News Updates
News
The last Galilean Night for Uruguay… when the wind blows…
We closed the Galilean Nights amid electoral chaos and weather alert. But despite the insane weather patterns we forced the elements to take a truce and our school students armed with their XO’s, laptops that the state provides each of the students in Uruguay, without distinction, we had our Night for Galileo.
Galilean Nights in GinginWe had a blast over the Galilean Nights in Gingin, Western Australia. At Gingin Observatory (www.ginginobservatory.com) we hosted a great event called ‘Local Food, Local Stars’ on Saturday, 24 October. After a delicious meal of local lamb, quail, homemade pasta and fresh local produce, we all headed up to the observatory to do some stargazing.
After the clouds, JupiterWhen somebody who’s English is chosen to coordinate an astronomy outreach project such as Galilean Nights is it perhaps inevitable that rain and cloud will “stop play” for at least part of the event? I say, “don’t be absurd”, and I’m not just saying that because I don’t want any cancelled events to be all my fault…
International Olympiad on Astronomy and AstrophysicsAt the moment, I’m proudly in Iran to help out the academic committee of the 3rd International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) which is being held in Tehran, Iran right now.
It’s raining... so what?If you have a weather report for the next couple of days like the one we have in Portugal, you might be despairing right about now. “How can do my Galilean Nights activity, if all I have prepared is an observing night? So the weather is bad... So what? There is still a lot of activities you might do. Just be inventive!
Galilean Nights in IranOne of the main interests of Iranian amateur astronomy groups is holding the popular observing and star parties. On Astronomy day and during space week many great observing events were held all across the country in public places such as parks, science centres, cultural houses and everywhere that was possible!
Bringing astronomy back to the youth of TanzaniaAstronomy in Tanzania dates back a long way. Our grandparents used to look at the sky and be able to tell time, season, birthing of cow and many more aspects of life. This knowledge was passed from generation to generation orally, but in recent times due to the formation of towns and increase in the western way of life this knowledge has undergone a recession period.
Sharing Uruguay’s passion for astronomyGalilean Nights in Uruguay has a special connotation. Here astronomy is part of the curriculum in the education for 15-16 year old children with contents that travels from the universe as we can see it, to the universe as we can understand it. From astrometry to astrophysics. For a long time, since 1893, astronomy is taught to all tenth graders. I want to believe that this generates in our people a better relationship with the universe.
Skygazers prepare to watch Orionid meteor showerThis Wednesday 21 October, amateur astronomers will be watching an annual spectacle: the Orionid meteor shower. Orionids are leftovers from Halley’s Comet, and this event occurs every year when Earth passes through the comet’s debris trail.
It's all go for IYA2009 in CalgaryOne of the nationwide programs for IYA in Canada has been the Galileo Legacy Series of lectures sponsored by the Canadian Astronomical Society, who have made a roster of superb speakers available to groups across the country. In September, we hosted an excellent talk about Black Holes, presented by Dr. Laura Ferrarese of the Herzberg Institute. As with other lectures we’re staged this year, Dr. Ferrarese’s talk was filled to near capacity. Coming up we have...
Galileo moments from IYA2009 CalgaryHow’s your IYA been? Here in Calgary we’ve been riding high on one great event after another. As I think everyone has found, the public acceptance of the Year of Astronomy and the appetite for things astronomical has been outstanding. We’ll easily double our projected attendance by the time we’re done at the end of the year.
15/10/2009 - Galilean Nights are almost here!
I’ve often told people during this year that we are being asked to do, in a special year, what we already do on a regular basis. That’s not entirely true, because this year we are doing it on a global scale, reaching audiences which don’t usually seek astronomy. From music concerts, to puppet shows, in spas or prisons, we aim to show the awe of astronomy to young and old, rich and poor alike....
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17/09/2009 - Global Astronomy Event Invites the World to Discover Our Universe!
Wind the clock back 400 years and follow in the footsteps of a giant ― experience now just what first amazed Galileo in 1609! The latest Cornerstone project of the International Year of Astronomy 2009 (IYA2009), Galilean Nights, will see thousands of public observing events around the world replicating Galileo’s observations and bringing what he saw 400 years ago to the...
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26/08/2009 - Website launch for Galilean Nights!
Preparations are well underway for the new IYA2009 Cornerstone project, Galilean Nights. Taking place between 22-24 October 2009, this initiative will see thousands of people around the world engaging in practical astronomy activities, bringing the wonders of the Universe to the public. Register your event now, at the official , at the official website www.galileannights.org.
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