Scotland’s new constellation for the International Year of Astronomy 2009 has been chosen.

The Scotland-wide Constellation Project is one of many exciting projects worldwide celebrating the International Year of Astronomy 2009. Eight Schools from all over Scotland have taken part in the Constellation Project to create a new constellation for IYA 2009. Each school was linked to an important astronomy site and they selected a star whose distance in light years corresponds to the age of the site. (See additional info. below for a detailed explanation). As well as choosing their school star they enjoyed two days of workshops with a planetarium show, magic and art workshops led by Professor John Brown (Astronomer Royal for Scotland) and artist Gill Russell. The 8 stars were linked to form the new constellation and a competition run to create a design. From over 200 entries, ‘Ode to a Mouse’ or ‘Wee Sleekit Beastie ‘ by Laura Doliczny, age 11 from Dalmeny Primary School was selected as the winning design. A prize giving ceremony will take place in the Glasgow Science Centre (date and details TBA)

2nd Prize was given to Laura Runciman, Age 9, Lauder Primary School.
3rd Prize was shared between Abdur Rehman Desai, Age 11, Glendale Primary School,
and Ruby Partridge, Age 12, Broadford Primary School.

Project Manager and artist Gill Russell can be contacted for more information on 07811 458066 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Additional Information Details of the project are at http://www.cosmicsky.co.uk/psconstellation.htm

The distances in space are so vast that the the light we see from the stars takes years or thousands of years to cross the vast distances in space to our eyes. So when we look at the stars we are looking back in time. For example, our youngest site the Mills Observatory ( built in 1935), was linked to Coupar Angus Primary school . They chose Aldeberan, a star that is around 65 light years away so the light we see from Aldeberan today left around the time the Mills Observatory was built. Orkney schools - Sanday and Stronsay, are linked to Maeshowe, which is the oldest site and was built around 5000 years ago. They chose the Double Cluster in Perseus, an object that is thousands of light years away and whose light we see left around the time Maeshowe was built!