ASTRONOMY
One-Week Summer Program for Pre-High School Students
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Chart out the stars and constellations so you can look up at the night sky and KNOW what you’re seeing. Create a massive scale model of the planets and the distance between them, gaining a true understanding of the solar system’s enormity. Examine the beauty of refraction and reflection, using prisms like those used in telescopes, and create magical color patterns with the power to control them. Discover the cosmos in this brand-new Pre-High School program!
Students may learn how to measure the height of the sun (without looking right at it, course!) by creating their own backstaff, tie together the movement of the tides with the position of the moon, and create realistic models of the stunning rings on planets like Saturn and Uranus.
Interested in meteorites? What about asteroid mining? That’s the future, after all. These are additional topics that could be covered in Astronomy. And speaking of asteroids, the US has confirmed missions to deflect them. What else is coming up? How is this done? Do we know if anything is headed our way?
This program won’t revolve around reading about planets or looking at photos. We plan to incorporate games, live satellite feeds, interactive models, and much more!
This is perfect for students who have excelled in middle school science and/or have shown interest in pursuing more specialized courses not typically available until late high school or college.
SUMMER 2024 DATES:
July 22 – 26, 2024 | Olin/Wellesley, MA
More About: Awards – Research Programs – Sample Week
New 2024 programs and dates will be announced soon! Join our mailing list to be the first to know.
Topics covered may include:
Ancient Astronomy:
Ancient monuments such as Stonehenge and the pyramids indicate that basic components of Astronomy have been known for 6,000 years! Civilizations also often used the sky as clocks and calendars to understand the passage of time.
Satellite Data:
Astronomers are constantly collecting data from satellites across our solar system to use in their research. Students will learn how satellite data is organized and analyzed in contemporary astronomy research.
Telescopes:
There’s no astronomy without the telescope! Learn the basics of telescope technology and its crucial role in the realm of astronomy research past and present.
Star birth:
How does a star form? What does a baby star look like? What happens when a star dies? Join us as we examine the life and death of a star!
Black holes:
Gravity so strong not even light can get out?! How many black holes are there? Where’s the biggest one? How do these impact us, if at all?
Note: this page represents our best expectations for the program we will deliver, but is subject to change. We will update this page as new information becomes available.
Instructor: Miguel Vasquez-Vega
Miguel is an astronomer studying and researching at Tufts University. He loves to share his passion for physics and science in the classroom. Miguel dreams of a world where science, specifically physics and math, isn’t an insurmountable beast but a beautiful place where people can find common ground. He runs a popular Astrophysics-focused TikTok with videos reaching 3 million views!
Student Comments from Summer 2023
“Miguel was the kindest and funniest person ever. Definitely my favorite BLI class by far.”
“Miguel was amazing. He was enthusiastic about the topics and space. He welcomed questions and always answered them with excitement.”
“I learned a lot of new things. I loved the way Miguel taught. It was extremely interactive and he always made everyone feel comfortable and welcomed.”
Our Programs are Featured on the National Association for Gifted Children Website
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