NFSI Region 4 -
Astronomy Session
During the weekend of February 6-7,
1998, Region #4 participants in the Near & Far Sciences
Initiative met at the Staerkel Planetarium on the campus of Parkland
College in Champaign, IL. Among the major topics presented and
discussed were misconceptions in astronomy, the solar system, and the
modern view of the universe. Hosts for the session were Dave Leake,
Director of the Staerkel Planetarium and Dr. James Kaler, Professor
of Astronomy at the University of Illinois. Other presenters were
Bill Horton and Nancy Garman representing Ad Astra and Tim McCollum
representing the NASA K-12 Internet Initiative - Passport to
Knowledge.
Left - Bill Horton demonstrates the
use of the solar motion model. Right - Setting the proper day and
time on the Sky Challengers.
Left - Ary is eclipsed by a
Styrofoam sphere. Right - Nancy tells of a young Galileo and the
moons of Jupiter.
Left - Dave uses a Dobsonian telescope to discuss the
advantage of light gathering vs. magnification. Right - Observing
sunspots.
Left - Dr. Kaler takes us on a journey to the edge of time
and space. Right - Charleston teachers Karen Maris and Nancy Garman
( Jefferson Elementary School ) and Tim McCollum ( Charleston Middle
School )
