things that the universe is made of.
After the tour, we went to the actual big telescopes. There were many different buildings, and some of them didn’t even belong to South Africa. The guide explained to us why Sutherland was a great place for telescopes because there was minimal pollution (no factories are near Sutherland) thus allowing more of the sky to be exposed (compared to the city).
We then went into the buildings where the guide explained how the telescopes worked. One telescope was orange and was made in the 1930’s and was originally from England. The other was the SALT telescope which consists of 91 mirrors that cost R1 million rand each and they always have three spares. We even got to see where the astronomers work.
On the way to Sutherland, we stopped by this old little town called Matjiesfontein. It looked very much like old South Africa and had furniture, ornaments and buildings that looked like they were from the late 19th century or 20th century. It sort of reminded me of England and there was even a cliché red double-decker bus. There were a few unusual signs that said “Do Not Spit On The Ground” which I found quite strange. There was also an old train station and there were buildings that housed ornaments, tools and devices from that period of time. There was even an old fuel Shell petrol station. I found the town to be quite cute and quaint. This also happened to be our ice cream stop.
All in all, I felt like the trip was a great experience and an amazing opportunity to learn about the wonderful topic of astronomy. I know that I was lucky and privileged to get chosen and I shall always remember it.
It was a very long, but entertaining drive on our way to Sutherland. When we finally arrived we made our way to the observatory situated a short distance from where we were staying. Upon arrival at the observatory, we sat down in a room and were shown a very informative video on Astronomy. One of the main focuses of the video was the Hubble Space Telescope, which has made groundbreaking discoveries for NASA and the world of astronomy.
The video also informed us on black holes, supernovas, galaxies as well as dark matter. The video provided us with an in depth look at outer space and I found it to be very interesting. After that, we went outside and even though it was a somewhat cloudy night, we looked through a few telescopes. In one of them, you could see quite a close up view of the moon.
The next day, we went back to the observatory and got a tour of it. Our tour guide was very good at his job and managed to explain all that was needed in his limited time. He even managed to answer a few of our questions. In the observatory, we saw miniature models of the big telescopes and there were many displays on the different things that the universe is made of.
After the tour, we went to the actual big telescopes. There were many different buildings, and some of them didn’t even belong to South Africa. The guide explained to us why Sutherland was a great place for telescopes because there was minimal pollution (no factories are near Sutherland) thus allowing more of the sky to be exposed (compared to the city).
We then went into the buildings where the guide explained how the telescopes worked. One telescope was orange and was made in the 1930’s and was originally from England. The other was the SALT telescope which consists of 91 mirrors that cost R1 million rand each and they always have three spares. We even got to see where the astronomers work.
On the way to Sutherland, we stopped by this old little town called Matjiesfontein. It looked very much like old South Africa and had furniture, ornaments and buildings that looked like they were from the late 19th century or 20th century. It sort of reminded me of England and there was even a cliché red double-decker bus. There were a few unusual signs that said “Do Not Spit On The Ground” which I found quite strange. There was also an old train station and there were buildings that housed ornaments, tools and devices from that period of time. There was even an old fuel Shell petrol station. I found the town to be quite cute and quaint. This also happened to be our ice cream stop.
All in all, I felt like the trip was a great experience and an amazing opportunity to learn about the wonderful topic of astronomy. I know that I was lucky and privileged to get chosen and I shall always remember it.
South African Astronomical Observatory by Ben Mark Turner
Our venture to Sutherland, 1,550 metres above sea level, to the observatory was an incredible experience for us all. The experience for us 'British folk' was enriched greatly as a consequence to the fact that it would be the first time that the 'Cape Academy' learners would be visiting Sutherland too and thus, we could share this wonderful excursion, for the first time, as a whole party.
Despite the slight exhaustion of the elongated, six-hour journey to the observatory, we disembarked the minibuses with a strong sense of motivation in the air. Remarkably, it would seem that we had brought our lovely, British weather with us as not far from Worcester, it rained! To us, this was home from home, on the contrary it was quite humorous to see the reactions from the Cape Academy learners to it actually raining in an area that only gets rain for two weeks a year, collaboratively.
Upon arrival in Sutherland it was decided we would go to the place of our accommodation for the night to relieve us of our baggage before venturing on for a sensational, sweet curry. Proceeding this, we departed for the observatory for our night sky explorations. Although we were completely enthralled by the DVD on 'Telescopes and the Wonders of the Cosmos' it resulted in being rather superfluous as it was the entirety of my GCSE syllabus. On the contrary, this could be viewed as excellent revision!
