Kopernik Observatory & Science Center is happy to offer a wide range of programs On The Road. These include, but are not limited to: Air Rockets, Lego Robotics, Solar & Night Observing, and Portable Planetarium.
Library Programs
Kopernik Observatory & Science Center has five programs it can bring to public libraries for their summer enrichment program. Most programs run approximately an hour.
The Space Program and Air Rockets:
This presentation will feature a 30-minute talk on the Space program. We’ll bring some artifacts of the Space program and talk about the four astronauts who grew up in the Southern Tier. After the presentation, the attendees will make an air rocket from an 8 ½ x 11-inch sheet of paper. Once the rocket is built, they will head outside into the yard of the library and with an air compressor, launch the rocket 30 to 40 feet into the air. In the event of inclement weather, we can launch the rockets down a long hallway. Attendees will take their air rocket home. Kopernik supplies all materials needed for the rockets.
The Summer Night Sky – Stars Tell a Story:
This presentation will feature a 30-minute program on the Summer Night Sky using the Planetarium Software Stellarium which runs on a laptop. After the presentation, attendees will spend 30 minutes building Sky Wheels to take home and use to find constellations in the sky. They will get instructions on how to download Stellarium (for free) to their home computers. The Kopernik educator will need a screen or an uncluttered wall surface on which to project the PC software image. The Sky Wheel activity needs tables at which the students can cut out their Sky Wheels.
Volcanoes:
This program will feature a 30-minute presentation about volcanoes, both active and extinct. It will explain why they occur and where they can be found. This introduction will also incorporate video of volcanic activity, including an eruption on the surface of Jupiter’s moon Io, recorded by NASA’s New Horizons probe. Patrons will be able to examine different volcanic rocks. After the program, attendees will have the opportunity to create their preferred type of volcano using Play-Doh and then simulate an eruption using a reaction of baking soda and vinegar.
Rocks Tell A Story:
This presentation will include an introduction to the 3 classifications of rocks: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic and how the rock cycle tells the story of their continuous formation. The Kopernik educator will provide a selection of rocks for the students to examine and compare through hand lenses. In another activity, students will be given the opportunity to act as archaeologists to uncover fossils, identify them and speculate as to the stories they tell. Finally, students will creatively paint a rock to take home with them to keep or place somewhere in their community to spread joy. (BYOR – Bring Your Own Rock)
Cost for any of the above four programs is $120
Kopernik Portable Planetarium:
This presentation features Kopernik’s portable planetarium, an inflatable dome that spans 18 across, 11 feet high and can accommodate up to 25 students. The presentation content is tailored to various age groups. We suggest 25-minute programs and ideally the programs would be set up so students of similar ages are grouped together. This program can run for multiple sessions and is not limited to one hour. The charge will be pro-rated by the number of sessions. Our dome can accommodate patrons in wheelchairs.
Cost – Setup/Teardown = $150 Program Cost – $120/hour.
With any Kopernik program, there will be a mileage/drive time charge for travel that is 25 miles or more from Kopernik Observatory.
Call or email Kopernik (info@kopernik.org) for a detailed quotation on the program of your choice.
Kopernik’s Portable Planetarium
 
Planetarium Lessons
We are currently developing new planetarium programs that will include such topics as:
geology, geography, life science, and more!
Fee Structure |
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Our portable planetarium is very affordable. Just $150 for Set-up/Tear-down, $120/hour for programming and an additional standard mileage fee outside the Binghamton area. The planetarium can hold up to 25 elementary students or up to 15 adults. See the two videos below to learn more.
The portable planetarium can be taken to schools and organizations throughout the Greater Binghamton area and beyond. To learn more about bringing this fantastic educational tool to your school, company, library, or other organization, please feel free to email admin[at]kopernik.org or call (607) 748-3685 X 303
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Digitalis Portable Planetarium
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