Glimpse of night skies proves to be heaven sent for pupils

Children from Cundall Manor School in North Yorkshire were able to see an interstellar panorama which is no longer seen because of light pollution by using a planetarium that projects the night skies – and beyond - onto its giant dome.

The group of 400 students included Courtney Painter and Thomas Kayll, both 15, who are studying for a GCSE in astronomy, which has just been introduced at the independent school.

The head of science, Graham Smith, claimed the planetarium had led to an “overwhelming reaction” and created a desire among many of the pupils to sign up for the new astronomy course.

He said: “It was very inspiring and really helped even the young children understand our solar system and also Earth’s role within the cosmos – which gives great perspective and increases their understanding of what we are and where we are in the scheme of things and promotes the need to care for our planet.”

Ex-primary teacher Richard Lake runs the Polestar Planetarium, which he claimed helps astronomy “come alive” for children.

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