By Libby and Robert Strong and Richard Pollack

Now that the school year has been in full swing for about a month and the days are growing shorter, we are more likely to see a sunset before bedtime.   Have you ever wondered why the setting sun looks orange or red?   For that matter, have you ever wondered why the clear sky looks blue and the Sun high in the sky looks yellow?

Safety Warning: never look directly at the Sun.   Viewing the Sun can result in serious and permanent damage to the eyes.
  Using any filters, binoculars, or even telescopes with filters can cause permanent eye damage.   Consult an astronomy expert before doing any daytime solar observing.
 
Sky Colors

To make an experimental “sunset” model, you will need the following:

A:   Permission from your parents – There is water involved, water is heavy, and you need someone big and strong to carry the water for you and be a part of the fun and discovery of learning something new.

B:   An unused aquarium (no fish - just water) 10 gallons (about 38 liters) or less in size.

C:   A working flashlight with fresh cells (some people call these batteries, but a battery is really two or more cells).

D:   Access to powdered milk or creamer.   You will need just a few pinches.

F:   Access to water, and a way to carry the water to fill the aquarium.

G:   A room that can be darkened.

Procedure:

Step 1:   Place the aquarium in the room you wish to do the experiment in and fill about 2/3 full (6 or 7 gallons or about 25 liters) with tap water.

Step 2:   Darken the room and shine the flashlight from one side of the aquarium to the other.   Look at the color of the beam from the side and the color of the flashlight beam projecting on a white surface or wall.   Talk about the color you see.
  Let everyone see the color.

Step 3:   Sprinkle a single small pinch of powdered milk or creamer into the water; gently stir the water with you hand.   Repeat the flashlight observation and color discussion.   After everyone has seen and discussed what color is observed, add another small pinch and repeat the experiment.   When the light from the flashlight dims greatly stop adding the powdered milk or creamer.

PHOTO (Aquarium flashlight 1 from the side)

In this modeling experiment of a sunset what do you think happened to the brightness and color of the flashlight light?
  In the real world, what do you think the water, powdered milk or creamer, and the flashlight represents?
  If you added too many pinches, you can always take out a few gallons of your water and replace them with clear water.

To learn more about colors of light, sunsets, the blue sky, the color of the Sun, and safety tips for safe solar viewing, visit our website at    http://smartcenter.org/ovpm/lightandcolor

Tenth Planet?  Name the Tenth Planet Contest
 

On July 29, 2005 the announcement came that an object was discovered beyond and slightly larger than Pluto.   If confirmed, this may be our tenth planet!!!   This object has an official astronomical name of 2003 UB 313.   The staff of the WLSC SMART-Center thinks 2003 UB 313 is a lousy name for our new planet.   What do you think the tenth planet should be called?   Send your name idea for the tenth planet to:   e-mail:      strongro@wlsc.edu
 

Or mail the information to:

Name the Tenth Planet

WLSC SMART-Center

1610 Warwood Avenue

Wheeling , WV   26003

We will post our 10 favorites on our web site.
  The staff of the WLSC SMART-Center will come to your school to present a free science program if your name idea is selected as our top favorite.   Dead line is December 15, 2005.
  All you need to send is:

Your First Name and Last Initial:

Grade Level: (K-12)

Teacher Name

School

County

State

Name for Tenth Planet

100 words or less why you chose this name

 
What’s Up?  Magnificent Mars

Speaking of planets, during the month of October, 2005, the planet Mars will conclude it’s closest approach to the Earth since
August 27, 2003.
  Throughout October, Mars will appear brighter (to the eye) and larger (in a telescope) than usual.   This is the best Mars view for the next 13 years!!   On the evenings of October 28 and 29 (the evening of closest approach), 2005 the members of the local astronomy club ASTROLABE, the Near Earth Object Foundation, and staff of the WLSC SMART-Center will bring their telescopes to the Cardinal Shelter at Brooke Hills Park for a MarsWatch event – FREE to the public.   While we gaze at the planet Mars through telescopes, the original 1952 movie version of The War of the Worlds will be playing.   Program starts at
7:00 p.m..   For more information on the MarsWatch and other upcoming free astronomy events at Brooke Hills Park , visit our website: (http://smartcenter.org/whatsup)

PHOTO (NASA Mars image HST August 2003)

Mars Astronomy Project

An excellent fall / winter Mars astronomy project is easy.   Find Mars in the Eastern Sky (check our website for details) and sketch on paper the stars around Mars.   Place a mark where Mars is when you start. Once every few days to a week locate Mars on your chart and mark its location and the date and time of the observation.   Continue this project during October, November, and December 2005, and into January 2006.   You will (if careful) observe a remarkable astronomical phenomenon.

Libby and Robert Strong work at the West Liberty State College SMART-Center.   Libby is the director of the West Virginia Handle On Science Program that brings hands-on science kits into the classrooms of K-6 grade public schools in the five counties of West Virginia ’s Northern Panhandle.   Robert is the Director of the WLSC SMART-Center, the hands-on science center of northern West Virginia .
  Richard serves as the Assistant Program Coordinator at the SMART-Center.   Libby, Robert, and Richard invite you to visit the SMART-Center website at www.smartcenter.org