A Harry Potter to stargaze and wow

LONDON — British astronomers have come up with a new set of constellations inspired by modernday figures such as Harry Potter and Usain Bolt in an attempt to teach children about the structure of the universe.

The eight new constellations in the “Look Up to the Stars” project are the brainchild of The Big Bang Fair, a science education event for young people and astronomers at the University of Birmingham.

The proposals include Harry Potter’s glasses, a tennis racket for Serena Williams, a spaceship for astronaut Tim Peak, a blue whale for naturalist David Attenborough and a book in honor of Nobel-winner Malala Yousafzai.

The eight invented constellations are part of a bid “to get more young people interested in the universe”, The Big Bang Fair says in a statement.

Existing constellations are based on the zodiac and figures from ancient Greek and Roman mythology which “aren’t necessarily proving successful in enticing children today to look up at the stars”, it says.

A survey quoted by The Big Bang Fair found 29 percent of 7- to 19-yearolds admitted they would not be able to recognize a single classical constellation.

The survey also found 72 percent of children admitted they had never looked for a constellation at night.

“We really hope these new creations will help people of all ages develop their interest in space and astronomy,” Emma Willett, who led the University of Birmingham research team, says in the statement.

AFP A handout digital graphic image of a new constellation based on fictional boy wizard Harry Potter released by The Big Bang Fair.