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Pecan Trail Intermediate School Science Night Outreach

By Ginger Wentrcek

The Brazos Valley Astronomy Club participated in the Pecan Trail Intermediate School Science Night on Friday, March 1, 2019. The event started at 6 pm and ended at 8pm. Members set up displays, telescopes, and a slideshow in the gym.

The Telescopes

Warren Bracewell and Tom Campbell set up their telescopes and Warren assisted visitors as they looked through the eyepieces at an eye chart on a distant wall. He explained how a system of mirrors in a telescope work together. Warren also explained the differences between his equatorial mount and telescope and Tom's Dobsonian telescope.

The Big Dipper Display

At the display table, using a 3-D model of the Big Dipper, Ginger pointed out the fact that stars in the sky are not located on the same flat plane. She also showed children how to find the Big Dipper with a homemade Dipper Finder Wheel and illustrated how to tell time by looking at the position of the Big Dipper. The wheels were given to children to construct at home.

Solar System Model and NASA Material

At the same display table, Tom gave children NASA material, a satellite model (which they could construct at home), bookmarks, NASA stickers, and other items. He also made a replica of Hubble Telescope and showed models of the planets and sun and how they compare in size to each other.

The Slideshow

At another station, Jim Lamar presented an excellent slideshow of Messier objects and photos taken by BVAC members. As the slideshow progressed, he discussed nebulas, deep sky objects, and answered questions.

The following members participated in the event:
Jim Lamar, Tom Campbell, Warren Bracewell, and Ginger Wentrcek

Images of children are included with permission of parents.

Warren Bracewell assembled his new German equatorial mount and telescope.

Warren explained the difference between his German equatorial mount and telescope and Tom's Dobsonian telescope.

Ginger Wentrcek showed students a 3-D Big Dipper display to demonstrate that stars are not located on a flat plane.

Ginger gave visitors a Big Dipper Finder and a Find the Time wheel to assemble at home.

Tom Campbell set up his Dobsonian telescope in the telescope area of the BVAC display.

Tom discussed the solar system and provided a Hubble model, NASA stickers, and handouts to visitors.

Jim Lamar set up a slideshow with Messier objects and BVAC members' photos.

Jim presented a slideshow of solar system objects and deep sky objects. This is what astronomy is all about.

A father and son looked through Tom's Dobsonian telescope.