CTE teacher, school help students view stars at astronomy event

By Melissa McCaghren

Slatonite GM

Stargazing enthusiasts at Cathelene Thomas Elementary School gathered their own “star clusters” to participate in a stargazing event Thursday (Aug. 26) in the parking lot at City Hall.

Jody Marriott, fifth grade science teacher at CTE, helped get the three telescopes that were used to see planets such as Venus, as well as other stars.

“The Community Foundation of West Texas offers Teachers Mini-Grants,” she said. “I applied by writing a proposal and I was granted the money for my proposal for ‘Tigers Reaching for the Stars’.”

The three telescopes, which cost $545.55 total and were covered by the grant, were a Gskyer Telescope 600X90mm AZ Astronomical Retractor Telescope that can reach the rings of Saturn, a Free Soldier 70mm Aperture Refractor Telescope, Moon Telescope that can pick up planets as far as Jupiter, and a Celestron – AstroMaster 70AZ Refractor Telescope, which also can reach up to Saturn.

Marriott said she applied for the grant to create an opportunity for community stargazing. “I wanted my students and their families and members of our community to be able to enjoy the wonders of our solar system,” she said.

For more information, please read the Thursday edition of The Slatonite.