The Hidden Gem must to go in Seoul, Science Donga Astronomical Observatory(과학동아 천문대)

How romantic it is to see the stars at night with the loving persons!

This was the special experience for me to awake my intellectual instinct. You are able to so shortly realize that science is intriguing, exciting and interesting live study. What a surprisingly, there is an Astronomical Observatory in the Seoul Metropolitan center. ‘In the heart of downtown Seoul’. Compared with that general astronomical observatory is situated in the mountain, the location of this one inside bustling Seoul city is the best of best merit point.

As the reason of my laziness, I mean those kinds of observatory are too far to get there from the city, I put in a request for an observation program of full moon and some stars without any hesitation. I had thought that it should be located at the deep and clean environment such as mountain. To be frank with me, I was not great hopes to this observation. However it didn’t take a long time to find out that it was an utterly groundless concern.

Before observation, We got some beneficial lesson in this room

High quality, fluent, profitable, simple terms and proper images were provided for the time being around two hours experience. What is more, science commentator made us smile so often. If I learned the science with like as these kinds of lesson, I might be as a  scientist now. After taking a lesson, we went to up to the rooftop where we could experience to handle telescope and observe the celestial bodies (heavenly bodies). There were several telescopes for the observation of moon and stars. I saw the Sirius, the brightest star except the Sun in the Earth night sky, and understood the meaning of ‘like the shining stars’ (like as diamond).

building shown on the rooftop

moon captured by mobile phone through connected telescope

I took a photo of the full moon clearly through connected telescope. How amazing it was! In Planetarium which was equipped with dome screen of 8 meters and high resolution digital projector, I could enjoy the virtual observation of constellation (star sign) and the visual image of moon and space exploration. At that time I seemed to being an astronaut. In the circular dome observatory rotating ceiling 360 degrees and 7 meters in diameter, we saw the Jupiter having Galilean moons (the largest of the four moons of Jupiter and discovered by Galileo Galilei in 1610).

inside the Planetarium,you will see the video image on the lying the chair

Circular Observatory Dome with the full moon on the sky

It was observed at the outside. To be thanks, they prepared the blanket in advance. So we could did experience more warm and comfortable. Let me briefly explain you the lesson what I got in the class.

the solar system

In Korea, we have good feeling to the moon as compared with the western countries having negative feeling. In the past we believed that rabbit lived in there and prayed for ones’ wishes looking up to it on a full moon night. Although everybody knows that there is no more rabbit in the moon, we still pray for their wishes on a special full moon night. The Moon is in synchronous rotation with the Earth, always showing the same face with its near side marked by dark volcanic maria. Scientists defined that ‘Impact Crater’ is approximately circular depression in the surface at a planet, moon or other solid body in the solar system and formed by the hypervelocity impact of a smaller body with the surface. To be interesting, the craters are named after according to some rules. In case of the Moon, it is from the scientist’s name. In case of the Mercury, from artist’s one. In case of the Venus, from women’s name. Very interesting.

The Moon

The Moon surface

The Moon Craters names such as Armstrong,Aldrin,Collins-Crews of Apollo11

The Mercury Craters names such as Beethoven,Goya,Liszt-Artists

This is the picture of the Eugene M. Shoemaker, geologist, who spent much of his later years searching for and finding unnoticed or undiscovered impact craters around the world, and Barringer Crater in Arizona State, USA.

The Doctor Eugene Shoemaker and the Barringer Crater

This is the typical appearance of Meteor Crater and he set a theory about the formation and relation with the planets of crater and it is now widely accepted as scientific fact. He wanted to go the moon and he became only the one person who had been gone to after his death by the Lunar Prospector space probe loading his some of ashes in a capsule in 1999. This observatory is operated by Donga Science Co.Ltd., It is a company publishing ‘Donga Science’ and ‘Children Science Donga’ which is the leading monthly science magazine boasting 22 years biweekly. They have many kinds of observation programs. Ongoing program, program for adult and on a special day programs are undergoing. They proceed the program regrettably only in Korean (video images are given in English). However whatever it is, I would like to recommend to try about this program.

How to get there; their web site...click here !!

 address – 109 chungparo (Najin Electronics World building on 7^th floor),

 yongsan-gu Seoul(용산구 청파로109 나진전자 빌딩 7층) 

 Tel, +82-2-6749-2000 Fax +82-2-3148-0789

 I recommend to use taxi from the near subway station( line1 Yongsan st.용산역 exit #3 or line4 Shinyongsan st.신용산역 exit #5) because it is not easy to get there on foot from the subway stations. It is far within 5 minutes by tax.