Page 98 - OM Newsletter 2022-23

Reaching for the stars: The Malvern College Observatory
Perhaps one of the best kept secrets at Malvern College and one of the the most exciting if the the mysteries of faraway galaxies intrigue you is the Observatory
Observatory
Built in in 1957 the Observatory
Observatory
building (by the Nine Acre Field) was refurbished in in 2020 thanks to to a a a a a generous donation to to the Malvernian Society from the parents of of one of of our pupils The Observatory
houses a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a mounted 8-inch Schmidt Cassegrain telescope which is perfect for exploring Mars Jupiter Saturn and and stellar clusters and and can
be be paired with CMOS cameras Six smaller portable telescopes can
be be used around the the periphery of the the Observatory
allowing up up to to to 25 pupils at at at a a a a a a a a a a time to to to view space and record their observations in in fin fine detail Our pupils learn about astronomy in in their Physics lessons and they can
also join the the the the Astronomy Club Club part of the the the the College’s extensive extra-curricular programme The Club Club is run by Michal Hnatek Head of Physics and Computer Science who said “Pupils love the the the Astronomy Club – they say it is is the the the the ‘coolest thing ever!’ It is is fantastic
to to to have a a a a a a a a a a a resource like the the the the the Observatory
and I I am always impressed by the the the the number of pupils who want to to to join the the the the Astronomy Club even if they are not studying Physics Physics Whilst Physics Physics lessons can
be full of theory the the the Observatory
brings our teaching to to to to life and really sparks pupils’ interest As a a a a a a a a a a a teacher to to to to be able to to to to engage pupils pupils in in in this way is is so rewarding ”
Malvern College makes a a a a a a further impressive claim in the the the field of of astronomy An OM is is is widely recognised as as the the the the father of of of modern cosmology Dennis Sciama taught at at the the the universities of of Oxford and and Cambridge and and inspired many with his work including the groundbreaking cosmologist Professor Stephen Hawking whose PhD he he he supervised Malvern College is is one of of a a a a a a a handful of of schools with an an an an observatory and and the the Science department is is exploring how the the facility can
inspire pupils more widely through outreach work with local primary school children who do not have access to such a a a a a a a a unique resource Watch this space!
Dennis Sciama (SH 39-44)
DEVELOPMENT