INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION
UNION ASTRONOMIQUE INTERNATIONALE
IAU0908: UNDER EMBARGO UNTIL 30 MARCH 2009 16:00 CEST
www.iau.org/public_press/news/release/iau0908/
100 Hours of Astronomy: worldwide astronomy marathon set to break records
30 March 2009, Paris: The International Year of Astronomy 2009 Cornerstone project, 100 Hours
of Astronomy, is on track to be the largest single science public outreach event
ever. More than 1500 events have been registered in over 130 countries and this
number is increasing every day. 100 Hours of Astronomy is a truly global
project; an event on a scale never attempted before, with more than one million
people expected to participate!
100 Hours of Astronomy (100HA) is a Cornerstone project of the International Year of
Astronomy 2009 (IYA2009). It is a worldwide celebration composed of a broad
range of activities aimed at involving the public. 100HA will take place over
four days and nights, from 2–5 April 2009. During this period, people from
around the globe will share the experience and wonders of observing the sky. For
many, it will be their first glimpse of the marvels of the heavens through a
telescope. For others, it is the perfect opportunity to impart their knowledge
and excitement, helping unveil the cosmos to fresh and eager eyes.
A live 24-hour video webcast called “Around the World in 80 Telescopes” will take place from 3
April 09:00 UT to 4 April 09:00 UT, following day and night around the globe to
some of the most advanced observatories on and off the planet. Viewers can find
out what is happening at a research observatory in their home country or on the
other side of the planet, send in questions and messages, see new images from
the cosmos, and discover what astronomers are doing right now! Participating
telescopes include the Hawaii-based telescopes Gemini North and Keck, the
Anglo-Australian Telescope, telescopes in the Canary Islands, the Southern
African Large Telescope, Chilean observatories such as ESO’s Very Large
Telescope, space-based telescopes such as the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope,
ESA XMM-Newton and Integral, and many more. In fact, “Around the World in 80
Telescopes” will take viewers to every continent, including Antarctica! The
webcast itself will be hosted at the European Southern Observatory’s
headquarters in Munich, Germany with live streaming by Ustream.tv. Anyone with a
web browser supporting Flash will be able to follow the show via the 100HA
website and be a part of the project. TV stations, web portals, and science
centres can also use the high quality feed, and the video player can be embedded
on websites. Representatives of the media who wish to report from the
“front-line” and interview the team should get in touch.
The featured programme “Global Star Party”, commencing at sunset on 4 April, is set to be an
all-encompassing event of extraordinary scope. Amateur astronomers, clubs and
other groups will be setting up telescopes in public places to allow as many
people as possible to look at the heavens. Traditional star party locations such
as busy streets and shopping centres will be covered, as well as less
conventional places including rest homes and military bases. Enthusiasts have
been working hard to ensure that an incredible number of people will be able to
look through a telescope during the Global Star Party.
These two headline initiatives are being supported by many more activities like the “Sun Day”
(April 5) and “100 Hour of Astronomy Junior” and several “100 Hours of Astronomy
Opening Events” around the world.
All this is, of course, in addition to the thousands of local events being planned by science
facilities and astronomy enthusiasts around the world, including telescope
observing sessions, exhibitions, special shows and more.
100 Hours of Astronomy is a venture of breathtaking scope that will involve people from all walks of life around the globe. Get involved, and be part of a record-breaking
worldwide event!
Links
·100HA website:
http://www.100hoursofastronomy.org/
·
100HA programme:
http://www.100hoursofastronomy.org/program
100HA Ustream.tv channel:
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/100-hours-of-astronomy
IYA2009 website:
http://www.astronomy2009.org/
Notes
The vision of the IYA2009 is to help the citizens of the world rediscover their place in the
Universe through the day and night-time skies the impact of astronomy and basic sciences on our daily lives, and understand better how scientific knowledge can
contribute to a more equitable and peaceful society.
The aim of the IYA2009 is to stimulate worldwide interest, especially among young people, in
astronomy and science under the central theme‚”The Universe, Yours to Discover”. IYA2009 events and activities will promote a greater appreciation of the
inspirational aspects of astronomy that embody an invaluable shared resource for all countries.
The IYA2009 activities are taking place at the global and regional levels, and especially at
the national and local levels. National Nodes in each state have been formed to prepare activities for 2009. These Nodes establish collaborations between
professional and amateur astronomers, science centres, educators and science communicators in preparing activities for 2009. The International Year of
Astronomy was proclaimed by the United Nations on 20 December 2007.
The IAU is the international astronomical organisation that brings together almost 10 000
distinguished astronomers from all nations of the world. Its mission is to promote and safeguard the science of astronomy in all its aspects through
international cooperation. The IAU also serves as the internationally recognised authority for assigning designations to celestial bodies and the surface
features on them. Founded in 1919, the IAU is the world's largest professional body for astronomers.
Ustream.TV is the live interactive video broadcast platform that enables anyone with a camera and
an internet connection to quickly and easily broadcast to a global audience of unlimited size. In less than two minutes, anyone can become a broadcaster by
creating their own channel on Ustream or by broadcasting through their own site, empowering them to engage with their audience and further build their brand.
For more information
Mike Simmons
100 Hours of Astronomy Co-Chair
Astronomers without Borders
Tel.: +1 818 597 0223
Cell : +1 818 486 7633
E-mail: msimm@ucla.edu
Douglas Pierce-Price
100 Hours of Astronomy Co-Chair
ESO ePOD, Garching, Germany
Tel.: +49 89 320 06 759
E-mail: dpiercep@eso.org
Further contacts
Pedro Russo
IAU IYA2009 Coordinator
ESO ePOD, Garching, Germany
Tel: +49 89 320 06 195
Cellular: +49 176 6110 0211
Fax: +49 89 320 23 62
E-mail: prusso@eso.org
Yolanda Berenguer
UNESCO Focal Point for the International Year of Astronomy 2009
UNESCO HQ, Paris
Tel: +33 1 45684171
E-mail: y.berenguer@unesco.org
Dr. Karel A. van der Hucht
General Secretary, International Astronomical Union
IAU Secretariat, Paris, France
Tel: +33 1 43 25 83 58
E-mail: K.A.van.der.Hucht@sron.nl
Lars Lindberg Christensen
IAU Press Officer
ESO ePOD, Garching, Germany
Tel: +49 89 3200 6761
Cellular: +49 173 3872 621
E-mail: lars@eso.org
