Students are star struck

LISA ADAMS/The Acorn SPACE FRONTIERS OF THE FUTURE - Mobile Ed Productions' Shelton Basham takes students, parents and teachers on a journey through the universe at Westlake Elementary School. While sitting in a 30 x 15-foot dome, students explore the stars of the Northern Hemisphere as they appear in the night sky, including constellations and Greek mythological characters. The Westlake Parent Faculty Association made the Starlab Planetarium possible. And it will visit other local schools.

Westlake Elementary School Parent Faculty Association (PFA) last week sponsored a family night event that took students and parents on a journey through the universe.

The multi-purpose room was transformed into a 30-foot diameter, 15-foot high planetarium by Mobile Ed Productions, a Redford, Mich.-based company that provides school assembly programs in elementary and middle schools throughout the United States.

According to Susan Halligan, PFA cultural assembly coordinator, about 350 parents and students registered for the 40-minute show that ran from 5 until 9 p.m. Halligan said the performance was at full capacity on Mon., Sept. 25 when parents were asked to register for the free event.

Mobile Ed planetarium teacher Shelton Basham is a resident of Orange County and said he’s one of very few employees who gets to go home at night.

"The rest of the employees spend seven to nine months of the year travelling on the road," he said.

Before entering the $16,000 dome, Basham read a few safety rules like no poking the dome or leaning into it.

Throughout the slide show Basham explored many aspects of astronomy including the stars of the Northern Hemisphere and all the planets.

The entire dome was covered with star, constellations and Greek mythological characters as Basham explained each one in detail. Through a humorous teaching style, Basham shared the latest scientific discoveries (for example, scientists have recently found 52 new stars).

He was both educational and entertaining for the audience and interacted with the students referring to them as "doctor."

Principal Bernie Carr said it was a great experience for the kids. "It touches on so many aspects of science and creates an interest for students for further exploration," Carr said.