Gazing up Into the Night Sky; Igniting the Scientific Curiosity of Young Minds
Looking up into the night sky has inspired centuries of scientific innovation and brilliance, the allure and intrigue of the cosmos have continued to fascinate both the young and old for millennia.
Ever since mankind perfected the art of using telescopes to get a closer view into our skies, the capability of using a telescope to get a closer glimpse of our solar system and the distant skies has always been an awe inspiring and humbling experience.
On the 3rd of May 2024, students from the D.S. Senanayake College in Ampara were able to share the wonder of the cosmos and awe at its sheer brilliance together with members of the Astronomical Society of University of Colombo.
In the early hours of May 3rd, excited members of the Astronomical Society gathered at the University of Colombo, where they enthusiastically loaded up telescopes and other equipment and settled in for the long journey from Colombo to Ampara. Amidst the scenic route that went through the gorgeous green paddy fields and the striking hill country, the team, led by President of the Astronomical Society Primesh Kannangara, together with his committee and accompanied by senior lecturer Dr. Janaka Adassuriya as well as assistant lecturer Ms. Limini Fonseka, prepared for the event, discussing plans and reminiscing over past night camps.
Upon arrival at the school, members were given a wonderful welcome as well as a commemorative mug of appreciation from the enthusiastic young students. Thereafter, the much-awaited program began.
Students were able to learn about a diverse variety of astronomical topics, ranging from Ufology to Cosmology to the different types of telescopes, as well as participate in a question and answer session where many unique and thought provoking questions were put forth by both the younger students as well as those with a more advanced understanding of astronomy.
In between the enthralling lectures, students got the opportunity to use telescopes to observe the planets as well as distant globular clusters; it was truly a memorable experience for many, with children as young as six getting lifted up by their parents to peer into the eyepiece of telescopes and getting the rare chance to witness the stars up close.
Many also got the opportunity to witness the Jewel Box star cluster as well as the Butterfly cluster, and the glimmer of awe in young students’ eyes after they witnessed these truly exemplified the importance of such night camps.
With the rising of the moon, students were also able to partake in a fascinating moon mapping session, and observe the intricacies of the moon’s surface, including its craters, after which they were also able to witness the planet Saturn up close and marvel at its rings.
Thereafter, with the break of dawn, the participants were able to take part in a water rocket session, which spurred the interest of many. After the successful completion of the night camp, it was abundantly clear that a spark of fire had been lit in the minds of many curious minds and that this experience would be transformative to those who’ve always wondered about the cosmos and the skies above us. It was a beautiful reminder that humanity is united under the same sky and that scientific curiosity is boundless.
