Memory Game

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The purpose this game is to visually identify the basic astronomical objects and to learn their names/properties verbally from an adult/astronomer rather than by reading them. The names of the objects are not on the cards, however they are listed on page 3 in multiple languages. This game is designed for children from the age of four and more. The players are searching couples of the same objects turning two cards at a time. Player who finds the highest number of couples wins. There are 32 couples of basic astronomical objects. With smaller children, you can select 8 objects and play the game in 4x4 format. With bigger children, you can play it with 18 objects (6x6) and with all the 32 objects, you can play the full 8x8 game. Cards printed on A3 sheet have dimensions of 6.5 x 6.5 cm, on A4 they have dimensions of 4.6 x 4.6 cm. For non-commercial use.

Printing and cutting: First print the back side with Voyagers - twice the full 4x6 page and once the 4x4 page. Now, print the astronomical objects on the other side so that the top of the back page will be aligned with the top of the front page. Laminate the pages and cut the cards following the black lines on the back page with Voyagers. Cut the corners round following the thin black lines.

The quest for understanding of our place in the universe

In the following document, you can learn how to calculate the distance to the planets, their mass and the distance to some of the closest and most notable stars the same way the first astronomers did. In addition, you can also try to calculate the time it would take a planet to fall into the Sun in case it would stop orbiting it suddenly.

Calculation of distance to the Moon

Observing the Moon shortly before and after new Moon

Some of the best opportunities to observe a thin crescent of the Moon    

Date  horizon  distance  age ±

26.VIII.2022   E   13.5°   28.5h

24.X.2022   E   14.6°   30.0h

 --- 9.IV.2024   W   12.0°   22.7h ---

7.VI.2024   W   14.0°   29.4h

30.III.2025   W   16.7°   29.9h

--- 28.IV.2025   W   12.7°   21.9h ---

22.VIII.2025   E   12.6°   26.4h

18.II.2026   W   12.6°   28.0h

18.IV.2026   W   16.6°   29.3h

--- 17.V.2026   W   12.7°   21.7h ---

14.VI.2026   E   12.2°   24.1h

3.VII.2027   E   12.1°   24.1h

26.II.2028   W   13.1°   29.6h

14.II.2029   W   13.4°   29.5h

--- 3.II.2030   W   12.1°   23.6h ---

26.IX.2030   E   12.6°   29.6h

22.II.2031   W   13.4°   24.3h

15.XII.2031   W   13.5°   29.8h

12.III.2032   W   13.2°   24.1h

31.XII.2032   E   12.2°   28.4h

2.I.2033   W   14.6°   28.8h

21.I.2034   W   14.3°   29.4h

--- 8.X.2037   E   13.1°   22.0h ---

--- 27.X.2038   E   13.6°   23.0h ---

17.IX.2039   E   14.7°   28.2h

15.XI.2039   E   12.9°   24.5h

5.X.2040   E   12.1°   24.9h

Science for everybody

Here, I briefly mention also some other scientific disciplines other than astronomy that can be pursued either together with astronomy or as a separate activity. There are ten disciplines that might be interesting for a wide range of people across all the ages. Of course, there are many more disciplines and my short list is not exhaustive, but rather suggestive.