British Science Week Activity Weekend
14th-15th March. To celebrate the end of British Science Week, we are holding an Activity Weekend. There will be lots of extra activities and this year we are focusing on space exploration. No extra cost to normal admission.
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Destination Space – Spaceports and Satellites
We are proud to be part of the Destination Space Phase 2 Programme which is being directed and project managed by The UK Association for Science and Discovery Centres (ASDC) and funded by the UK Space Agency.
ASDC are delighted to be working again with the UK Space Agency to create and deliver an exciting new National Space Education and Engagement Programme, Destination Space 2: Level 2.
This follows on from the success of ASDC's earlier Destination Space Programme, where ASDC created resources, activities and equipment to engage children and adults with the latest space science and Tim Peake's mission to the International Space Station. This national programme will also celebrate the innovation and skills within the wider UK Space Sector in terms of UK space exploration, including UK Spaceports and space launchers, the new James Webb Space Telescope, the ExoMars mission and satellite applications.
This programme has provided some extremely exciting activities which you can get involved with during the axctivity weekend.
There is no set time for the activities; it will be drop-in when you want to between 11am and 3pm.
Activities for Science Week 2020 (subject to change)- Make your own (cardboard!) satellite – this activity encourages children to think about what a satellite might be for. Considerations include payloads, prioritising costs, equipment, powering requirements – and how you might like to colour it with felt tips!
- Satellite floor map. Children can explore a large satellite generated image with magnifying glasses. Can you spot our domes? Can you see why this was chosen as a site for an observatory? What can you see around the science centre?
- EXOMARS mission – experiments to think about how we might discover life on Mars:
- Glow sticks used to demonstrate how chemical reactions are temperature dependent – placed in hot water and then into ice – notice the light change
- Trays of layered soil/sand – some “laced” with acid (citric acid) and some with alkaline (chalk). Children take core soil samples by pressing tubes into the tray and analysing the sample with litmus paper to discover ph. value. These readings can be compared to a chart showing optimum conditions for known micro-organisms – illustrating how a second stage investigation might be planned
- Using infrared lamps to investigate heat shields (James Webb Telescope) and iridescence in plant life – (we need to check the feasibility of this one)
- 3D map of Mars and demonstration of the LEGO Rover (Sunday only). How should it be designed to negotiate the terrain? How can you steer it given the delay?
- FLIR camera – staff led activity to show invisible light energy and heat detection
- Badge making (25th anniversary logos) – just for fun!
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The Observatory Science Centre is part of Science Projects Ltd, a company limited by guarantee registered in England No: 02186073 and a registered charity No: 298542. The registered office is Unit 1 Warren Farm, Steventon, Basingstoke, Hampshire UK, RG25 3BL.