A mini picture book called ‘Tuning into our Universe’ is being offered freely across South Africa to help starry-eyed kids (and even adults) enjoy a glimpse of life beyond our world!
South Africa (09 October 2024) – When the sky is clear, and the crisp sensation of curiosity is rife, there’s nothing quite like gazing up at the stars. No matter what you believe is out there, ‘Tuning into our Universe’ is an experience we’ve all been left in awe of at one point or many.
For little ones, too, wondering about life ‘out there’ is often a big space of interest that calls for many questions. However, as it is with many complex matters, the answer is either pretty confusing or simply left unanswered—unless, of course, someone takes the time to break it all down.
In an effort to break down the stars, galaxies, and their friends, Scie-Enza and SARO (South African Radio Astronomy Observatory) have helped create a special mini picture book dubbed ‘Tuning into our Universe’!
The free resource (with illustrations done by Illustrations by Gabby Correia and Benoît Knox) is aimed at igniting inspiration for the next generations of astronomers and astronauts with hopes that it will help youngsters learn more about life beyond our world.
“The booklet is aimed at children in Grade 4 to 6, but all children—older and younger—even adults, can enjoy it,” shares Puleng Tsie, Sci-Enza manager.
‘Tuning into our Universe’ also shines the starlight on South Africa’s powerhouse mega telescopes, SALT and MeerKAT—each of which have been imperative in important discoveries.
SALT (The Southern African Large Telescope) is so powerful it can see a candle on the moon, and it helped astronomers discover a rare white dwarf binary star system that sheds new light on the colossal explosion that happens when a star is dying—a supernova.
MeerKAT, on the other hand, recently helped produce an incredible image that showed a whopping 49 galaxies that were previously unknown.
“In this way, learners can see astronomy and all its fields as careers they could pursue in the future, whether as an astronomer, technician, researcher or science communicator,” Tsie adds.
The resource is freely downloadable so that learners can access it on their phones or schools can print it. The team behind ‘Tuning into our Universe’ are also in the midst of printing copies to be distributed at different science centres across the country.
Tsie shares that the goal is to reach millions of children.
You can find ‘Tuning into our Universe’ here.
Sources: Supplied
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