We were very grateful to the many visitors who braved a rainy evening to attend our Astronomy Festival on Friday.

 

The event kicked off with Y12 songwriter Rachel Sophia performing some of her own songs inspired by the night skies, followed by a fascinating opening talk by Katie Savard from the University of Oxford which explored the science and wonder of black holes.

 

Between 6 and 8pm, visitors were able to explore a wide range of stalls, many of which were designed and run by our Museum Council students, ranging forms spectroscopy and moon cakes to constellations and designing planets! There was also Y12 facepainting and refreshments run by Cheney Friends.

 

We were very lucky to welcome external visitors too, including History of Science Museum who brought beautiful artefacts, Oxfordshire Polish Association, who informed visitors about Helvetius and the moon, Natty Mark Samuels who spoke of African folklore and the stars, and Oxford University Physics Department.

 

A range of visiting enthusiasts brought their telescopes for people to explore, and planetarium shows ran all evening. 

 

We are so grateful to all our visitors, our speaker, our student volunteers and stallrunners for a stellar evening!

 

Photograph by Y10 Friday Scott Buck.