September - October 2004

EXHIBITION
Designed and produced by the exciting Graven Images, Exploring the Solar System is a 28 square metre touring exhibition made of a light metal frame resembling the architecture of space probes and space stations. The graphics and text panels use colour and texture to evoke the appearance of the planets and it includes information on all of the planetary missions in an accessible and interesting way.

As well as images and printed panels the exhibition also feature models of the Beagle 2 Antennae and of the solar system. The exhibition itself forms a unique space to host a huge range of related activities designed to attract a wide audience and features materials donated to the exhibition from PPARC (Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council and BNSC (British National Space Centre).

Date: 4-25 September
Venue: Business Centre 2000, Jogailos 4, Vilnius

Date: 2-23 October
Venue: Lithuanian Picture Gallery, Liepu 33, Klaipeda

ROBOTS
During the exhibition the 'Mars or Bust!' scenario sessions were run to involve the visitors. The sessions, simulating real problems to be solved when the humanity colonise Mars were offered to the participants. They were working in teams to create the smartest robot for solving the challenge.

PUBLIC LECTURE
Life Beyond the Earth by Dr Monica M. Grady
Find out more.
Date: 4 September
Venue: Business Centre 2000, Jogailos 4, Vilnius

Comet and Asteroid Impacts by Dr Marek J. Kukula
Find out more.
Date: 2 October
Venue: Lithuanian Picture Gallery, Liepu 33, Klaipeda

COMPETITION
5-12 form students from seconary schools in Lithuania were invited to take part t in the competition Going to the Mars and win a great set of robots worth 3500 Lt for their school.

They had to describe their vision of the expeditions to the Mars, various devises exploring the Red Planet, colonies of people in the Mars or fully inhabited planet).

The authors of the best works were asked to present them at the closing of the exhibition in Klaipeda Picture Gallery on 23 October.

The winners of the competition were

SEMINARS FOR TEACHERS
Earth in Space for 5-14 Year-Olds

Astronomy is an exciting science for many pupils. The workshop was led by Peter Craig, teacher trainer, and Marek Kukula, astronomer (The Royal Observatory Edinburgh, UK). It aimed to build the teachers' confidence in teaching astronomy and give practical ideas for the classroom. Topics covered included night and day, the Moon, the solar system and gravity.

Date: 29 September
Venue: Salomejos Neries Gimnazija, Vilniaus 32/2, Vilnius

Date: 1 October
Venue: Prano Masioto Secondary School, Varpu 3, Klaipeda