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Planning for US IYA2009
Planning for US IYA2009
Susana DeustuaAmerican Astronomical Society
Co-chair US IYA Program Committee
Susana DeustuaAmerican Astronomical Society
Co-chair US IYA Program Committee
American Astronomical Society
American Astronomical Society
,individual members, ~1,000 foreign affiliate members.
• Founded in 1899• Publishes ApJ, ApJ Supp, ApJ Letters, AJ, BAAS• Activities
– 5 Divisions: Solar Physics, Dynamical Astronomy, Planetary Sciences, High Energy Astrophysics, Historical Astronomy
– Meetings: two/year, plus Divisional mtgs. – Public Policy– Education
• Member society of the American Institute of Physics (APS, AAPT, AGU)
,individual members, ~1,000 foreign affiliate members.
• Founded in 1899• Publishes ApJ, ApJ Supp, ApJ Letters, AJ, BAAS• Activities
– 5 Divisions: Solar Physics, Dynamical Astronomy, Planetary Sciences, High Energy Astrophysics, Historical Astronomy
– Meetings: two/year, plus Divisional mtgs. – Public Policy– Education
• Member society of the American Institute of Physics (APS, AAPT, AGU)
The US Astronomy Community: GROUND
The US Astronomy Community: GROUND
• Ground-based astronomy primarily funded by the National Science Foundation, other gov’t agencies and private sources
• National Observatories (NOAO, NRAO, NSO, NAIC)• International Facilities (Gemini, SOAR)• Private observatories (McDonald, Keck, Las
Campanas, HET, CfA)– TSIP
• Future Facilities– Near Term ALMA– Medium Term LSST– Long Term GSMT/T
• Ground-based astronomy primarily funded by the National Science Foundation, other gov’t agencies and private sources
• National Observatories (NOAO, NRAO, NSO, NAIC)• International Facilities (Gemini, SOAR)• Private observatories (McDonald, Keck, Las
Campanas, HET, CfA)– TSIP
• Future Facilities– Near Term ALMA– Medium Term LSST– Long Term GSMT/T
The US Astronomy Community: SPACEThe US Astronomy
Community: SPACE• Space-based facilities funded by NASA• Great Observatories: HST, Spitzer, Chandra• Medium to Large Missions: Navigator, New
Horizons, WMAP, SWIFT, HETE, FUSE• Small to Medium: RHESSI, sub-orbital payloads• Future:
– Near Term: SOFIA, Herschel, Planck– Medium Term: JWST– Long Term: JDEM, LISA, SIM
• Space-based facilities funded by NASA• Great Observatories: HST, Spitzer, Chandra• Medium to Large Missions: Navigator, New
Horizons, WMAP, SWIFT, HETE, FUSE• Small to Medium: RHESSI, sub-orbital payloads• Future:
– Near Term: SOFIA, Herschel, Planck– Medium Term: JWST– Long Term: JDEM, LISA, SIM
The US Astronomy Community: Amateurs
The US Astronomy Community: Amateurs
• Robust amateur-astronomy community ~400,000 backyard astronomers~750 astronomy clubs
• Astronomical League• AAVSO (American Association of Variable Star Observers)
• ALPO (Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers)
• ASP (Astronomical Society of the Pacific)
• IOTA (International Occultation Timing Association)
• SAS (Society for Astronomical Sciences)
• Etc.
• Robust amateur-astronomy community ~400,000 backyard astronomers~750 astronomy clubs
• Astronomical League• AAVSO (American Association of Variable Star Observers)
• ALPO (Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers)
• ASP (Astronomical Society of the Pacific)
• IOTA (International Occultation Timing Association)
• SAS (Society for Astronomical Sciences)
• Etc.
Vibrant Education and Public Outreach in Astronomy
Vibrant Education and Public Outreach in Astronomy
• National Observatories (visitor centers, teacher programs, press releases…)
• NASA Centers (teacher programs, web, press releases, curriculum materials, etc.)
• Private Observatories (McDonald most active (StarDate); Hawai’i ramping up with Imiloa)
• Professional Societies: Astronomical Society of the Pacific, AAVSO, AAS, International Dark-Sky Association
• Astronomical League
• National Observatories (visitor centers, teacher programs, press releases…)
• NASA Centers (teacher programs, web, press releases, curriculum materials, etc.)
• Private Observatories (McDonald most active (StarDate); Hawai’i ramping up with Imiloa)
• Professional Societies: Astronomical Society of the Pacific, AAVSO, AAS, International Dark-Sky Association
• Astronomical League
Vibrant Education and Public Outreach in Astronomy
Vibrant Education and Public Outreach in Astronomy
• Planetariums and Science Centers (Adler, AMNH, Smithsonian, Exploratorium, Boston Museum of Science, Griffith Observatory
• National Parks (visitor centers, docent programs)
• Astronomy Clubs• Boy Scouts• Girl Scouts• After-school programs
• Planetariums and Science Centers (Adler, AMNH, Smithsonian, Exploratorium, Boston Museum of Science, Griffith Observatory
• National Parks (visitor centers, docent programs)
• Astronomy Clubs• Boy Scouts• Girl Scouts• After-school programs
Coordinating IYA 2009 in the U.S.
