Heart of the Atacama

Heart of the Atacama!
(News courtesy ESA)

This satellite image shows the heart-shaped Miscanti lake and smaller Miñiques lake in northern Chile.

The lakewater is brackish – meaning that it’s saltier than freshwater, but not as much as seawater. This is due to the salinity in the soil. Chile’s largest salt flat – the Salar de Atacama – lies to the west (not pictured). 

Two partially snow-covered volcanoes can be seen above and below the lakes on the right, while plains stretch out to the west in a nearly vegetation-free environment. 

The area pictured is part of the Atacama Desert, which runs along part of South America’s central west coast. It is considered one of the driest places on Earth, as moisture from the Amazon Basin is blocked by the Andes to the east, as well as from the Pacific Ocean by the Chilean Coastal Range to the west. Pacific Ocean currents and wind circulation also play a major role in the desert climate.

Because of the Atacama plateau’s high altitude, low cloud cover and lack of light pollution, it is one of the best places in the world to conduct astronomical observations and home to two major observatories.

Some areas of the desert have been compared to the planet Mars, and have been used as a location for filming scenes set on the red planet. Just last year, ESA tested a self-steering rover in the Atacama, which was selected for its similarities to martian conditions.

The Japanese Advanced Land Observation Satellite, or ALOS, captured this image on 30 May 2010.

Herschel solves mystery of Jupiter's water!!

(news courtesy ESA)

Shoemaker-Levy 9 impact site G

24 April 2013

Jupiter, the largest planet in the Solar System, is mostly made of the gases hydrogen and helium. Tiny amounts of water have been found in its upper atmosphere, but, until now, no one was sure where this water came from. The answer to the long-standing mystery has been given by ESA’s Herschel space observatory, the most sensitive infrared telescope ever launched. Herschel has found conclusive evidence that the water was delivered by multiple comet impacts in July 1994!

Collisions with incoming cosmic debris are a continuous threat to the planets of the Solar System, including Earth. However, few impacts have actually been observed by scientists. The first direct observation of such an event occurred at Jupiter, 19 years ago. Astronomers watched in astonishment as 21 pieces of comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 plunged into the planet’s upper atmosphere and exploded.

Water in Jupiter's Atmosphere

ESA’s Infrared Space Observatory, launched in 1995, was the first to detect and study water in Jupiter's upper atmosphere. Scientists were able to exclude an internal source, such as water rising from below. But if the water was delivered from outside, where did it come from?

It was widely speculated that comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 may have been the origin of this water, but direct proof was missing. Now Herschel’s sensitive infrared eyes have solved the mystery. The space observatory has found 2-3 times more water in the southern hemisphere of Jupiter than in the northern hemisphere. The traces of water are only found at high altitudes and most of it is concentrated around the sites of the 1994 comet impacts.

Even more detailed observations of the gases that make up Jupiter’s massive atmosphere will be made by ESA’s JUICE mission, which is planned for launch towards the giant world in 2022.

Comets can do so much and more!! 

Glimpse of our new product launch: Science Shows for Primary

6th August 2013: Kids of Amity International School, Gurgaon enjoy the demo launch of Science Shows!!

Science Shows has been especially designed for classes I - V, it gives students an interesting combination on Hands on Activities and interactive science demos wherein kids learn interesting concepts of Physics, Chemistry & Astronomy. This program is designed to inculcate an interest among primary students for science related subjects. 

Cheers Team Zlife

Space & Science Workshop Conducted at Delhi Public School, Nashik

Our team from Delhi was recently in Nashik to conduct a Science Workshop at the newly inaugurated Delhi Public School (Nashik). The school is nicely situated at the outskirts of the city with a fine infrastructure and a very cordial staff. ­

Around 40 students of 4th& 5th Standard attended this 3 day workshop. The aim of the workshop was to impart learning by involving kids in various hands on activities related to space and science like Circumference of Earth, Sun Spots Observation, Hydro Rocketry & Evening Sky Observation. Learning is always fun when you can practically apply what is taught to you!!


