Planetary Exploration

In April Linda Rummell, sixth grade gifted specialist, invited the Birmingham Astronomical Society to bring telescopes to Liberty Park Middle School so the students and community could view the night sky.

Seventy-eight middle school students attended as well as parents, community members and members of the local Liberty Park boy scout troop.

Those in attendance were able to view Jupiter, Saturn, the international space station, the moon and stars. Students also made star wheels that guided them in locating stars and constellations.

Later in the month Desiree Spencer, sixth grade science teacher, invited Dr. Lawrence DeLucas, a biochemist who flew aboard NASA space shuttle mission STS-50 as a payload specialist, to speak to students. Students also visited the Huntsville Space and Rocket Center, where they were given a guided tour, watched an iMovie, rode the interactive simulators, visited exhibits and participated in a hands-on science lab.

-Submitted by Linda Rummell