Coordinating IYA 2009 in the U.S.
• Program Committee– Develop themes and activities to support IYA goals– Appreciation of astronomy’s rich scientific and
cultural role throughout human history– 15 members from leading organizations that engage
in astronomy education and public outreach in the United States, plus liaisons to Canada and Mexico
– Co-chairs Doug Isbell & Susana Deustua
• Development Committee– Secure funding and resources to implement IYA
activities– 10 members from academia, industry, organizations– Chair Peter Stockman
• Program Committee– Develop themes and activities to support IYA goals– Appreciation of astronomy’s rich scientific and
cultural role throughout human history– 15 members from leading organizations that engage
in astronomy education and public outreach in the United States, plus liaisons to Canada and Mexico
– Co-chairs Doug Isbell & Susana Deustua
• Development Committee– Secure funding and resources to implement IYA
activities– 10 members from academia, industry, organizations– Chair Peter Stockman
Schedule of US IYA ActivitiesSchedule of US IYA Activities
• Planning Meetings– Washington, DC, early May, 2007– AAS Meeting in Honolulu, HI, May 2007– ASP meeting in Chicago, IL, September 7-8– AAS Meeting in Austin, TX, January 2008 - First PR
event
• Proposals to Gov’t agencies• Proposals to private foundations, companies
• Planning Meetings– Washington, DC, early May, 2007– AAS Meeting in Honolulu, HI, May 2007– ASP meeting in Chicago, IL, September 7-8– AAS Meeting in Austin, TX, January 2008 - First PR
event
• Proposals to Gov’t agencies• Proposals to private foundations, companies
US IYA 2009Goals , Themes, ActivitiesUS IYA 2009Goals , Themes, Activities
Doug Isbell• Co-Chair, US Program Committee• Associate Director for Public Affairs & Educational Outreach, National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO)
Doug Isbell• Co-Chair, US Program Committee• Associate Director for Public Affairs & Educational Outreach, National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO)
GOAL for US IYA 2009
“To offer an engaging astronomy experience to every person in the country.”
Six Major US ThemesSix Major US Themes Looking Through a Telescope Dark Skies Are a Universal Resource Astronomy in Arts, Entertainment &
Storytelling Research Experience for Students,
Teachers, and Citizen-Scientists Telescope Building & Optics Challenges Sharing the Universe Through New
Technology
Looking Through a Telescope Dark Skies Are a Universal Resource Astronomy in Arts, Entertainment &
Storytelling Research Experience for Students,
Teachers, and Citizen-Scientists Telescope Building & Optics Challenges Sharing the Universe Through New
Technology
Looking Through a Telescope
Looking Through a Telescope
Star parties Sidewalk astronomy Mobile telescope vans Binocular experiences Remote telescopes (north + south) Observing with spacecraft?
> 100 million first-time viewers worldwide???
Star parties Sidewalk astronomy Mobile telescope vans Binocular experiences Remote telescopes (north + south) Observing with spacecraft?
> 100 million first-time viewers worldwide???
Dark Skies Are aUniversal Resource
Dark Skies Are aUniversal Resource
GLOBE at Night 2009 - “classic” star counting and digital sky-quality meters
Coordination with Earth-orbiting satellites
Related issues: energy use, health, etc.
Efforts in individual cities Ex.: Sydney, Australia, “lights out”
GLOBE at Night 2009 - “classic” star counting and digital sky-quality meters
Coordination with Earth-orbiting satellites
Related issues: energy use, health, etc.
Efforts in individual cities Ex.: Sydney, Australia, “lights out”
Arts, Entertainment& Storytelling
Arts, Entertainment& Storytelling
DocumentariesHollywood productions (TV,
movies)Marketing opportunitiesNative culturesPublic lecturesGalileo impersonators!
DocumentariesHollywood productions (TV,
movies)Marketing opportunitiesNative culturesPublic lecturesGalileo impersonators!
Research Experiences for Students, Teachers, and
Citizen-Scientists
Research Experiences for Students, Teachers, and
Citizen-ScientistsObserving at telescopesRemote observing & image
processingData mining Work with members of NASA/ESA
science teams (Spitzer under way)Coordinated ground-space-amateur
observing?
Observing at telescopesRemote observing & image
processingData mining Work with members of NASA/ESA
science teams (Spitzer under way)Coordinated ground-space-amateur
observing?