Day 1: 22nd May’13

The workshop started around 11:00 A.M and continued till 3:00 P.M, the first topic covered was Circumference of Earth – Kids used Eratosthenes primitive yet effective way to evaluate COE. 
Later the kids observed Sun Spots using Sky Watcher EQ 3-2 (telescope) securely covered by a solar filter as we should not see the sun through naked eye. (Viewing the sun directly through naked eye can permanently damage the eyes). 

Day 2: 23rd May’13

On the second day of the workshop the kids were introduced to Hydro Rocketry. The session started with a presentation where they learnt about the dynamics and trajectory of Rockets. 

Later the students applied the concepts learned during the presentation by designing their own Double Bottle Rockets. The whole group was divided into 4 teams while designing the rockets. The kids were at their creative best and had lots of fun designing their own rockets.

The last and the most exciting step was to launch those rockets. This final step hardly lasts a few minutes but is the most fun when you see the rockets going high above the ground and crashing 100 feet away!!

Day 3: 24th May’13
The last day of the workshop had the most interesting part - Evening Sky Observation which started around 6:00 P.M and went on till 9:00 P.M. The kids observed Saturn and Moon using the Sky Watcher EQ 3-2. On this final day the kids were accompanied by their parents and even the parents actively and excitedly participated in observing these celestial objects. 

During the first half of this workshop the kids were given a presentation to make them understand the working and handling of a telescope. Later the kids were divided into 4 teams and each team was given a 3.5 inch reflector telescope which they handled themselves and observed Saturn and Moon. As expected the kids and their parents were in awe when they observed the crater’s on the Moon and the Rings of Saturn.

Lastly there was a small closing ceremony where everybody together celebrated the successful completion of the workshop. We presented the kids with certificates & medals, and the school was given a memento and in return our team was presented with return gifts as an appreciation gesture.

Venus Transit: One of the most important astronomical events of this Century

One of the rarest of predictable astronomical phenomenon occurred on Tuesday and Wednesday (5 & 6 June 2012) when Venus passed directly between the Sun and Earth, a transit that will not occur again until the year 2117.

The skies were a bit cloudy initially but several brief breaks in the clouds allowed for some stunning Venus transit views.

The transit of 2012 lasted approximately 6 hours and 40 minutes. Starting at 3:39 A.M IST it was widely visible around the globe. Some countries saw the transit on Tuesday, while others saw it on Wednesday morning (due to Earth's rotation on its axis).

Due to the planet's (Venus) tilted orbit, Venus transits are so rare that only eight have been observed since the invention of the telescope more than 400 years ago. This particular Venus transit was the last transit of the 21st century; the prior transit took place on 8th June 2004. The previous pair of transits was in December 1874 and December 1882. The next transits of Venus will be in December, 10th & 11th 2117 and in December 2125.

Children & parents wait in line to view the 2012 Venus transit 

Our Zlife Education Astronomy team organized the event at Ahlcon International School, Mayur Vihar and at Camp Mustang (20 kms from Gurgaon) on 6th June 2012. Astronomy enthusiast kids along with their curious parents joined in the event, to view the last Venus Transit of this century, an event of which they can be sure will not be witnessed again in our lifetimes since the next one will happen only after 105.5 years.

Camp Mustang

Astronomy enthusiasts gathered around to view the transit of Venus, an event that will not occur again in our lifetimes

The event started at sunrise approx 5:23 A.M and lasted till 10:19 A.M. Initially there was a lot of disappointment as the sky was a bit cloudy, with only brief moments when it would be clear. However by 8:00 A.M the sky was completely clear to view the remaining transit without hassles.

Students at Ahlcon International School

Parents as enthusiastic as kids to view the transit

In the end we had a bunch of happily satisfied curious minds who witnessed a significant astronomical event.

Were you able to view the Venus Transit? Let us know in the comments. 
Follow us on Facebook

OCL (Outside Classroom Learning) Program For Hopetown Girls School, Dehradun

25th March - 29th March 2012

MID TERM’S a few years ago this word was associated with quarterly exams, however Hopetown School has given this word a new meaning, now it’s their annual outing for students to various locations. And this time the girls of Class VIII landed on our very own Camp Redstone. 

