Light Lens at Palomar Observatory

Telescopes & Light Adventure Pack

High atop Palomar Mountain, the dome is opening… but the images are distorted.

Mirrors are slightly misaligned. Focus systems are drifting. Light from distant stars is arriving, but the spectrum data is incomplete. Ari Raider has detected a disruption at Palomar Observatory, and if the telescope systems are not recalibrated, vital observations of the universe could blur into confusion.

In Light Lens at Palomar Observatory, students board the Sky-Dome Shuttle and enter a high-stakes astronomy mission. By exploring how telescopes use mirrors and lenses, how magnification and focus sharpen images, and how light travels in different wavelengths across the spectrum, explorers must restore clarity to the observation system and bring distant space back into view.

This adventure blends physics, optics, and astronomy with story-driven exploration.

About This Adventure Pack

Light Lens at Palomar Observatory is designed for elementary explorers and connects directly to an interactive online adventure.

Students can complete the Light Lens at Palomar Observatory adventure online for free, including access to free printable trading cards that match this experience. The online adventure delivers the full learning and story-driven mission without requiring a physical kit.

👉 Explore the free Light Lens at Palomar Observatory adventure here:
Coming Soon

For families or classrooms that want to extend the experience, this Adventure Pack adds collectible cards and hands-on components that bring the telescope mission into the physical world.

The learning experience is the same whether students use the physical pack or not. The pack simply adds a tactile, collectible layer to the adventure.

What This Adventure Covers

Each Light Lens at Palomar Observatory Adventure Pack explores core telescope and light concepts, including:

• Telescope – An instrument used to observe distant objects
• Mirror – A reflective surface that bounces light to form an image
• Lens – A curved piece of glass that bends light
• Focus – Adjusting a device so an image becomes clear and sharp
• Magnification – Making an object appear larger
• Image – A visual representation formed by light
• Spectrum – The range of different types of light arranged by wavelength
• Wavelength – The distance between waves of light
• Observation – Careful watching and recording of information

Each topic appears naturally within the adventure and is required to move the story forward, reinforcing understanding through exploration and hands-on reasoning rather than memorization.

What’s Inside the Pack

• Adventure-Filled Field Pack (6×9 Adventure Pouch)
• Adventure Mission Card
• Interactive Online Adventure
• Knowledge Card Pack
• Mystery Dig Kit
• Dig Stick Tool
• Cleaning Wipe
• Mystery Collectible Specimen (Gemlet)
• Gemlet Storage Container
• Excavating Adventures Sticker

Why Kids Love It

Opening a giant observatory dome, sharpening blurry star images, solving light puzzles, and uncovering a real mystery specimen makes astronomy feel powerful and immersive.

Why Teachers and Parents Love It

Light Lens at Palomar Observatory supports elementary STEM standards through clear explanations of optics, light behavior, and scientific observation. The adventure encourages careful reasoning, curiosity about space, and hands-on understanding of how instruments extend human vision.

The adventure works for whole-class instruction, small groups, or independent learning — with or without the physical pack.

Free Adventure Option

Light Lens at Palomar Observatory is also available online for free, including free printable trading cards that align directly with this adventure. No purchase is required to participate.

This reflects our mission at Excavating Adventures: to make engaging, story-driven adventures accessible to everyone.

👉 Explore the free Light Lens at Palomar Observatory adventure here:
Coming Soon