Astronomy Outreach Database

INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF ASTRONOMY - IYA2009

IYA Notes from Sept 16 EPO Meeting
Notes from July 24 IYA Meeting
RESOURCES PAGE PowerPoints, lesson and activity ideas

IYA flier

International Site http://www.astronomy2009.org/
National site http://www.astronomy2009.us
NASA site http://astronomy2009.nasa.gov/
Video trailer http://www.youtube.com/user/astronomy2009

IDEAS WITHIN NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL THEME AREAS:
* Targeted ideas that have been discussed in IYA and EPO meetings or are in the works already

LOOKING THROUGH A TELESCOPE (star parties, sidewalk astronomy, observing objects Galileo observed, remote robotic telescopes...)
- 100 Hours of Astronomy (April 2-5) http://www.astronomy2009.org/cornerstone-projects-mainmenu-80/100-hours-...
- Bring your own telescope night at Fuertes; activities for kids
- a focus on objects Galileo observed at Fuertes (moon, Venus, Jupiter's moons, Saturn...)
- Galileoscopes (U.S. hosted Cornerstone project; designing a telescope for $10 each) http://astronomy2009.us/optics/galileoscope/
- Virtual telescope activities for teachers and students
SLOOH http://www.slooh.com/
MicroObservatory http://mo-www.harvard.edu/MicroObservatory/
Hands on Universe http://www.handsonuniverse.org/

CLASSROOMS & FAMILIES (activities for schools, afterschool programs, families, camps, youth groups...)
- National Astronomy Week/Day - April 27-3/May 2 http://www.astroleague.org/al/astroday
* Halloween at Fuertes - public program geared at young children - treats, observing, activities
* newspaper column (using Q&A from 'Ask a Scientist')
* Science Cafe (AGN)
* Contest for kids (drawings, posters, etc - to be displayed in public places)
- special program/s for families at public library - LPI Explore program http://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/explore/
* Afterschool Universe http://universe.nasa.gov/au/
* Teacher workshops
Beyond the Solar System (grades 9-14) http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/seuforum/btss/
GEMS Space Science Sequence Core Curricula (grades 3-8) http://www.carolinacurriculum.com/GEMS/space_science.asp
In the Footsteps of Galileo
Other NASA curricula

DARK SKIES (a U.S. hosted Cornerstone project)
* Globe at Night program http://www.globe.gov/GaN/
- Earth Hour http://www.earthhour.org/
* Great World Wide Star Count http://www.windows.ucar.edu/citizen_science/starcount/
* Dark Skies activity kit for classroom visits afterschool programs, and other venues (through CPSC REACH program)

CITIZEN SCIENCE
* Globe at Night and Great World Wide Star Count
- Epsilon Aurigae project http://astronomy2009.us/citizen_science/epsilon-aurigae/

NEW MEDIA (blogs, podcasts, social networking ...)
- existing Mars blog http://martianchronicles.wordpress.com
- Astronomer in the Classroom program http://astronomerintheclassroom.org/

SCIENCE CENTERS, OBSERVATORIES, PLANETARIA ("400 Years of the Telescope" documentary, image exhibition, speaker series...)
- Kroch Library exhibit of historical books and artifacts
- public events at Space Sciences, e.g. MSL launch
* Reunion Weekend open house
* Speakers Bureau
* new lobby exhibits
- From Earth to the Universe images exhibit (U.S. hosted Cornerstone project) http://www.fromearthtotheuniverse.org/

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
* outdoor space-themed movies on campus
- Joe Burn's participation in "Light in Winter"
- Cassini exhibition
- From Earth to the Universe images exhibit (U.S. hosted Cornerstone project) http://www.fromearthtotheuniverse.org/

Here's an interesting project: I think we need one of these in the Commons!
"A monumental interactive sculpture based on the anaphoric clock that was recently installed in a city park in central Kansas City, MO USA. It is not a clock as it does not run by itself. Instead, park vistors align the date and time. Once set, it shows the sky's configuration for that instant. Included are 457 illuminated stars in 50 constellations with asterisms and etched figures associated with the constellations. At 10 feet (3 m.) diameter, it is likely the largest device of this type ever made. It is described at: astrolabes.org/anaphoric.htm"

The major goals of IYA 2009 are to:
1. Increase scientific awareness.
2. Promote widespread access to new knowledge and observing experiences.
3. Empower astronomical communities in developing countries.
4. Support and improve formal and informal science education.
5. Provide a modern image of science and scientists.
6. Facilitate new networks and strengthen existing ones.
7. Improve the gender-balanced representation of scientists at all levels and promote greater involvement by underrepresented minorities in scientific and engineering careers.
8. Facilitate the preservation and protection of the world's cultural and natural heritage of dark skies in places such as urban oases, national parks and astronomical sites.