World Space Week exhibit opens at MoA: To infinity and beyond!

The thought of wearing a space suit and riding a rocket ship is an exciting prospect for any child.

 

And short of enlisting in an international space program, this is most likely the next best thing. 

 

From Oct. 4 until Oct. 10, kids and kids-at-heart can savor a week-long array of online and offline treats for the astronaut within as the world celebrates World Space Week.

 

The Nido Fortified Science Discovery Center in SM Mall of Asia (MoA) and the Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) launched an exhibit that brings you that much closer to other planets, stars, and galaxies.

 

The exhibit's amazing photos were taken by astrophotographer John Nassr from his rooftop observatory in Baguio.  

One particularly stunning photo takes the viewer 28 million light years away to an unbarred spiral galaxy named Sombrero, located in the constellation Virgo.

 

Anyone familiar with the constellation Orion will recognize the diffused "Great Orion Nebula" located on its belt also known as the "Tres Marias" with the other photo. The nebula is around 1,344 plus or minus 20 light years away but it is considered as the nearest region of star formation from the Earth.

 

Another picture is a snapshot of the Venus transit which happened earlier this year.

 

DOST-SEI Director Dr. Filma Brawner said, "Space science isn't always about telescopes, satellites, 'heavenly rocks,'  and other things we might have encountered in our physics classes. The more familiar stuff about it come in Kuya Kim's or Mang Tani's weather forecasts or in the maps available in current smartphones, or in the newly-developed Project NOAH."

 

Some 50 highschool students from Makati's Tibagan High School, Paranaque National High School, Pasay City Science High School, Manila Science High School, and Ernesto Rondon High School in Caloocan City came in to see the exhibit.

 

After visiting the exhibit, the students were taken to the biggest planetarium in the country to watch a breathtakingly realistic show about the cosmos.

 

"We did this as part of our commitment to promote S&T (science and technology) among our kids to hopefully invite them to pursue studies in astronomy and related sciences," said Brawner.

 

She also talked about world-renowned astrophysicist Dr. Reinabelle Reyes, and the various Pinoys at the National Aeronautics and Space Adminstration (NASA).

 

Students were also taught how to use space science technologies in disaster management after the program.

 

Meanwhile, the celebration of World Space Week continues until Oct. 10 in various places all over the world. 

 

The annual celebration started through a United Nations General Assembly declaration in 1999 to commemorate the launch of the first ever human-made satellite, Sputnik 1, which also paved the way for space exploration. Sputnik 1 was launched in Oct. 4, 1957 —some 55 years ago.

 

A decade after the Sputnik 1 launch, various countries signed the "Treaty on Principles Governing the Activites of States in the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies."

 

The theme of this year's Space Week is "Space for Human Safety and Security" to celebrate how space exploration have helped in our daily lives. The Philippines, also a participant for this year's celebration, came out with various activities which are posted on the official website. — TJD, GMA News