It was much to our disappointment that there was too much cloud cover for us to make own observations using our own telescopes on the other hand, the observatory staff were unconditionally helpful in providing a supplementary compromise to our situation. The gentleman brought down two, quite large, portable telescopes and positioned them at the back of our accommodation enabling to see our Moon and Jupiter. This was completely fascinating for myself (and I'm sure, many of my colleagues) as I had never seen the Moon in such clarity and purity in the entirety of my life. Additionally, I had never seen Jupiter before besides images in textbooks, the internet etc.
Our tour of the observatory, the following morning, was nothing short of awe-inspiring. For one, the setting/scenery/surroundings were like nothing I have ever witnessed before. The picturesque views of the distant mountains with the twenty telescopes in the close vicinity was almost breath taking. I did make the comment to one of my colleagues about how the photographs, of what we were seeing, did not do the true beauty enough justice.
Following the general suit of what we had already seen, the telescopes themselves were also undisputedly incredible. The intricacy of their design and the history behind each and every one of them, earned our unconditional respect for the designers and astronomers that have been a part of the creation, maintenance and ongoing research teams.
In conclusion, I have always had a keen interest in 'Space' and the 'Cosmos' furthermore, after this visit it has provoked and inspired me to go away and have a much closer look and delve, a lot more, in to what and why it is so in the skies above. Moreover, how we can know so much about something so far away when we know so very little, so close to home on the ground.
Ben Mark Turner
11SLJA
Wirral Grammar School For Boys
Cross Lane, Bebington
Our venture to Sutherland, 1,550 metres above sea level, to the observatory was an incredible experience for us all. The experience for us 'British folk' was enriched greatly as a consequence to the fact that it would be the first time that the 'Cape Academy' learners would be visiting Sutherland too and thus, we could share this wonderful excursion, for the first time, as a whole party.
Despite the slight exhaustion of the elongated, six-hour journey to the observatory, we disembarked the minibuses with a strong sense of motivation in the air. Remarkably, it would seem that we had brought our lovely, British weather with us as not far from Worcester, it rained! To us, this was home from home, on the contrary it was quite humorous to see the reactions from the Cape Academy learners to it actually raining in an area that only gets rain for two weeks a year, collaboratively.
Upon arrival in Sutherland it was decided we would go to the place of our accommodation for the night to relieve us of our baggage before venturing on for a sensational, sweet curry. Proceeding this, we departed for the observatory for our night sky explorations. Although we were completely enthralled by the DVD on 'Telescopes and the Wonders of the Cosmos' it resulted in being rather superfluous as it was the entirety of my GCSE syllabus. On the contrary, this could be viewed as excellent revision!
It was much to our disappointment that there was too much cloud cover for us to make own observations using our own telescopes on the other hand, the observatory staff were unconditionally helpful in providing a supplementary compromise to our situation. The gentleman brought down two, quite large, portable telescopes and positioned them at the back of our accommodation enabling to see our Moon and Jupiter. This was completely fascinating for myself (and I'm sure, many of my colleagues) as I had never seen the Moon in such clarity and purity in the entirety of my life. Additionally, I had never seen Jupiter before besides images in textbooks, the internet etc.
Our tour of the observatory, the following morning, was nothing short of awe-inspiring. For one, the setting/scenery/surroundings were like nothing I have ever witnessed before. The picturesque views of the distant mountains with the twenty telescopes in the close vicinity was almost breath taking. I did make the comment to one of my colleagues about how the photographs, of what we were seeing, did not do the true beauty enough justice.
Following the general suit of what we had already seen, the telescopes themselves were also undisputedly incredible. The intricacy of their design and the history behind each and every one of them, earned our unconditional respect for the designers and astronomers that have been a part of the creation, maintenance and ongoing research teams.
In conclusion, I have always had a keen interest in 'Space' and the 'Cosmos' furthermore, after this visit it has provoked and inspired me to go away and have a much closer look and delve, a lot more, in to what and why it is so in the skies above. Moreover, how we can know so much about something so far away when we know so very little, so close to home on the ground.
Ben Mark Turner
11SLJA
Wirral Grammar School For Boys
Cross Lane, Bebington
