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This website remains as a resource from International Heliophysical Year (IHY), which actually spanned from 2007 to 2008. It documents web-based links, resources and outcomes for information about studying our local star, The Sun. The information contained in this website is useful for anyone wanting to study the Sun, be they schools or members of the public. For schools it contains information about where parts of the project could be used across the National Curriculum as well as examples of children's work from the original project.

The Sun is responsible for generating the Aurora or Northern/Southern lights on the Earth and the indicator, top left of this page, tells you when there is strong solar activity and a chance to see the Aurora: green means no activity, amber is potential activity and red means a strong chance of observation.

The Planetarium & Observatory continue to hold public Solar Observing sessions, periodically throughout the year. These events are sponsored by the Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC), who provided the funding for the equipment to make this possible, details of forthcoming events are listed in the claendar below. We will still offer help and support to any schools who are wishing to follow elements of the original programme, please contact us at the Planetarium.

What this project was initially about

International Heliophysical Year (IHY) celebrated 50 years of space exploration with a worldwide programme of scientific research and outreach events based around the Sun and its effects on the Solar System. It was an initiative from the United Nations: www.sunearthplan.net  This website exists as a permanent resource, not only for the duration of IHY but for future use of the Sun and solar observing within the classroom environment as a tool of scientific method and enquiry within the curriculum.

The Planetarium in association with Stockton CLC, The Open University and The Mullard Space Science Laboratory presented a series of inter-related events to celebrate IHY 2007/08 for both schools and the public, details of which can be found under the About Menu above.

The schools strand of this programme ran for the academic year 2007/08 and is full of useful material that can be used across the curriculum year upon year. It ran for this year with the support of the Planetarium and thereafter stands alone with this website as a permanent resource.  The key element of this programme is the making and use of three pieces of equipment outlined under the Resource Menu which can be used to develop the theme of the Sun and it’s effect on the Earth and the other planets across wide areas of the National Curriculum from KS2 through to KS5 (and not only in science).

• Schools from across the North-East region of England registered their interest in participating in this programme by 5pm on Friday 19th October 2007.
• A FREE Solar Scope was offered to the first 20 schools to register with the planetarium to take part in this programme:
  • Solar Scopes were collected from the planetarium and were issued on condition of participation in the programme and the production of some course work relevant to the programme.
• A £50 Travel Bursary was available to the first 20 schools to register with the planetarium to be used to attend an event or talk at the planetarium relevant to this programme:
  • Travel Bursaries were issued upon production of an invoice to the planetarium claiming the money.

The Planetarium and Observatory are an educational resource of Stockton Borough Council. They are a joint venture between the local authority and the Cleveland and Darlington Astronomical Society, supporting science education on Teesside and across the northeast.

Phone: +44 (0) 1740 630544
Fax:      +44 (0) 1740 630544
Email:  director@wynyard-planetarium.net
Web:    www.wynyard-planetarium.net
Map:     View a google map