VISUALIZATION IN ASTRONOMY AT GENERAL SCHOOL

This is an International Year of Astronomy (IYA 2009) when we pay great attention to astronomy education. The International Year of Astronomy is a year-long celebration of astronomy, taking place in 2009 to coincide with the 400th anniversary of the first recorded astronomical observations with a telescope by Galileo Galilei. Author presents a modern approach to teaching astronomy and planetary sciences, centered on visual images and simulations of planetary objects. The basic idea is to take the students to other celestial objects as tourists, and to teach science through the observations of various natural phenomena in these new environments. The power of scientific visualization, through still and dynamic images, makes such a journey an exciting learning experience. The introduction of new technologies (3D animations, virtual reality) greatly enhances the visualization capabilities the teacher can use, allowing him to simulate actual flights over the terrain of other planets and to study them as if observing from a spaceship in orbit. The present article focuses on the study of the Moon, planets, asteroids and Galaxies by means of observations, interpretations, and comparison to planet Earth. Students learn to recognize geological and atmospheric processes, discuss astronomic phenomena, celestial bodies and discover that the same basic physical laws govern all objects in the Solar system and Universe.