HartRAO Home saasta

HartRAO Home > news > Astronomy Quiz National Final at HartRAO 2007/10/26


Astronomy Quiz National Final at HartRAO 2007/10/26


The SAASTA astronomy quiz was organised through six centres in 2007: HartRAO, and SciBono Discovery Centre in Gauteng, Boyden Science Centre in Bloemfontein, SAAO in Cape Town, SALT in the Northern Cape and Unizul Science Centre in Richards Bay. Aimed at Grade 7 learners, the first round at each centre involved teams of four learners from 30 or more schools. Four quiz rounds reduced this to one team from each centre, who arrived at HartRAO on Friday 26 October for the National finals.

Two schools were also finalists in 2006 - Arethabeng from Soshanguve and Eunice from Bloemfontein. The other area finalists were Springbok, Isikhokelo, Muldersdrift and Felixton.

This project was funded by SAASTA as a contribution to DST's astronomy platform month, and was ably managed by a SAASTA team.

quiz final
Left click on image for large version. Credit M Gaylard / HartRAO

The teams await the start of the quiz. Quiz organiser Ina Roos can be seen standing in the background on the right.

quiz final
Left click on image for large version. Credit M Gaylard / HartRAO

SAASTA CEO Beverley Damonse welcomes the teams and guests.

quiz final
Left click on image for large version. Credit M Gaylard / HartRAO

One of the scorers and the timekeeper wait for action as Beverley Damonse completes her speech.

quiz final
Left click on image for large version. Credit M Gaylard / HartRAO

Scene from the back of the hall as Byren Archary, Acting Director: Science Platforms, Department of Science and Technology, addresses the teams.

quiz final
Left click on image for large version. Credit M Gaylard / HartRAO

The quiz gets underway. Three is the popular answer to this question.

quiz final
Left click on image for large version. Credit M Gaylard / HartRAO

A study in concentration as the next question is revealed.

quiz final
Left click on image for large version. Credit M Gaylard / HartRAO

Intense discussion within the teams about the question.

quiz final
Left click on image for large version. Credit M Gaylard / HartRAO

And they agree on the answer.

quiz final
Left click on image for large version. Credit M Gaylard / HartRAO

Relief as the answer is revealed - and the teams were right.

quiz final
Left click on image for large version. Credit M Gaylard / HartRAO

Sam Rametse from HartRAO had the job of projecting the questions.

quiz final
Left click on image for large version. Credit M Gaylard / HartRAO

What is the answer to this one?

quiz final
Left click on image for large version. Credit M Gaylard / HartRAO

It looks like Laerskool Muldersdrift got it right.

quiz final
Left click on image for large version. Credit M Gaylard / HartRAO

The questions became more challenging as the quiz progressed. Here three different answers have been chosen - who will be right?

quiz final
Left click on image for large version. Credit M Gaylard / HartRAO

Quiz mistress Tebogo Gule addresses the teams at the end of the first round, where the closeness of the contest is revealed by the scores on the flipchart.

quiz final
Left click on image for large version. Credit M Gaylard / HartRAO

Into the second round of ten questions - who got this one right?

quiz final
Left click on image for large version. Credit M Gaylard / HartRAO

More intense debate on this question.

quiz final
Left click on image for large version. Credit M Gaylard / HartRAO

Nearing the end - and someone has to be wrong on this one.

quiz final
Left click on image for large version. Credit M Gaylard / HartRAO

Its over! Waiting now for the final results, supporters gather around their teams.

quiz final
Left click on image for large version. Credit M Gaylard / HartRAO

Nearby Laerskool Muldersdrift brought a large contingent.

quiz final
Left click on image for large version. Credit M Gaylard / HartRAO

Arethabeng supporters from Soshanguve.

quiz final
Left click on image for large version. Credit M Gaylard / HartRAO

And the winners are - Eunice from Bloemfontein! Last year's runners-up triumph. HartRAO Director Roy Booth hands out the prizes. The team prize was a 20cm telescope, from Eridanus Optics in Tshwane. Each team member also received a pair of 8x56 binoculars obtained at cost from Eridanus Optics, plus the book "Skywatching". Eridanus optics also sponsored a solar filter sheet for each school.

quiz final
Left click on image for large version. Credit Kim Trollip / SAASTA

With the telescope prize are, from left to right, Suzie Maruma of SAASTA, Pragya Dawadi, Naomi Steinberg, Ms Mia Zealie (Eunice teacher), Jacquis Ras, Jodie Muller and Professor Roy Booth.

quiz final
Left click on image for large version. Credit M Gaylard / HartRAO

Announcer Helen Malherbe of SAASTA, with Eunice teacher Mia Zealie and Roy Booth.

quiz final
Left click on image for large version. Credit M Gaylard / HartRAO

But every team who participated had already won their way through four rounds in the local area competitions, and all left with prizes. Here the Arethabeng team collect theirs from Roy Booth.

quiz final
Left click on image for large version. Credit M Gaylard / HartRAO

Laerskool Muldersdrift collect their prizes.