Ghana Planetarium Science Project

SCHOOL VISITS

When you book a school visit you are likely to see one or more of the following full-dome shows:-

Moon Dreams (approximately twenty minutes) Suitable for most age groups and mixed age groups
Biodiversity (approximately ten minutes) Suitable for most age groups and mixed age groups

You may also be shown some short programmes, such as:-

The Known Universe
Hubble
Fantastic Space
Colours

Other programmes include the following:-
Secrets of the Sun, Two small pieces of glass, We are Astronomers, Journey to the Stars, Oasis in Space, Astronaut, Ibex.

If your school group consists of more than 80 children the group will be divided, one group seeing a planetarium show while the other group participates in educational activities in the summer hut, where the children can learn more about Astronomy, including The Solar System, Planets and their Moons, Our Galaxy The Milky Way, Light Years, Powers of Ten, The Electromagnetic Spectrum, and other topics. Each group will have both a planetarium show and a session in the summer hut.

TEACHERS

The Planetarium provides an inspirational educational tool and we would like all teachers to benefit from this. We plan to develop specialist astronomy courses for teachers. We have already run Teachers' Workshops and there will be more! Meanwhile all teachers can fill in some of the gaps in their knowledge by visiting the planetarium. We have CDs and educational posters that you can take back to your school. Please contact us if you are a teacher who would like to know more about the natural world, astronomy and space.

Exciting projects for planetarium teachers are coming from NASA and other organisations.

Please contact us if you are a science communicator who would like to learn more about becoming a planetarium presenter.

Jay Heinz of Morehead Planetarium provides
A DEFINITION OF WHAT A FULL-DOME PLANETARIUM SHOW IS

Fulldome videos are primarily science documentaries that are projected onto a domed surface, typically in a planetarium. Many fulldome videos deal with astronomy, but other subjects are appropriate for the dome, especially topics or environments that are difficult to experience as a human being, such as deep underwater, inside the human body or in the future. We like to think of a flat screen video as a window into another world but with a fulldome video you can poke your head up inside that world and become immersed within it. Think of a 3D animated movie crossed with IMAX and put it in a planetarium.

UNIVIEW

The Uniview software created by SCISS uses a map of the known universe created by the Amercian Museum of Natural History. With Uniview it is possible to create a journey through space to the outer planets of our solar system and beyond, and then to travel back to any chosen location on Earth.

TAKING A JOURNEY THROUGH SPACE TOGETHER

Using the Uniview and Octopus programmes, by pre-arrangement with other planetariums, we can make this a shared journey. We travel to the same places at the same time with participants from around the world, one planetarian taking the 'driver's seat' at a time. This is known as a Domecast.

SATURDAY EVENTS

Dates are announced by email for those on the mailing list

Booking is not required for Saturday events but to be on the mailing list you should send an email to
Sarahatmasters@gmail.com

Saturday activities may include some or all of the following:-

A talk on an Astronomy topic suitable for adults or mixed-age groups
A planetarium show
Viewing of the night sky with telescopes if the sky is clear
Astronomy-related craft activities for younger children

PREVIOUS GLOBAL PROJECTS GHANA PLANETARIUM HAS PARTICIPATED IN

The Ghana Planetarium/Astronomy club has participated in the following global projects, by organizing our own events:-

Galilean Nights (IYA2009)
Global Astronomy Month
International Observe the Moon Night
Sun-Earth Day
World Space Week / Yuri’s Night
Voyager Campaign
Globe at Night
Great Worldwide Star Count
Transit of Venus
Mars Curiosity landing

We have also held themed events such as “Life in the Universe”, “Celebrating Hubble”, “Explore the Solar System”, “our Star, the Sun” etc.
Recent events: 22 Sept - "International Observe the Moon Night", 13 Oct - "World Space Week", 19 Oct - A group of sixteen Lightyear Foundation Volunteers from abroad ran an "Exploding Science" event at Ghana Planetarium. Their visit to Ghana included a two-week tour visiting schools in and around Accra and Kumasi with Hands-On Science activities and demonstrations.

Possible future public events Nov - Dec 2012:

• Nov - African Astronomy and The Square Kilometre Array (SKA),
• Dec - end of year fun day/global star party.

2013 - Workshops for Teachers, University Students and School Children are planned.

YOU CAN BOOK THE PLANETARIUM FOR A CHILDREN'S BIRTHDAY PARTY OR A COMPANY TRAINING SESSION !