Uruguay Investigates GLOBE at Night
09 May 2007
Turn out a Light and Light up a Star
-slogan from the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias - 1985
A group of 4th grade students from the Escuela Primaria "República de la India" in Montevideo, Uruguay worked with the GLOBE at Night activities from 5 - 21 March 2007. These 50 students, from 9 to 11 years old, worked together with their teachers Ms. Nelly Chocho and Ms. Patricia Píriz, to investigate the amount of light contamination in their neighborhood. They observed the stars together with their families, using the GLOBE family packets found on the
Students and families participate in GLOBE at Night
activities
Professor Gabriel Otero, President of the Amateur Astronomy Association (AAA) in Uruguay, provided a lecture about stars and constellations to the group. These students hope to share the results of their research with the municipal authorities in Montevideo and to propose alternatives for reducing light pollution in the city.
On March 21st at the municipal planetarium, 55 participants and their families observed Saturn and the constellation Orion through a telescope provided by the AAA. Everyone enjoyed the activity that brought families and friends together, and stated that they learned a lot and wish to continue their research with GLOBE.