By Ron Chen. Correspondent ASEAN Region and Emmanuel Oluebube, Correspondent UK

With a recent focus on space missions and space exploration going intergalactic, there’s a renewed interest in the solar system and astronomy. To help families learn about the solar system and inspire the next generation of space explorers, this International Astronomy Day (15th May 2021), Canon Europe  has collaborated with TV presenter, author and world-class astronomer Mark Thompson, to share his tips connected to Canon’s Creative Park.

2021 has already showcased remarkable human achievements, such as the landing of NASA’s Perseverance Rover on Mars and Space X’s continued Starlink Mission. With more news set to lift off this year, interest in space exploration has spiked, with Twitter citing a 41% increase in conversation around astronomy and the starsi.

Sales and Marketing Director at Canon Central and North Africa said, “Canon’s Creative Park has a wide selection of 3D space-themed  paper kits, wall hangings and planetary stickers to get creative with. Available to download for free and print from home, Creative Park helps families learn about space in a fun and engaging way.”

Highlight assets include:

A 3D solar system mobileii  to learn about the structure of the solar system

Planet wall sticker sheetsiii  for decorating playroom walls

A backdrop of the moon’s surfaceiv,  which can be explored using the printable moon buggyv

International Space Station Colouring Sheetvi  for younger members of the family

Mark Thompson’s insightful astro tips include:

Be observant and see if you can spot history: The moon can be seen from all corners of Earth, and millions watched as Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first people to walk on its surface over fifty years ago. Canon’s Creative Park Apollo Lunar Module  is an iconic celebration of this historic achievement. But did you know that the site where Apollo 11 landed was called the Sea of Tranquillity? To spot the Sea of Tranquillity, familiarise yourself by finding a map of the moon, such as on NASA’s (https://go.nasa.gov/3f05gBp) website and see if you can find it. It looks like a large grey patch on the lunar surface, but it isn’t actually a sea, it’s lava.

The sky is full of moving surprises: If you look carefully, you might notice certain stars which appear to be moving faster than others. These are not stars, but satellites. A great example is the International Space Station, a giant science laboratory where astronauts and scientists live, whilst performing experiments in space. In future years, there could be space holidays to places similar to Canon’s Creative Park Space Hotel , but for now at least, we can transport our imagination to what that would be like.

Imagine new frontiers: Our ancestors referred to planets as ‘planetes’, Latin for ‘wanderers’, on account of their strange movement among the stars.  Did you know it is possible to see five planets simultaneously in the sky, including Mars, with the naked eye? Creative Park’s Mars Diorama will help you imagine what it would be like to stand on the surface of the red planet.

Map your journey: Mars is undoubtedly the next space destination humans will visit. The various rovers that have been mapping the surface, like Perseverance Rover which has just arrived, are essential in making this happen as we take our next step out among the stars.