Stargazing adventure leaves learners wide-eyed

Some of the mysteries surrounding the universe were explained to Mitchell House learners during a stargazing adventure that was hosted at the school last Thursday evening.
Amateur astronomer from Middelburg in Mpumalanga, Ernst Marais assembled his mobile inflatable planetarium in the school’s theatre and soon had the attention of his audience captured as he took them through his 45 minutes’ presentation on the science of Astronomy, the solar system and the life of a star. Day/night/year cycles, moon phases and from where seasons originate were explained in an interactive way and learners asked questions about stars, constellations and the solar system.
Marais said that the aim of his presentations is to spark interest in the science of Astronomy and to expand learners’ ideas of space and the universe. “I travel the whole country and on some days visit more than one school,” Marais said.

Story and photos: BARRY VILJOEN
>>barryv.observer@gmail.com