Shell Astro Challenge @ Elias Park Primary on 29th May 2009

[Lee]

I'm helping my daughter school (Elias Park Primary School in Pasiri Ris) to organise the above Astro-Challenge which is open to all schools in Singapore. I understand some of you may know about it and will be participating as well.

Basically the 'challenge' calls for :-

Participating schools are to use their own creative means to gather as many people as possible to view the night-sky through telescopes set up on their own campus and to set up information booths that provide people with materials to understand the basics of Astronomy during the night-sky viewing event.

On Fri 29 May 2009, for the duration of 3 hours, between 2000 – 2300 hours, the number of viewers at each school will be officially registered by Shell Astro Challenge officials stationed at each school. There are two categories of prizes awarded for the Shell Astro Challenge:

Category 1: The highest number of viewers per school;
Category 2: The highest number of viewers per telescope.

I'm requesting for volunteers with spare time during that day and don't mind providing assistance which may indirectly be beneficial only to the school, their students & parents. We are catering to about 500 viewers (primary students / parents/ general public) during the 3 hours showdown.

Several observation stations (hope to have up to 10 ) with at least 3" scope preferably with tracking capability to observe the 6th Day Moon & Saturn with some simple explanation are required.

I will need :-

- Volunteers with the complete scope setup to man their own station from 6-12pm
- Volunteers to man any available station from 6-12pm.
- Loan of any trackable astro mount for 3-6" scope

Those who can help please contact me at HP: 96192273 or email me at leewk@tps.sg or PM. I need to gather all details by this Sunday for submission to the school on Monday.
Thank you.
Wee Kiong

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Excerpt from the organiser :

In 2009, Shell Singapore Youth Science Festival Committee is organising an exciting new activity called “Shell Astro Challenge” to complement the 2009 International Year of Astronomy.

The following are the objectives of Shell Astro Challenge:

to give people the opportunity to gain a basic understanding of Astronomy through sky-observing experiences and educational materials; and
to provide an avenue to connect amateur astronomers, educators and professionals through these activities.

To fulfil its objectives, Shell Astro Challenge seeks the collaboration of schools, astronomy clubs, teachers and students to embark on a nationwide socio-educational event that aims to reach to as many people, new to Astronomy, as possible.

* Schools participate in the event because they want to encourage students to be interested in astronomy and schools are more concerned about the educational spin-off of the event. The prize is not the main concern and schools are keen to see more prizes rather than limited high value prizes.

First prize of $ 300 + trophy
Second prize of $200; and
Third prize of $100.

All participating schools will be given a “Galileoscope” as a token.

[Lee]

The school has tentatively made out a program for the night.

1. Astronomy Exhibition at the canteen
2. Astro Quiz for parent and child teams in the hall
3. Astro Cheers Finals
4. Colouring contest for the young ones
5. Viewing of the night sky at the carpark area

I'm looking for ideas for item '1' - Astro Exhibition; mainly for the kids and parents. This will be in the school canteen. Probably will setup a Astro Tent with dummy Astro Gears around the vincinity plus a Astrophoto Exhibition area.

Hence i'm requesting from you guys contribution of any types of Astro Related Photos (Astro Scenery, Planets, Moon, M objects):-

Requirement :-
Types : Basic Amateur AstroPhoto is sufficient;
Size : Jpeg / PDF in reasonable quality for 8/10 R blowup. (less than 2mb for ease of transfer) Please include your name & photo details.

Please contact me via PM, email (leewk@tps.sg / leewk@starhub.net.sg) or HP: 96192273 if you can offer the above assistance.

BTW, I'm still looking for volunteer with a 5-8" tracking scope on that night to mend the scope station.

Thank you !

[Lee]

A big thank you to those who is helping out on the above event.

I will be also setting up a booth selling very low cost Astro-related stuff to the kids & maybe their parent. If any of you have appropriate Astro-related stuff which you think the visitors may have an interest and want to get rid off at low cost please contact me with detail of items and selling price. You will have to deliver/collect back the stuff to my place in Pasir Ris.

Thank you.

[Lee]

I'm still looking for volunteers who can loan & take charge of the 'Moon' observation booths. Scope should preferably be trackable, 5-8" diameter @ 150x power viewing. Please contact me.

BTW, those staying nearby in the Tampines/Pasir Ris areas you are most welcome to attend the event.

Attached our draft program for the night.
Please also note that event may be cancel if Flu Alert then changes to 'Orange' from the current 'Yellow'.

Thank you.

http://www.singastro.org/album_showpage.php?pic_id=1111