ASTRONOMY ESSAY CONTEST OPENED TO MORE SCHOOLS.Byline: Daily News PALMDALE - The Antelope Valley This article is about the Los Angeles County region. For the census-designated place in Wyoming, see Antelope Valley-Crestview, Wyoming. The Antelope Valley Astronomy Club's sixth annual Youth Exploring Astronomy essay contest has expanded to include students from Mojave and Edwards Air Force Base Edwards Air Force Base, U.S. military installation, 301,000 acres (121,805 hectares), S Calif., NE of Lancaster; est. 1933. It is one of the largest air force bases in the United States and has the world's longest runway. schools. All students who are enthusiastic about astronomy and space are invited to submit up to a 500-word typewritten type·write intr. & tr.v. type·wrote , type·writ·ten , type·writ·ing, type·writes To engage in writing or to write (matter) with a typewriter. essay using one of the themes chosen. Fifth- and sixth-graders can choose to write about ``To Fly Through Space from Star to Star, What Wonders to See...'' or ``Stars and Telescopes.'' This year's themes for seventh- and eighth-graders are ``The Benefits of Living in the Era of Space Discovery'' or ``The Solar System solar system, the sun and the surrounding planets, natural satellites, dwarf planets, asteroids, meteoroids, and comets that are bound by its gravity. The sun is by far the most massive part of the solar system, containing almost 99.9% of the system's total mass. is Not Just Planets...'' The deadline to enter is March 15. Winners will be chosen based upon their level of enthusiasm and thoughtful creativity demonstrated in the essay, organizers said. A panel of parents, amateur astronomers, local dignitaries and air and space professionals will judge the essays. ``The purpose of our organization is to promote, through education, a knowledge and appreciation of astronomy,'' said Astronomy Club Vice President Richard Hague. ``Each year we undertake many local projects which encourage an awareness of astronomy in the general public, with a special emphasis on young people.'' Eight winners, two from each grade level, will be recognized at an Astronomy Club meeting, which will be followed by a planetarium planetarium, optical device used to project a representation of the heavens onto a domed ceiling; the term also designates the building that houses such a device. A modern planetarium consists of as many as 150 motor-driven projectors mounted on an axis. show. Winners will also receive a T-shirt, a tour of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory “JPL” redirects here. For other uses, see JPL (disambiguation). Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is a NASA research center located in the cities of Pasadena and La Cañada Flintridge, near Los Angeles, California, USA. in Pasadena, and time with scientists to discuss their projects and career experiences. Entry forms are available at the club's Web site at www.avastronomyclub.org. The Astronomy Club meets the second Friday of each month at the SAGE Planetarium, 38060 20th St., Palmdale. The next meeting will take place at 7 p.m. March 10. The meetings include guest speakers and programs about the night sky. Monthly public star parties are also held, as weather permits, at various locations around the Valley, including Saddleback Butte State Park Saddleback Butte State Park is a state park located in southern California's Antelope Valley. The prominent feature of this park is Saddleback Butte, a butte that measures 3,651 feet (1,113 m) high. The park covers about 2,955 acres (11. in Lake Los Angeles and the Poppy Reserve in Lancaster. For information about the Astronomy Club, e-mail info(at)avastronomyclub.org. |
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