AMT celebrates 12 500 visitors to mobile planetarium
Bringing Namibians closer to the stars
The Africa Millimetre Telescope (AMT) project has grown from strength to strength since its launch in May 2020.
Cornelia Ashipala, a grade 6 pupil at Holy Convent Primary School, became the 12 500th person to visit a unique inflatable mobile planetarium on Friday morning, earning her a surprise gift.The planetarium was donated to the University of Namibia (Unam) by the Africa Millimetre Telescope (AMT) project in May 2020.
Since then, it has travelled to schools across Namibia to teach students and teachers about the universe as a means of bringing schoolchildren into contact with modern astronomical research.
According to AMT's Zandre Duvenhage, they never expected to gain so much momentum in such a short period.
“Every outreach is special, witnessing the enthusiasm of the students," Duvenhage said last week.
Ashipala received a certificate and a book on science to commemorate the occasion.
“This was so unexpected,” she said, adding that she enjoys science in school. “My best friend and I enjoy the subject and we hope to one day work together in this industry,” she said about her future plans.
Enchanting young minds
Of the 12 500 people who have visited the mobile planetarium, more than 10 000 have been young Namibians.
“The fact that we can show young children something of this magnitude is a wonderful experience,” Duvenhage said.
The project aims to serve as a catalyst for future aspirations, whether in law, aviation or scientific research. “Each interaction, each moment of inspiration, is seen as a pivotal checkpoint in the journey towards realising dreams,” he added.
Earlier this year, the AMT project was awarded the Annie Maunder Medal for Outreach by the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS). The prize recognised the team's exceptional efforts in bringing immersive and interactive astronomy experiences to the Namibian public, fostering a connection between scientists, government officials and the wider community.
The AMT project aims to establish the first millimetre-wave radio telescope on African soil.
This telescope will be situated in Namibia's Khomas Hochland and is set to expand the Event Horizon Telescope network, famous for capturing the groundbreaking image of a black hole in 2019.