ASTROfest 2019 was an event filled to the brim with the exact kind of enthusiastic atmosphere required at a viewing of the rare complete solar eclipse in Singapore, on December 26th,2019. Therefore, it was only fitting that NPSi’s Physics Society fit themselves into the learned crowd.
There was a true mix of backgrounds and ages to be seen at the event, from 6-year-olds holding their mothers’ hands, gingerly making their way through the booths at Hong Lim Green, to 11-year-olds who exhibited enough knowledge to challenge the questions on our original board game, the Kardashev Klash.
The board game is based on the Kardashev scale of measuring a civilization’s advancement based on its energy intake. One must make it through all the three stages - Type I, Type II and Type III civilizations - before the other team, in order to emerge the victor. The physical game itself took the shape of two rugs with the stages and the different home planets pasted on them.
Most of our participants were kids in their primary or early secondary years, and yet we were amazed by the amount of knowledge they exhibited. Those who did not have prior knowledge of the questions asked still did not hesitate to join the game and eagerly bombarded us with inquiries. We were more than happy to answer them all, and we learned some new pieces of information along the way too.
The highlight of the day was easily the solar eclipse itself, the cloudy day having no dampening effect on the enthusiasm contained in the event’s visitors. Having never viewed an eclipse before, using the professional solar glasses was a surreal experience for us all. As it reached its zenith, hundreds of people poured into Hong Lim Green, anticipating the corona - or ring of fire. The exact moment of the total solar eclipse elicited ‘ooh’s and ‘aah’s from the spectating crowd. I am sure none of the viewers left disappointed.
Astrofest 2019 definitely helped the Physics Society broaden its views and increase the scope of its learning.
Hope to see you all there next year!
~Upasana Rajesh