Running rings around the competition, Alexia de Costa, a
sixth-grader from Queen of Apostles School in Alexandria, was one of nine
national winners of NASA’s Cassini Scientist for a Day. Her winning essay on
Saturn earned her and her classmates the opportunity to attend a
videoconference with NASA scientists May 23. Winners from California to
Pennsylvania also attended.
Dex Curi, middle school science teacher, said the students were
prepared for the videoconference. “The students have been saturated with
knowledge of Saturn,” he said. “It is an incredible privilege and we are very
lucky (to participate).”
Although the students prepared several questions, they only had
time to ask two — Is there a potential
for life on Saturn, and what could make the rings of Saturn disappear?
Contestants wrote an essay about one of three photo observations
taken by the Cassini spacecraft — Enceladus’ plumes, Titan’s lakes or Saturn’s hexagon
and explained what they hope to learn, and which photo would provide the most
interesting scientific results.
De Costa believed observing Saturn’s hexagon would yield the best
scientific results. She was interested in what caused the hexagon, which is a
six-sided jet stream, to form; why it only appears on the north pole; and what
the conditions are that might have contributed to its formation.
Her essay reads in part: “We do not know how long Saturn's hexagon
storm in the north pole will last but by studying the movement of the hexagon
and any patterns of change, it is possible that we can learn more and perhaps
have a better understanding about the exact influence of the winds hidden under
the stormy clouds in the upper atmosphere.”
De Costa’s interest in the solar system came from books she
received from her uncle. She entered the contest, which challenges students to
become scientists, to study Saturn because she was fascinated with the planet and
hopes to design things to explore the mysteries of Saturn when she is older.
“I am impressed by Alexia's winning essay and grateful
that she and her classmates were a part of this interesting discussion,” said Kathryn
A. Littlefield, principal of Queen of Apostles School.