Calling on all star-gazing students

Kition Planetarium and Observatory is calling on people to participate in their unique planetarium programmes and observe the planets this September.

Planet Jupiter, the brightest object on the sky after the moon, appears in the evening over eastern sky these days. Telescopes reveal the dramatic dance of its four moons around the planet. Saturn with its gorgeous rings is high up in the sky, the Milky Way is passing with a whole bunch of clusters and nebulae in the centre of the our galaxy.

All these celestial bodies create an amazing view of the sky in September, the Kition Planetarium and Observatory said, noting that booking for private programmes is available until the end of September.

“Live the experience of unique planetarium programs, interesting collections of geological samples and fossils and space exhibits. Observe with professional telescopes the planets and gems of the night sky,” the science centre said.

An astronomy course under the title “Read the Sky” will take place in September. Covid-19 measures and decrees issued by the Cyprus government will be followed.

No more than 10 attendees per session will be accepted.

Kition Planetarium and Observatory added that the International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics took place in August this year.

Cyprus was represented by a team of five students. Ara Mahdessian (The English School, Nicosia) attended the Kition Astronomy Academy last year. This helped him achieve the first place in lyceum competitions in Cyprus, and won a bronze medal in the International Olympiad, the press release said.

Students who studied at the Kition Planetarium and Observatory have gained three out of the four honourably mentioned diplomas awarded to students from Cyprus in the International Olympiad as well as one bronze medal.

Registrations for the first year of KITION ASTRONOMY ACADEMY 2022-2023 have already started. There are three different levels available for students with the second year students starting lessons on September 9.