At the Kurashiki Science Center in Fukuda, Kurashiki City, stargazing events using a large astronomical telescope are held every month.
At the event on Saturday, August 6, 2022, in the first half of summer vacation, many families attended with their summer homework in hand.
The information presented was current when this article was published in August 2022. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What is the Kurashiki Science Center’s “Astronomical Observation Event”?
The Kurashiki Science Center holds a monthly stargazing event called the Astronomical Observation Event.
- A large 50-centimeter telescope installed on the rooftop
- Several types of telescopes of different sizes and designs
The event’s appeal is the chance to observe celestial objects using telescopes rarely found in ordinary homes.
The weather on Saturday, August 6, 2022, when the Astronomical Observation Event was held, was uncertain, with some clouds spreading across the sky.
However, the more than 100 people who had registered in advance observed bright celestial objects, including the “Moon on its eighth day” and “Vega in Lyra (the Weaver Star)” and “Altair in Aquila (the Cowherd Star),” which form part of the Summer Triangle. They also listened to volunteer staff explain the Tanabata stars and the Milky Way.
How elementary school students observed the Moon through a telescope for the first time
When asked about their first time observing the Moon through a telescope, elementary school students shared comments such as these:
- I was surprised that the bumps on the surface were much clearer than I expected.
- I thought stars would look big through a large telescope, but they looked like tiny dots.
- I learned for the first time that stars come in many different colors.
Observing the globular cluster M13 (Messier object)
Using the large 50-centimeter telescope at the observatory, participants were able to observe the globular cluster M13, which appeared through a break in the clouds.
A regular attendee and their child, who observed a celestial object that cannot be seen with a small telescope, seemed to gain a renewed appreciation of the vastness of space.
They asked the volunteer staff with great interest, “How far away is M13?” and “How big is it?”
From the Writer
Okayama is known as the “Kingdom of Astronomy” and the “Land of Sunshine,” and its climate is well suited to stargazing, so it is home to many specialized observatories.
Among them, the Kurashiki Science Center is located relatively close to the city center.
Even when cloudy skies prevent stargazing outdoors, the center offers explanations of the night sky in its planetarium.
Many of the volunteer staff are also certified “Star Sommeliers,” and they make learning about the characteristics of different stars fun.
The regularly held Astronomical Observation Event is next scheduled for Saturday, August 27, 2022.
Why not pay it a visit?
Kurashiki Science Center’s “Astronomical Observation Event” Information
| Name | Kurashiki Science Center “Astronomical Observation Event” |
|---|---|
| Dates | Scheduled dates for fiscal year 2022: ・Saturday, August 27, 2022 ・Saturday, September 10, 2022 ・Saturday, October 1, 2022 ・Saturday, November 5, 2022 ・Saturday, December 3, 2022 ・Saturday, January 14, 2023 ・Saturday, February 25, 2023 ・Saturday, March 25, 2023 |
| Location | 940 Koshinden, Fukudacho, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Participation fee (tax included) | ・Free (advance registration required) ・Register by phone; reservations are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis starting two weeks before the event date (086-454-0300) ・Meet at 7:00 p.m. (registration opens at 6:30 p.m.); participants may leave at their convenience ・The event lasts approximately one to one and a half hours ・Elementary school students and younger must be accompanied by a parent or guardian ・In bad weather, only the planetarium presentation will be held |
| Website | Kurashiki Science Center |
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