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The day began painfully early—4:30 a.m.—before the sun had risen. By 6 a.m., we were on the bus, a mix of half-asleep students and caffeine-deprived chaperones embarking on a four-hour journey to the Shanghai Planetarium, the largest in the world. Many took the opportunity to catch up on lost sleep, their heads bobbing with every bump in the road.
Upon arrival, we were greeted by a mesmerising sight: a 16-meter pendulum, a scientific instrument used to demonstrate Earth’s rotation. It gracefully knocked over metallic dominoes in a circle, showing the change in direction of the pendulum’s swing, which is a result of Earth’s rotation. This demonstration was both fascinating and hypnotic—exactly how we felt after the long ride.
With only 30 minutes before our dome theatre experience, we hurried to the China Astronomy section, where we explored the rich history of Chinese astrophysics and its latest research developments. Then came the dome theatre, a visual sensory overload that launched us straight into the cosmos. Stars exploded, galaxies spiralled and black holes consumed light—all projected onto a massive spherical screen. It was impossible to look in just one place, making it both exhilarating and slightly disorienting.
After lunch, we entered the planetarium’s main exhibition, which felt like stepping into space itself. The room was dark, illuminated only by glowing celestial objects. There were interactive displays, a moon installation the size of a small room and an overwhelming amount of information to inspire budding astrophysicists. One student even declared they might become a rocket scientist after this visit!
One of the more surprising moments of the trip came when one of our brilliant Grade 12 students spotted a derivation of Einstein’s E=mc2 on a display board and decided to verify it. For the entire four-hour return journey, they worked through the equations with a pencil and notebook. Just before we arrived home, a triumphant shout rang out—they had found an error in the derivation! They even emailed the planetarium to report the mistake, adding an unexpected academic twist to our journey. We wait eagerly for the planetarium’s response!
The trip was nothing short of inspiring. What began as a sleepy, groggy journey turned into an unforgettable adventure through space and science. If you ever get the chance to visit the Shanghai Planetarium, don’t hesitate. Who knows? You might leave with a newfound curiosity, a passion for the stars, or simply the memory of an awe-inspiring adventure through the universe.
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