300 children's horizons widened by Christmas Space Lecture

STARRY-EYED schoolchildren from across Merseyside enjoyed the Liverpool Space Lecture yesterday.

Dexter Doyle and Ellie Aitken, both 9, (pictured in other image) were among 300 primary children who were taken on a whistle stop tour of the Milky Way and beyond by astronomers at Liverpool John Moores University.

Schools from Liverpool, Knowsley, Sefton and Wirral were invited as part of the University’s link with the National Schools' Observatory, which gives thousands of youngsters access to view distant galaxies through the LJMU-operated Liverpool Telescope.

Even adults in the audience learned something new, like why stars twinkle when seen from Earth (apparently it's down to the air molecules in the atmosphere!)

Dr Sally Cooper, from LJMU’s Astrophysics Research Centre, who led the lecture with Professor Andy Newsam, said: “Children love Space and our interactive Christmas lecture introduces them to space science in a fun and informative way whilst sending them flying into the festive period with minds full of wonder and imagination.”

Liverpool Telescope 

Among the schools present was Booker Avenue Primary, Allerton, which is working with LJMU undergraduates to promote educational access to the Liverpool Telescope.

LJMU operates the telescope out of La Palma, in the Canaries, a preferred location for astronomers worldwide.

A second £4m telescope offering enhanced viewing is planned and final year BA Marketing undergraduates Taith Williams and Phoebe Stevenson are working with the National Schools' Observatory to promote both Liverpool Telescopes.

Programme leader Andrew Doyle confirmed the pair will shortly visit the island and target a series of blogs and vlogs to key stakeholders in Merseyside and beyond.

Our thanks to all schools attending:

Booker Primary School, Allerton; St Michael and All Angels Primary, Kirkby; St Lawrence’s RC Primary, Kirkdale; Lawrence County Primary, Wavertree; Ss Peter & Paul RC Primary, Wallasey; Lander Road Primary, Bootle; Florence Melly Community Primary, Anfield; Pleasant Street Primary, Liverpool; St George’s Primary, Wirral