Why Learn Astronomy?

Why Learn Astronomy and Space exploration?

Astronomy is the oldest science, a fascinating field that has captivated human imagination for centuries. But why is astronomy not taught much in schools? Part of the reason is traditional schooling has separated knowledge into categories, especially when it comes to the sciences, is this a good approach? So here is why it is useful (and arguably crucial) to learn astronomy:

1. Astronomy is a connected collective of all the sciences (... and more! More about this later) and a means to apply knowledge learned in the classroom. Successful educators know that the application of knowledge represents a higher level of understanding, and astronomy is one of the most natural subjects for demonstrating the application of the disjointed and unconnected knowledge learned in schools

2. Strong imagination and visualization is crucial to understanding astronomical and space phenomena. As a result, learning astronomy helps to foster a child's imaginative and visualization abilities. As a famous scientist (Albert Einstein) once said, imagination is more important than knowledge!

3. Astronomy and space exploration requires critical thinking and analytical skills. Understanding the nuances of how the underlying mechanics of the universe, as well as the engineering required to go to space. 

4. Astronomy has the ability to inspire and awe people of all ages. By sharing our knowledge and passion for astronomy, we can inspire others to explore the wonders of the universe and appreciate the beauty and complexity of the cosmos. This is also the reason why Natureverse Thailand was founded.

5. Astronomy is an exciting and constantly evolving field, with new discoveries and breakthroughs happening regularly, encouraging us to persistently curious. Learning astronomy encourages us to stay curious and engaged with the latest developments in science and technology, and helps us to remain grounded in the fact that there is so much out there that we don't know waiting to be discovered!

6. Astronomy is art! Astronomy has inspired a lot of artwork since ancient time, most popular include Van Gogh’s Starry Night, or The Planets by Gustav Holst. The universe is truly a source of inspiration for our human imagination without limits!

Bonus:

Did you know that to be an astronaut, you need to know astronomy? Part of an astronaut's training includes recognizing the stars in the sky to correctly align a spacecraft's orientation! (Reference: Charles "Sam" Gemar, who is former NASA Astronaut and frequently leads Starlight Education's Space Camps, check them out!) 

Recognizing the stars is exactly what we are sharing in our Star Explorer series of classes! Sign up here: https://forms.gle/4HBrGmi2pzj3Q35MA