Marbella’s Young Astronomers Recognized by NASA
Marbella may soon be known for more than its beautiful beaches and luxury resorts. The city could potentially be the birthplace of the next Galileo, Copernicus, or Kepler. While it’s too early to make such a prediction, it’s clear that Marbella is home to some promising young talent. Four students from IES Profesor Pablo del Saz, Carmen, Cristian, Pablo, and Ahmed, have recently been recognized by NASA for their theory on the periodicity of the sun’s spots.
Young Minds Make a Stellar Discovery
At just 12 and 13 years old, these students have achieved something extraordinary. They approached their teacher, Javier Cáceres, with a surprising discovery. They had noticed a correlation between the period of Jupiter’s orbit around the sun, which is 11 years, and the cycle of sunspots. This led them to theorize that Jupiter could be influencing our sun. This discovery was made as part of their astrobiology class, a pioneering subject in Spanish education, offered at their school for the past three years.
Simple Tools, Big Ideas
Armed with nothing more than a pencil, paper, and a thirst for knowledge, these students have proposed a theory that even the most seasoned astronomers are still exploring. Their teacher, Cáceres, was astounded by their findings and began reaching out to professional astronomers for their input. The consensus was that there has been little research into the potential influence of planets on sunspots.
Recognition from the Stars
The students’ theories caught the attention of NASA, who were so impressed that they congratulated the young astronomers and invited them for a Skype call. The students are thrilled with the opportunity to speak with Frits Paerels, a professor at Columbia University, and Caleb Scharf, the recipient of the Carl Sagan Medal for Astronomy Outreach and director of astrobiology at NASA.
Future Plans and Aspirations
This experience has sparked a deeper interest in science and physics among the students, who plan to continue their studies in these fields. They also hope to visit the Kennedy Space Center, NASA’s primary launch site for manned space flights.
Astrobiology at IES Profesor Pablo del Saz
The astrobiology class at IES Profesor Pablo del Saz is a relatively new addition to the curriculum. It was one of the first schools in Spain to offer this subject. The class currently has around 25 students who spend their time observing and drawing sunspots, studying the solar system, and learning about the true dimensions and order of the planets. These young astronomers from Marbella are eager to continue their exploration of the cosmos.
