The Astro School in Makarska introduced children to space, Jupiter, and the Artemis II mission.
Every year, for the 19th time in a row — in fact, long before the Makarska Observatory was even built — members of the DAUP Orion association have organized lectures and workshops for children from Makarska on various astronomical topics and everything related to space during the winter school holidays. This year as well, the Astro School was completely free for our youngest participants, thanks to the support of the City of Makarska and the Community of Technical Culture of Split-Dalmatia County.
The children showed exceptional curiosity during Luciana’s lecture on “Nebulae in Space” — places where stars are still being born today, often accompanied by planets as well. Our Sun is the star on which we ourselves, and life as such, depend the most. Most of the questions were about how long our Sun will continue to exist and whether it will turn into a black hole. Those fears were quickly put to rest — we are safe for another five billion years, and even when the Sun reaches the end of its fuel, it still will not turn into a black hole.
How do people travel through space, and what is the energy source of the future?
Our youngest member, Kristian, gave a short but impressive presentation on the basic parts of a rocket and the operating principle of electric propulsion.
Artemis II
Kristian also captured the children’s attention, which opened the main topic of this year’s Astro School: humanity’s return to the Moon — the Artemis II mission, scheduled to take place in less than a month, which was presented to the children by the head of the Makarska Observatory, Prof. Gloryan Grabner.
After that, he took them on a journey through space using the main telescope at the Makarska Observatory.
“We are truly happy that for our Astro School session, which is always held on the last weekend of the winter school holidays, we were blessed with a beautiful clear evening — and on top of that, with the largest planet, Jupiter, in a perfect position, the so-called opposition, when the Earth is located between the Sun and Jupiter, which happens once every 13 months.”
During the observation, the children also learned that Jupiter is the first protector of our planet Earth, because its gravity attracts most of what falls toward the Sun and could potentially threaten Earth, along with many other fascinating facts about our largest planet.
We thank the city of Makarska, our Mayor, dr. Zoran Paunović and Community of Technical Culture of Split-Dalmatia County, who made it possible for this School to be completely free for our children again this year.