I am pleased to say that the Transit of Venus provided a great opportunity to interest our students in science at my regional high school in Australia. We set up an observatory in the playground and modified one of our telescopes to project the image of the transit onto a screen. We then used a video feed to allow students a better view. Like Brian, we also had double welders glasses and students could clearly see Venus throughout its transit. We had almost 2/3 of students look at Venus as the transit occurred.
The upside.... the majority of our students were exposed to some science that they found interesting. Science staff were able to explain to all the students who came along why this transit is important to science. There was lots of talk about astronomy, physics and research. Also there is a direct link between a past transit of Venus in 1769 and the voyage of Lt James Cook RN that resulted in him mapping the East Coast of Australia. History and science collided. Not to mention some interesting discussion about the less successful attempts by Guillaume Le Gentil to see the same event.
Regards
Peter Craft
Head Teacher Science
Corowa High School
Phone 02 6033 1889
Fax 02 6033 1889
________________________________________
From: phys-l-bounces@phydocmarko.homelinux.org [phys-l-bounces@phydocmarko.homelinux.org] On Behalf Of brian whatcott [betwys1@sbcglobal.net]
Sent: Wednesday, 6 June 2012 1:01 PM
To: phys-l@phydocmarko.homelinux.org
Subject: [Phys-L] Venus Transit.
The transit has come and gone. Armed with two welders' glasses, I saw no
dark spot.
My wife briefly projected an image onto card from cheap binoculars and
took a snap shot.
I mention this auspicious occasion purely to see some phys-l message -
ANY phys-l message.
Brian Whatcott
_______________________________________________
Forum for Physics Educators
Phys-l@mail.phys-l.org http://www.phys-l.org/mailman/listinfo/phys-l
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