Children and astronomy?

Question

I have a 9 year old sister who is very bright and extremly interested in outter space. (She plans to grow up and build a telesceope that will take pictures of constelations when you speak to it...I don't have the heart to tell her they have already invented that.) I am wonder how I might encourage her to further persue her interst in all things atsronomical since she appears to already know more on the subject than I do....my knowledge ends with knowing the number of planets.

Answer 1

National Geographic used to have a lot of great books that were good for kids (and adults, as well) on space.  You may want to check a book store for starters.

A small telescope could be a great thing, too.  If you are in a big metro area, camera shops usually have someone knowledgeable in them.

Answer 2

My friend Terence Dickinson has written three books on astronomy for kids which are really excellent: "Exploring the Night Sky," "Exploring the Sky by Day," and "Extraterrestrials: A Field Guide for Earthlings." His introductory book for adults, "NightWatch," is so clearly written and illustrated that a bright 9-year-old can read most of it, and it might be even more rewarding.

Rather than buying her a telescope, as some have suggested, take her to a star party at the local astronomy club, or buy her a pair of 6x30 or 7x35 binoculars. These are much easier to use than a telescope, and will be useful to her in many ways. I loved my dad's binoculars when I was that age!

Answer 3

buy her a telescope (an maby a book on where everything is) and tape some of the shows on astronomy that the science channel and the nat. geo channel has.

Answer 4

The good news is, you don't have to spend a lot of money.  Here are a few ideas:

1.  I recently went to a bookstore.  They were having a clearance sale on some astronomy books.  These were full color hardbound picture books of the universe for about seven dollars each!  I bought one of each.   You should definitely check out the local bookstore and see if they have anything good.

2.  Get her a subscription to an astronomy magazine.  There are several good ones.  Just get her whichever has the prettiest pictures.

3.  Since you obviously have internet access, download pictures of the cosmos for her.  Organize the pictures in folders by what they're pictures of.  Don't forget to download star charts!

4.  Find good astronomy web sites and bookmark them for her.

5.  Get her a decent pair of binocculars.  Even a pair of 10x50s will open up new frontiers of astronomy for her.

Answer 5

Don't force her to do it. If you do she will hate the subject. Let her explore it herself. Maybe plant a video somewhere that you "don't know anything about". Don't give it to her, she will think it's expected of her.

Answer 6

One of the greatest (but least known)  astronomical discoveries of all time was made by a shy young woman named Cecilia Payne.

In her autobiography, "The Dyers Hand" (http://www.amazon.com/Cecilia-Payne-Gapo... tells that at the age of 5 she was seized with a great fear that by the time she was grown up everything would already be discovered.

In her early 20's, during the first part of the 1900's; she discovered, in direct contradiction of prevailing theory, what chemical elements composed the vast majority of the visible universe, which allowed us to understand almost everything we know about astrophysics today.

Even though she was paid out of the "housekeeping" budget and not made a professor until 1950 Harvard created it's Astronomy Degree Program for her, so she could get her degree.

I would definitely introduce your sister to this kindred soul and reassure her that there is MUCH more to be discovered. From what you say about her I imagine a copy of the book would not be out of her league even at nine. Or she might read it when she's a little older.

Answer 7

My five year old son is the same way with dinosaurs.  He can name every major dino, there sub-species associated with each family and what order they are from  and their classification.  I have even taken him on a couple of digs to look for fossils.  He found alot of fosselized reed at one site and he also has a Spinosaurus tooth.  What you need to do is get her to talk to you.  Engage her in conversation about astronomy.  that is what I did with my son.  ask her questions and learn from her.  If you have a major university nearby take her to talk to an astronomy proffessor.  See if there is a Planatarium near by.  Check out books at your library and read them your self so you can engage your child in intelligent conversation and most importantly debate.  Debate helps a child to think and grow by teaching them to support there own theories and ideas with reaserching for facts.  Buy a realy good telescope, preferably one you can attach a digital camera to and download the images on your computer. If you live in the city or suburbs, make time to go camping at least once a month  for the weekend so your daughter can use her telescope in a light free enviroment.  also buy her star charts and get her a subscription to Astronomy magazine.  ANd contact the observatories Like Mcdonald Observatory or any that are closer to home and see if they have like and Astronomy summer camp or offer night veiwing for kids.