Telescope Building &Optics Challenges
Telescope Building &Optics Challenges
“Telescope amnesty”A new telescope kit? ($5-10 each x
1 million copies?)Hands-On OpticsContests & Science Festivals Internships with big telescope
projects?
“Telescope amnesty”A new telescope kit? ($5-10 each x
1 million copies?)Hands-On OpticsContests & Science Festivals Internships with big telescope
projects?
Sharing the UniverseThrough New Technology
Sharing the UniverseThrough New Technology
Planetaria Science Centers Blogging and Podcasting YouTube -type portals for self-made
videos (contests?) Videoconferencing RSS news feed Real-time Web counter of IYA
participation?
Planetaria Science Centers Blogging and Podcasting YouTube -type portals for self-made
videos (contests?) Videoconferencing RSS news feed Real-time Web counter of IYA
participation?
US IYA 2009 ProgramUS IYA 2009 Program◊ Each theme supported by 1-3 working
groups of 6-8 people each (professional and amateur)
◊ Supported by Web portal @ AAS◊ Kick-off event at National Air & Space
Museum?
◊ Each theme supported by 1-3 working groups of 6-8 people each (professional and amateur)
◊ Supported by Web portal @ AAS◊ Kick-off event at National Air & Space
Museum?
2 0 0 9Sky Events and
Related Opportunities
Rick FienbergEditor in Chief, Sky & Telescope
Member, AAS Program Committeefor the International Year of Astronomy
Looking Through a TelescopeLooking Through a Telescope
Astronomy is experiential —anyone can see what Galileo saw.So let’s give everyone a chance
to look through a telescope!
Schedule sidewalk astronomy events onweekends closest to first-quarter Moon
2009Jan 4 (Sun), Feb 2 (Mon), Mar 4 (Wed), Apr 2 (Thu),
May 1 (Fri), May 31 (Sun) - “blue Moon”Jun 29 (Mon), Jul 28 (Tue), Aug 27 (Thu),
Sep 26 (Sat), Oct 26 (Mon), Nov 24 (Tue), Dec 24 (Thu)
Some Other Sky Events in 2009
• Mercury best in evening sky: April 26, near crescent Moon• Venus best in evening sky: mid-January, then sinks down• Mars opposition: Jan. 29, 2010 @ 14 arcsec, not good in ’09• Saturn opposition: March 8, ring-plane crossing Sept. 4
• Perseid meteors: mid-August (ruined by moonlight)• Leonid meteors: mid-November (dark sky)• Geminid meteors: mid-December (dark sky)
• Partial lunar eclipse: December 31 (last night of IYA!); visible almost exclusively in the Eastern Hemisphere
Jupiter and the Galilean Satellites
• Opposition Friday-Saturday, August 14-15• Coincides with end of IAU GA in Rio de Janiero• Jupiter and Neptune barely 3 degrees apart
Bonus! Jupiter and Neptune fit together in a low-power eyepiece field 3 times!
• late May (morning sky)• early July (late evening/early morning sky)• late December (evening sky)
Longest Total Solar Eclipse of the 21st Century
“First Looks” and “Telescope Amnesty”
Each IAU national node could set up a website to collect people’s comments on their IYA telescopic observations, especially reactions to “first looks”
• Set national targets (U.S. could aim for 10 million)• Fly comments on a space-astronomy mission?!
At all IYA events where amateurs set up telescopes, the public could be invited to bring their little-used scopes to get advice on repairs, improvements, and/or replacements.
Dark Skies Are aUniversal Resource
Dark Skies Are aUniversal Resource
Build on existing efforts, e.g.,• International Dark-Sky Association• U.S. National Park Service
GLOBE at Night draws attention to light pollution without getting into difficult political issues of safety and security raised by “lights out” events.
GLOBE at Night 2009: “Great Backyard Star Count”• Count naked-eye stars in Orion• One week observing window in March 2009• Report data to central clearinghouse
Arts, Entertainment & Storytelling
Arts, Entertainment & Storytelling
Two IYA 2009 TV productions already in the works!
400 Years of the Telescope:A Journey of Science, Technology, and Thought• Produced by Kris Koenig• Written by Don Goldsmith and David H. Levy• Companion planetarium show in development
The Quest to See Infinity:The 400th Anniversary of the Telescope• Produced by Richard Hudson and David Axelrod• Senior advisor: science historian Albert van Helden
Research Experiences for Students, Teachers, and Citizen-Scientists
Research Experiences for Students, Teachers, and Citizen-Scientists
Next eclipse begins mid-2009!(First in the Digital Age.)
Telescope Building &Optics Challenges
Telescope Building &Optics Challenges“A Telescope in Every Pot”
Project STAR telescope kit: 16x refractor, $5 per scope!(Price could be drastically reduced with volume discount.)
Sharing the UniverseThrough New Technology
Sharing the UniverseThrough New Technology
All I Want for IYA 2009 Is…All I Want for IYA 2009 Is…
