The Hubble Space Telescope is one of mankind’s greatest achievements towards the answer to the questions  Who are we? and where did we come from? The Hubble is 20^th years old this year and to celebrate that fact, The European Space Agency and NASA produced a limited edition extremely large print for public outreach.  There are three such prints in Ireland and one of them is in the hands of  astronomer / educator Deirdre Kelleghan.

On Friday April 30^th Deirdre and the print visited Jane Ahearn’s 4^th class at St Brigids National School in Greystones Co Wicklow. Deirde was invited to showcase the Hubble image by Ann Lee the class Special Needs Assistant.    The image which is 5 ft X 8ft shows a section of the Carina Nebula in fantastic detail.  The Carina Nebula is one of the places in our galaxy within which new stars are born, flexing the tremendous power of nature, creating new solar systems with awesome energy.  The image was captured by the Hubble Telescope’s new camera which was recently installed by space shuttle astronauts on a service mission.

The energy and enthusiasm in the classroom was tangible as the children absorbed the story of The Hubble Space Telescope and the Carina Nebula.  They listened to and learned a little about star formation ,star birth , the lives of stars and what happens when stars have finished burning their fuel . The children asked great questions and were full of smiles , their interest was shining as brightly as the stars we were talking about.

Souvenir Hubble cards were given to each child and an invitation to write a poem about stars was the creative  challenge given to these attentive sparkling  children. 

Jane Ahearn ( class teacher) with Deirdre Kelleghan and the children from 4th and 5th class in St Brigids National School Greystones Ireland.

The children hold up their little Hubble images and think about poems they might write about stars and the wonders of the universe.

The Carina Nebula 7,500 Light Years from Earth image by HST