FOURTH SECRET CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD: Every living being on this planet is usually completely unaware of the massive and powerful entity that they are part of. We live on the planet, Earth, which is part of the Solar System, which is present in our very own galaxy- The Milky Way. Now, this minuscule galaxy of ours is just one of the billions which are floating around in the sea of such galaxies, stars, and planets. This expanse, which contains everything in existence, is our Universe, our cosmos.
Our club worked hard to put together another event for interested students with the prevailing theme of the solar system being the portal to the entire universe. Through our event, we were able to spread awareness about how our universe works with a flurry of engaging activities, such as an informative quiz, a presentation called ‘into the unknown’, and a self-made board game called Kardashev Klash. We also conducted a movie screening and an exploration of the enchanting night sky.
Ushering in the evening an Oscar-winning movie was screened: Wall-E. This inspirational story of an intergalactic robot shed a few tears in the audience and helped them gain a better perspective of the future of mankind in an age of unwarranted technological innovation. In addition to that, during our presentation, our members spoke about life in the Solar System and debunked its historic models, thus allowing students to dive right into the unknown depths of the solar system and understand the challenges of an astronomer in the middle ages.
To bring a fun and exciting twist to our event, we designed a Kahoot quiz to test each student’s basic knowledge of astrophysics. The activity encourages students to be quick on their feet, consequently bringing about some friendly competition. Another activity that invigorated the participants was the board game, Kardashev Klash, which involves 2 competing civilizations striving to become the master of their galaxy, by evolving from a Type 1 civilization to a Type 3. Not only did this game make the excitement in the atmosphere more palpable, but it also helped students absorb knowledge about matter and galaxies in the universe.
Now, coming to the main attraction of the event: the Skywalkthrough. The students, guided by an experienced member, looked at the night sky and were able to identify the winter hexagon and triangle. Interestingly, each group that arrived to witness the beautiful night sky, was named after the 6 stars of the winter hexagon. These groups also got the opportunity to use the telescope to view Venus. Additionally, the groups were able to spot crucial constellations like Orion, Cannis Major, and Minor, Auriga, Gemini, Taurus, and Perseus. Everyone was lost in the beauty of the night sky and were eager to learn more about what lies behind that somber, navy blanket. People downloaded phone applications and explored the night sky on their own.
Needless to say, this event was a success that left our entire team with a great deal of satisfaction and motivation. This time, we hoped that all our participants gained perspective on potential life in our Solar System and on how to stay connected to our universe.
Never forget, we are all part of the unimaginably big cosmic realm. Each one of us is just one tiny being in the unending sea of space, and it definitely seems like a herculean task to try and make sense of the mysteries of the universe. However, we will try to make some sense out of it anyway!
~ Kuhu and Tarunyaa
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