Brown, D

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X Astronomy Education and OutreachTime: Friday 7th April, 11.00Location: Bennett 3Chair: Paul RocheX.1 Introduction: astronomy and space science education in the UKDr Paul Roche (CardiffUniversity/Faulkes Telescope Project) - Oral presentationX.2 Bringing Space Into School ScienceProf Martin Barstow (University of Leicester) - Oral presentationThe title of this talk is that of a report commissioned by the BNSC partnership as part of aNational Space Education Initiative and which was prepared by the speaker under contractto BNSC. The talk will discuss the context for the study, outline the various consultationsundertaken, discuss the key findings and present the final recommendations for furtheraction.X.3 The Barstow Report: a PPARC ViewMr Andrew Morrison (PPARC) - Oral presentationX.4 Motivate Videoconferencing, widening participationDr Lisa Jardine-Wright (Cavendish Laboratory & National Maritime Museum) - Oral pre-sentationJ. Gage 1, A. Cullum-Hanshaw2, ((1 & 2) Centre for Mathematical Sciences, University of Cambridge)Cambridge Motivate Videoconferencing project connects schools and children all over theworld with practising scientist and mathematicians who work in a wide range of fields. I willdescribe the opportunities on offer from this project and its aims and methodology whilstshowcasing some of the work and achievements of the schools involved.X.5 The Armagh Observatory Human OrreryProf Mark Bailey (Armagh Observatory) - Oral presentationThe Armagh Human Orrery is a dynamic model of the solar system in which people play therole of the moving planets. The users’ interactions with the model lead to greater awarenessof their place in space and understanding of our planet’s changing position with time. It isan innovative concept, the first in the world to show with precision the elliptical orbits andchanging positions of the main bodies in the solar system. It is simple to use, and drawspeople into mathematics and science in a fun and entertaining way, introducing key con-cepts in astronomy and space science. For more information, see http://star.arm.ac.uk/orrery/.1X.6 Horizon Astronomy in the Ruhr AreaMr Daniel Brown (Astrophysics Research Institute JMU) - Poster presentationD. Brown (Astrophysics Research Institute JMU)Mankind has always been aware and showed great interest in the paths of sun, moon and thestars, trying to understand and predict them. For several thousand years he has been usingthe horizon as an instrument for these astronomical observations. One of the most prominentstructures used for horizon astronomy are stone, wood and earth circles, e.g. Stone Henge.Due to increasing housing development and light pollution we have forgotten many of thesebasic astronomical facts, peaking in the common statement, that the sun always rises in theeast and sets in the west.This has inspired us, the private initiative ’Inita Horae’, to establish an AstronomicalTheme Park including a one hundred meter diameter Horizon Observatory on top of oneof the highest slag heaps in the Ruhr Area, Germany. Its aim is to revive ancient observingtechniques, naked eye observations and convey basic astronomical knowledge to the broaderpublic.Here we present the project and its different attractions, including a giant sun dial con-sisting of an eight meter high stainless steel obelisk, that has been already completed. Thesundial will serve as an example of how this project can increase the awareness of astronomyin every day life as well as its use in public education.2

Horizon astronomy in the Ruhr area

http://www.nam2006.le.ac.uk/abstracts/abstracts_X.pdf

Horizon astronomy in the Ruhr area

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