Spring Break
Adults, children aim for stars at astronomy event
Kevin Rand
Issue date: 4/26/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Grown ups felt like kids, and the kids learned a little bit more about the solar system as telescopic views of planet Saturn and the Earth's moon highlighted a "star party" on Tuesday night in the area facing campus in front of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library.
"I saw a round circle, and I saw a ball in it," said wide-eyed 10-year-old David Castillo, referring to Saturn, a planet most known for its set of rings.
Castillo and a mix of about 50 others of nearly all ages waited in lines for five different telescopes set up by the San Jose Astronomical Association, a group of amateur astronomers that volunteers its services to elementary schools about 60 times a year.
"This is what we call urban astronomy," kidded Mike Koop, a board member of the association. "The skies ain't the best, but people are here."
Through a six-foot telescope that is about one foot in diameter with a 50-power lens, which magnifies an object to 50 times its size, Saturn looked light yellow and was less than the size of a dime.
Even without the detail illustrated through magazines and books, views of the planet amazed anyone who crouched down to peer through a telescope's view hole.
Diana Sosa, a 10-year-old fifth grader from an elementary school in San Jose, said of Saturn, "It's beautiful. It even has my favorite color - yellow."
Jim Van Nuland, the star party coordinator, said it is a privilege every time he shows Saturn to someone for the first time.
Sosa, who also viewed the moon through a telescope, said she was surprised when she saw its hard, cratered surface.
"I thought it was going to be like soft and pasty," she said.
The detail of the craters and the line on the moon's surface were crystal clear, said some.
Hari Charora, the 34-year-old parent of an accompanying two-year-old, said it was the first time he had ever seen the moon or Saturn through a telescope. He was glad he got to enjoy the event with his daughter, Riya.
"She understood the moon," he said. "She knows what it is. But Saturn, she does not know what it is."
Riya said he was thankful that the volunteers came to San Jose State University.
The San Jose Astronomical Association is a non-profit, volunteer-run organization.
The coordinator, Van Nuland, said that the association does not advertise. They are well known throughout local Parent Teacher Associations and their popularity spreads through word of mouth.
Board member Koop said that stargazing is a child-like activity.
He looked at the crowd of people outside and said everybody there was a kid.
Diana Sosa, the 10-year-old, said she has been reading books about outer space and she looks forward to space travel when she's an adult.
"I probably want to be an astronaut," she said, "because you can go to the moon and go to other planets."
"I saw a round circle, and I saw a ball in it," said wide-eyed 10-year-old David Castillo, referring to Saturn, a planet most known for its set of rings.
Castillo and a mix of about 50 others of nearly all ages waited in lines for five different telescopes set up by the San Jose Astronomical Association, a group of amateur astronomers that volunteers its services to elementary schools about 60 times a year.
"This is what we call urban astronomy," kidded Mike Koop, a board member of the association. "The skies ain't the best, but people are here."
Through a six-foot telescope that is about one foot in diameter with a 50-power lens, which magnifies an object to 50 times its size, Saturn looked light yellow and was less than the size of a dime.
Even without the detail illustrated through magazines and books, views of the planet amazed anyone who crouched down to peer through a telescope's view hole.
Diana Sosa, a 10-year-old fifth grader from an elementary school in San Jose, said of Saturn, "It's beautiful. It even has my favorite color - yellow."
Jim Van Nuland, the star party coordinator, said it is a privilege every time he shows Saturn to someone for the first time.
Sosa, who also viewed the moon through a telescope, said she was surprised when she saw its hard, cratered surface.
"I thought it was going to be like soft and pasty," she said.
The detail of the craters and the line on the moon's surface were crystal clear, said some.
Hari Charora, the 34-year-old parent of an accompanying two-year-old, said it was the first time he had ever seen the moon or Saturn through a telescope. He was glad he got to enjoy the event with his daughter, Riya.
"She understood the moon," he said. "She knows what it is. But Saturn, she does not know what it is."
Riya said he was thankful that the volunteers came to San Jose State University.
The San Jose Astronomical Association is a non-profit, volunteer-run organization.
The coordinator, Van Nuland, said that the association does not advertise. They are well known throughout local Parent Teacher Associations and their popularity spreads through word of mouth.
Board member Koop said that stargazing is a child-like activity.
He looked at the crowd of people outside and said everybody there was a kid.
Diana Sosa, the 10-year-old, said she has been reading books about outer space and she looks forward to space travel when she's an adult.
"I probably want to be an astronaut," she said, "because you can go to the moon and go to other planets."
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Hari Kishan Charora
posted 4/26/07 @ 12:11 PM PST
"moon gazing operation" with the San Jose Astronomical Association was awesome. I saw saturn there again and again through telescope. My daughter recognizes Moon but she has learnt "Saturn" from there. (Continued…)
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