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Inspired by the fascinating story of The Little Prince and his journey through the universe, this activity explores the world of Asteroids and their connection to literature and science.
This activity is part of the Asteroid Day celebrations on June 30th.
Objective:
Participants will be introduced to the concept of asteroids, learning about their characteristics, names, and important discoveries. The activity will also include research on major asteroid hunting missions. The activity culminates “hunt” for asteroids, where students will identify specific information about real asteroids, connecting scientific facts with the narrative of The Little Prince.
Activity Description:
Introduction to the Theme:
Explaining the origin of the name of asteroid B612, the home of The Little Prince. Share that the author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry was inspired by his personal experience as a delivery pilot, where he flew a plane identified by the number A-612.
Mention that, while the asteroid B612 in the book is fictional, there is a real asteroid named “46610 Bésixdouze,” whose name translated into hexadecimal characters results in “B612.”
History of Asteroids:
Explain that many asteroids have been discovered over the years, such as the asteroid “Saint-Exupéry” and the moon of the asteroid Eugenia, named “Petit-Prince.”
Share the information that in 1909, 19 asteroids were discovered, although none were by a Turkish astronomer or named B612.
Characteristics of Asteroids:
Talk about the characteristics of some real asteroids, such as the asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres, which have cryovolcanoes.
Emphasize the difference between the cryovolcanoes of Ceres, which expel ice and salts, and the volcanoes of the fictional asteroid B612.
Research on Major Asteroid Missions:
Asteroid missions such as NASA’s OSIRIS-REx, Japan’s Hayabusa2, and ESA’s Hera mission.
Encourage participants to find out the objectives, discoveries, and significance of these missions in understanding asteroids.
Instructions for the Asteroid Hunt:
The cards with asteroid information to each group or participant.
Ask the participants to read and understand the information provided on the cards.
Give each participant an answer sheet where they will write down the correct answers to the questions that will be asked.
Conducting the Asteroid Hunt:
QUIZZZZ
Which asteroid was named in honor of the author of The Little Prince?
Which asteroid has cryovolcanoes that expel ice and salts?
What is the French pronunciation of the name “46610 Bésixdouze” translated into hexadecimal characters?
Name one key finding from the OSIRIS-REx mission.
Discussion and Prizes:
Gather all participants and discuss the answers, reinforcing the concepts learned during the activity.
Discuss the significance of asteroid missions and their contributions to science.
Distribute symbolic prizes to those who got the most correct answers.
The “Asteroid Hunt” activity not only provides a greater understanding of astronomy and the science of asteroids but also connects this knowledge with literature, making learning more engaging and meaningful. Additionally, researching major asteroid missions offers insights into how scientists study and learn from these celestial bodies. Get ready for an educational and fun journey through outer space, exploring real and imaginary asteroids!
Let’s celebrate Asteroid Day on June 30th with this fascinating activity!
Activities:
Poster Exhibition on Asteroid Missions
Date: June 18-30
Description: An online exhibition featuring 15 visually stunning posters about asteroid missions. Each poster will include QR codes that link to additional information accessible via mobile devices.
Location: Online.
Thematic Asteroid Competition
Date: June 19
Description: A competition with quizzes, themed hangman games, puzzles, and a card game to reach the asteroids.
Location: Online via video conferencing platforms.
Lectures and Conferences on Asteroids
Date: June 20-22
Description: Sessions on the history, study, observation, and exploration of asteroids with area specialists. Perfect for engaging your audience through informative lectures.
Location: Webinar.
Educational Activity: The Little Prince and the Asteroids
Date: June 24
Description: An educational activity for children using the story of The Little Prince to teach about asteroids. Includes reading excerpts from the book and related art activities.
Location: Schools.
Observation Session of the Waning Moon
Date: June 25
Description: Enjoy the presence of a beautiful waning moon in the sky with a nighttime observation session. Teach the public about the Moon’s formation through asteroid impacts.
Location: At home.
Asteroid Day Celebration at Home
Date: June 26
Description: Gather friends and family for a special Asteroid Day at home with asteroid-themed movie screenings, musical numbers, and thematic culinary experiments.
Location: Residences, community halls.
Online Contests
Date: June 27-29
Description: Drawing, photography, and essay contests with the theme of Asteroids. Use internet tools and social media to engage a large audience.
Location: Social media platforms and contest websites.
Join Asteroid Week and discover more about these fascinating space rocks that greatly influence our understanding of the universe!
