The IAC brings astronomy closer to the young public at the Canary Islands Mini Fairs 2024

Poster of the IAC action at the Mini Science Fairs 2024.

Poster of the IAC activity at the Tenerife session of the Miniferias de la Ciencia 2024.

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05/08/2024 - 13:13

The Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) is once again taking part in the Miniferias de la Ciencia y la Innovación en Canarias, an outreach event that aims to bring science and technology closer to students and the general public on the islands. The IAC, through its Scientific Communication and Culture Unit (UC3), will be present at the activities organised in Tenerife and La Palma.

Specifically, this Thursday 9 May, students enrolled in the activity "Investigate the Universe with robotic telescopes" will have the opportunity to carry out an astronomical observation through the Educational Project with Robotic Telescopes (PETeR). This project seeks to promote the interest of Primary and Secondary Education students in STEM areas through their participation in real scientific experiences using professional telescopes installed in the Canary Islands Observatories and in other observatories around the world.

In this activity, participants will learn from astrophysicists and outreach workers Nayra Rodríguez and Alejandra Goded what robotic telescopes are, how they work and how they can be used to obtain images of astronomical objects. They will also learn how to select objects that are visible in the sky at a given time, which will allow them to programme observations for future astronomical research projects.

This action is part of the Mini Science Fair programme and will take place from 09:00 to 14:00 hours, in the Multipurpose Hall of the IACTEC building located in the Parque de Las Mantecas, in La Laguna.

In addition, the IAC will be present in the Miniferias de la Ciencia programme in La Palma on 16, 17 and 18 May with workshops and observations of the Sun. The astrophysicists and outreach workers from the Scientific Communication and Culture Unit of the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) Alfred Rosenberg, Alejandra Goded and Irene Puerto will help those attending to learn more about how the Cosmos is studied through light, which is the messenger of the Universe.

This time, the event will take place at the Antonio García Sports Complex in Breña Baja from 09:00 to 13:00 and from 16:00 to 19:00 on Thursday 16th and Friday 17th; and from 09:00 to 13:30 on Saturday 18th May.

Participants in the activity will be able to learn about astronomy and astrophysics using telescopes, filters and spectrographs that will allow them to observe the Sun and learn about its main characteristics, as well as discover the flares, spots and protuberances of its chromosphere.

The Miniferias de la Ciencia en Canarias is an initiative promoted by the Regional Ministry of Universities, Science, Innovation and Culture of the Government of the Canary Islands, through the Canary Islands Agency for Research, Innovation and the Information Society (ACIISI).

Related projects

PETeR

The Educational Project with Robotic Telescopes (PETeR) is an online laboratory that aims to engage Spanish students in science and technology and to foster the acquisition of STEM skills through their active participation in real scientific research using robotic telescopes. Through the project's website, the educational community has access to

Nayra

Rodríguez Eugenio

In progress

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