Upper Elements learn about telescopes
Dylan looks through an Observatory telescope at Stonyhurt's eagles
Upper Elements’ (Year 6) science lesson took an interesting turn when Dylan brought in a telescope that he made at home with his grandad and two brothers. It was shown it to the class in the library, where Dylan explained how it was made and how it works. It is a reflector telescope which means that it focuses light with a curved mirror; Dylan made the tube and base of the telescope whilst his younger brother Harvey welded it all together and his youngest brother Archie painted it. The mirror is 14 inches in diameter and the telescope has a magnification of 250 times. Mr O'Reilly came across from the College to see the telescope, after which he took Upper Elements to have a look at the telescopes at the College Observatory. Mr O'Reilly also showed them the observatory telescope which is a refractor, meaning that it focuses light by bending light through lenses rather than Dylan's reflector model.
Everyone was fascinated to learn about telescopes and enjoyed visiting the Stonyhurst Observatory, which is one of the oldest in the country.