As part of outreach activities in educational institutions, a group of astronomers from CATA visited School El Raco in Puente Alto.
Why does our solar system have the planets we know? How did they end up in their orbits? These are some of the questions addressed during a workshop on exoplanets conducted by astronomers from the Center for Astrophysics and Associated Technologies (CATA) during their visit to School El Raco in Puente Alto.
Throughout the day, students from various grades and levels learned how scientific progress and the development of large telescopes—many of which are located in Chile—have made it possible to discover more than 5,000 planets outside our solar system.
Alongside this presentation, CATA’s Science Communication Coordinator, José Utreras, and CATA astronomers Benjamín Silva (a Ph.D. student at Universidad Católica) and Silvio Ulloa (a master’s student at Universidad de Chile) conducted engaging activities designed to spark students’ curiosity about these elements of space.
“The goal of the workshop is to stimulate curiosity about the types of exoplanets identified, foster discussions about the likelihood of their existence, explore the possibility of finding a habitable planet, and, ultimately, consider the chances of discovering a planet like ours in the galaxy,” explained Silvio Ulloa, a CATA astronomer.
Students randomly created their own planetary systems based on a red, yellow, or blue star and observed the consequences of these configurations for their planets—whether rocky like Earth, gaseous giants like Jupiter, or other possibilities.
The workshop involved rolling dice to generate different stellar systems. Each student designed their star system, distributed planets around it, and determined whether they were habitable. This approach highlighted the uniqueness of our own solar system, which harbors the exceptional conditions necessary for life.
“For the community of School El Raco, the visit from CATA astronomers is highly significant as it validates our Astronomical Hub as a dedicated educational space that promotes knowledge in this field. Direct interaction with CATA professionals provides an opportunity for students with a keen interest in astrophysics and represents a potential pathway for higher education. In our mission to support our students in becoming their best selves, these events expand cultural horizons, spark new interests, and nurture talents. We deeply appreciate CATA’s generous response and their scientific outreach efforts,” emphasized Sandra Aguilera, Principal of School El Raco in Puente Alto.