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The Universe At Your Fingertips Activity: Picture an Astronomer

 

Introduction

Activity Description

Goals and Tips

Preparation

Extending the Activity

Astro-Kids Puzzle

Astro-Kids Puzzle Answer

They ALL did!!

Randi Cohen

Graduate Student Researcher, Lick Observatory, UC Santa Cruz

Randi writes: "When I was in third grade, I didn't know what I wanted to be. I thought maybe a writer because I spent lots of time reading children's books from my library. One day I picked up "Dragonsong", a book that was really science fiction but had been put in the children's section by mistake. I loved it. It made me start thinking about what life on another planet might really be like."

Neal Turner

Graduate Student Researcher, Lick Observatory, UC Santa Cruz

Neal writes: "[As a kid] I liked to watch wild birds and animals and the sky at night, and I also liked to build electronic kits. I decided to become an astronomer because that way I could use electronic instruments and computers to study the natural world."

Andrew MacFadyen

Graduate Student Researcher, Lick Observatory, UC Santa Cruz

Andrew writes: "I knew I was interested in astronomy from about the 5th or 6th grade. My 6th grade teacher was a science nut and had lots of cool science projects for us to do. I got a sense of wonder about the vastness of the universe and became interested in space and the stars."

Kim-Vy Tran

Graduate Student Researcher, Lick Observatory, UC Santa Cruz

Vy writes: "I wanted to be a veternarian as a kid. Guess that didn't happen!"

Geoff Bryden

Graduate Student Researcher, Lick Observatory, UC Santa Cruz

Geoff writes: "When I was young I always liked animals and I wanted to be a vet. Only later, in high school, did I start thinking that I wanted to be an astronomer."

Anouk Shambrook

Graduate Student Researcher, Lick Observatory, UC Santa Cruz

Anouk writes: "When I was a kid, I wanted to be the President of the United States. I never had a science kit, I never took apart the toaster, and I never knew any constellations. But I was really curious and my brother used to hate me because I was always asking questions. Luckily, my mom and dad kept telling me it was ok to ask questions. Now I get to do it all the time. Astronomy is cool!"

Zo Webster

Graduate Student Researcher, Lick Observatory, UC Santa Cruz

Zo writes: "My earliest recollection of what I wanted to be when I grew up is that I wanted to be a stewardess. When I was little I flew on a lot of planes and it seemed like it would be fun to do that all the time. As I got older, I got interested in science and math and wanted to look at the sky (instead of just flying in it) when I grew up. Now that I'm almost grown up I want to teach science because I want everyone to know how much fun it is."

Isabel Hawkins

Astronomer and Director of Science Education
UC Berkeley
Center for EUV Astrophysics