December 23, 2019
This holiday season, how about encouraging children to explore the universe and taking them to a planetarium?
In big cities, the habit of looking up at the sky to see the stars is not common. Due to the high levels of light and urban pollution, the stars are less visible. In addition, tall buildings also make it difficult to look up. However, this simple habit can be a gateway for children to enter a world of knowledge.
Why teach astronomy to children?
Stargazing, or “naked-eye astronomy,” is the simplest way to begin learning about celestial bodies. This activity sparks children’s curiosity , opening up a series of questions about planet Earth and the universe. By stimulating this curiosity and cultivating the habit of astronomy, children gain an interest in learning science from an early age.
We say “habit” because it is a recurring activity that involves noticing the different phases of the moon, learning to identify constellations and even celebrating special occasions, such as the passage of a comet, an eclipse or a meteor shower. Over the weeks and months, children learn about the rotation of the Earth, the moon, the sun and the solar system, and how day and night work. They also learn to ask many new questions about how and why things happen. After all, starting with the stars, the conversation easily turns to talk about gravity, evolution, the work of astronauts , and speculating about what life would be like on other planets. The sky is, literally, the limit.
Astronomy can be a tool to cultivate children's natural curiosity and encourage them to ask questions and seek answers on their own, combining observation with research on the internet, in books and with teachers. And, nowadays, setting aside time to simply observe a sky that seems to be still also cultivates patience, a useful quality in the lives of children. Furthermore, there is nothing like thinking about the questions of the universe to gain perspective on our planet, which seems enormous to us but is small when we look at the universe as a whole. Learning perspective can help to broaden children's thinking, enriching their points of view.
Taking advantage of the start of the holiday period, how about going with the children to the local planetarium to start a new habit?
Planetariums and observatories in Brazil:
Acre
Mobile Planetarium, Educational Innovation Reference Center (Crie), Rio Branco
Alagoas
Genival Leite Lima Observatory
Ave. Fernandes Lima, s/nº, Maceió
Amapá
Maywaka Mobile Planetarium
Sacaca Museum — 1509 Feliciano Coelho Ave, Macapá
Amazonas
Manaus Digital Planetarium – NEPA/UEA
Djalma Batista Ave, 3578, Flores
Bahia
Antares Observatory
UEFS — 925 Barra Street, Feira de Santana
Ceara
Rubens de Azevedo Planetarium
Dragon of the Sea Center — R. Dragon of the Sea, 81, Fortaleza
Federal District
UnB Observatory
Clean Water Farm, Vargem Bonita, Block 17, Brasilia
Holy Spirit
Vitoria Planetarium
Fernando Ferrari Avenue, 514 – Goiabeiras, Vitoria
Goias
UFG Planetarium
UFG — Contour Avenue, 900, Goiânia
Maranhao
Secti Mobile Planetarium
Itinerant
Information: planetario@secti.ma.gov.br
Mato Grosso do Sul
Carl Sagan Astronomy Club
UFMS Science House — University City, Campo Grande
Fridays, 7pm. Info: cacarlsagan@gmail.com
Minas Gerais
Planetarium of the Knowledge Space UFMG, Belo Horizonte
Freedom Square, 700 – Employees
To
Pará Science Center and Planetarium
UEPA — Augusto Montenegro Avenue, Km 3, Belem
Paraíba
FUNESC Planetarium
R. Abdias Gomes de Almeida, 800, João Pessoa
Paraná
Prof. Leonel Moro Observatory
Rural neighborhood of Juruquí, Campo Magro
Pernambuco
Alto da Catedral Observatory
Rua Bispo Coutinho, s/nº, Olinda
Piauí
UFPI Planetarium, Teresina
Minister Petrônio Portella University Campus, Ininga Neighborhood
Rio de Janeiro
Valongo Observatory
UFRJ — Pedro Antonio Hill, 43, Rio de Janeiro
Gávea Planetarium
R. Vice-Governor Rubens Berardo, 100, Rio de Janeiro
Rio Grande do Norte
Parnamirim Planetarium
Aluizio Alves Park — Castor Vieira Régis Avenue, s/nº, Parnamirim
Rio Grande do Sul
UFRGS Observatory
Ave. Osvaldo Aranha, s/nº, Porto Alegre
Roraima
UFRR Mobile Planetarium
Itinerant
Information: posfisica@ufrr.br
Santa Catarina
UFSC Observatory
Campus Rector João David Ferreira Lima, s/nº, Florianópolis
Sergipe
CCTECA Planetarium
Because. da Sementeira — Av. Oviêdo Teixeira, 51, Aracaju
São Paulo
Prof. Aristotle Orsini Planetarium
Ibirapuera Park, Sao Paulo
Jean Nicolini Municipal Observatory
Capricorn Street, s/nº, Campinas