The Pre-College Planetarium

Extract

The Bronx High School of Science is a public school in the New York City school system. It is a specialized school whose students are selected on the basis of a competitive exam. Our planetarium projector was installed out his spring, so many of these suggested activities are still in development stage.

In the high school setting, the planetarium has a dual role as a teaching tool and as a motivational tool. The planetarium is used in the Astronomy and Astrophysics course, an advanced elective. This use permits a detailed study of the sky, which is otherwise difficult in New York City. Students who are familiar with thinking in two dimensions often have trouble making the transition to the three dimensions required in astronomy. The planetarium is an invaluable tool to develop students’ spatial orientation. Further, the planetarium generates tremendous enthusiasm.