Super charged up the girls arrived at Camp Redstone on 25th March’12 around 9’O clock in the morning least expecting what’s in-store for them. After a bit of briefing regarding the camp and its location the girls went to have their breakfast. Later they were divided into 6 teams of 10 students each, and were asked to design their team flags and slogans, this they did with full enthusiasm and spirit and created beautiful flags just like you’d imagine girls would do, all glittery and jazzed up!

After a little further briefing about the day’s activities and Do’s & Don't at the camp, the kids went exploring the Camp surroundings with the camp manager. After lunch the students learnt about Rope Knots, various types and its importance and where to use it practically. In fact to test the same they further went on for their next activity “Raft Building”, for this 2 teams were grouped together and were supposed to collectively build a raft and further test the rafts durability at the Camps very own private lake. The excitement for this activity was noteworthy!

After munching on their evening snacks the girls went on for team games testing their leadership, coordination and unity. After dinner they went on for their last activity of the day an “experiment on stalactites and stalagmites”.

Day 2, started early at 5:45 AM with a lot of cribbing and light exercises followed by happy faces after seeing breakfast being served. After breakfast, again a lot of cribbing and health excuses, since today was their day long hike (The kids were not aware that the hike was cut short and they were to return to camp earlier than planned). Anyhow they march on carrying the material for lunch prep since they were suppose to cook their own meals today (unknown of the surprise hidden MAGGIE). The trek led them to a government school where they interacted with the school kids and teachers, getting entertained by the students of the school by their dance and music performances and later on doing the same for those kids. On the way back, we finally halted at the spot where the teams were suppose to cook their Maggie, it was amazing to see what a bunch of hungry kids can do with their packs of Maggie, just one word ‘DELICIOUS’. Energized again we head back to the camp for yet another wilderness survival activity “Shelter Making”, needless to say the girls again did a wonderful job. 

Today after these activities the teams were given different camp tasks to perform like managing Food, House Keeping, Bonfire, Leave No Trace and Media, a time slot was allotted for these camp management tasks and in the span of 3 days all the 6 teams were to take care of all these activities one by one. It was amazing to see the dedication with which the girls performed all these tasks.

Later after dinner, 3 teams went on for their Night Sky Observation all excited to spot Saturn’s rings and the craters on Moon, learning about constellations and other heavenly objects. The other 3 teams chose to watch a movie however later decided to hit the bed early since they had to wake up early the next day for their Bird Watching session.

Day 3, started with an early morning wake up call for the 3 teams who had Bird Watching today, however today there was no cribbing. The girls spotted 18 varieties of birds and returned happily to the camp to have breakfast.

After breakfast, different teams went for different activities like ‘Nature Furniture’, ‘Rocketry’, ‘Adventure Activities’, Circumference of earth and directions using shortest shadow method and finally doing the ‘Treasure Hunt’ in between returning for lunch, these activities carried on till the evening. Later tonight there was a surprise party for the girls of Hopetown combined with Birthday celebrations of a classmate. The energy with which they danced, no one could say that these girls had a tiring and hectic day. Finally they were made to go to bed at 11:00 P.M by their teachers since they were again supposed to wake up early the next day.

Day 4 went on almost the same way as day 3 till lunch and later after lunch everybody headed out for the ‘Cave Exploration Trek’, the girls were tired yet full of spirit and they went ahead to explore the Cave with the Stalagmites and Stalactites formation, having yet another informational journey. The girls returned to camp just in time for evening snacks later followed by camp tasks and then submitting their journals. Today again we had a clear night sky and the teams went onto observe the planets and constellations.

Day 5 was the final day at Camp Red Stone for the girls of Hopetown School. 3 teams went ahead for their final stretch of activities ‘Rocketry’, they made their own rockets and successfully launched them, understanding the principals of good designing and aerodynamic efficiency. Finally around 11:30 A.M to wind up the trip, they had their prize distribution and luncheon.