Current Activities
Planet Parade
To introduce the observatory and star party evenings to local schools, we would like to invite local schools to participate in the Planets Parade programme. This is a blend of science, technology and art, and the schools who are interested in taking part are asked to design and create a model of a planet of their choice.
Every year in February, the group hold a public outreach event, called Stars and Snowdrops, at the observatory site in Hanwell Castle. Over the past few years, this event has seen over 1200 visitors in a weekend, a large percentage of them being young people. The planet models will be displayed throughout the grounds of Hanwell Castle over the Stars and Snowdrops weekend, with the names of the schools who made them and young visitors will be given a numbered list of the models and invited to identify the planet which the model represents.
All schools who participate will be invited to a star party evening especially for their school, where up to 20 students may take part. After the Stars and Snowdrops weekend, we hope that the best example of each planet will be sited in a scale distance model of the solar system which will be created in the grounds, perhaps with the assistance of the participating schools, for use by visitors young and old.
The models need to be of a reasonable size that will allow them to be found by visitors, a minimum of about 250mm, or about the size of a football. They should also be weatherproof as they will live outside and potential lifespan will be taken into account when choosing the models retained for the model of the solar system. However, more ephemeral models which will last for a shorter time are also welcomed. The models do not have to be an exact copy of the planet chosen but can also be a representation what that planet brings to mind for the students.
How to take part
If your school would like to take part in this project, please e-mail us and we will be happy to give further information or astronomical assistance if needed.