Our Year 5/6 students are currently exploring space so we inviting Michael Toms from the Warrnambool Astronomy Nights group to Timboon to talk about our moon, moons in our solar system and their discovery. Michael explained that as the moon is constantly orbiting earth in an elliptical orbit we only see the near side of the moon due to tidal lock. He described the four phases of the moon: the new moon, first quarter, full moon and last quarter and that early Chinese astronomers created the Draconic month believing a mythical dragon ate the sun or moon during an eclipse. Michael used models and students to enlighten us about a lunar eclipse where the moon passes into the shadow of the earth cast by the sun and a solar eclipse is when the moon passes between the earth and the sun and stops all or some of the sun’s light reaching the earth. He clarified how the timing of Easter varies each year according to the full moon, that lunar eclipses are coppery red as light filters through the atmosphere with other colours absorbed and that a blue moon was a full moon occurring twice in one month. Michael described the development of observation equipment including the Newtonian and refractory telescopes and gifted a refractory telescope to a student who asked great questions, congratulations Lachie Doolan! Students were encouraged to look for the solar eclipse that will happen on the 8th of April, 14 days after a full moon and Michael invited to students to bring their families to participate in Astronomy Nights public viewing events around our region. Comments are closed.
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March 2024
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