NOAO < NOAO and IYA

NOAO and the International Year of Astronomy 2009

The National Optical Astronomy Observatory is proud to be a US National Node in the International Year of Astronomy, 2009. We are supporting these efferts in a number of ways, including having major roles in the following IYA Cornerstone Projects.


Galileoscope

The Galileoscope is a high-quality, low-cost telescope kit developed for the International Year of Astronomy 2009 by a team of leading astronomers, optical engineers, and science educators, including NOAO’s Steve Pompea. No matter where you live, with this easy-to-assemble refractor you can see the celestial wonders that Galileo first glimpsed 400 years ago and that still delight stargazers today, including lunar craters, the phases of Venus, the moons of Jupiter, and Saturn’s rings.

To learn more, visit:

Dark Skies Awareness

Dark Skies Awareness is one of 11 Global Cornerstone Projects during the 2009 International Year of Astronomy (IYA2009). Chaired by NOAO’s Connie Walker, its goal is to raise the level of public knowledge about adverse impacts of excess artificial lighting on local environments and help more people appreciate the ongoing loss of a dark night sky for much of the world’s population. Toward this end, a range of programs and resource materials has been developed. Everyone is invited to use any of these as local solutions to a global problem.

To learn more, visit:

Around the World in 80 Telescopes webcast

On April 3-4, 2009 the 100 Hours of Astronomy IYA Cornerstone project sponsored a 24 hour webcast called Around the World in 80 Telescopes. Both Kitt Peak National Observatory in Tucson, AZ and Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in La Serena, Chile participated.

CTIO

As part of the webcast from CTIO, we relased an image of the open star cluster NGC 6520 with Barnard 86. This image was taken on June 24th, 2007 at the NSF’s Blanco 4-m telescope in CTIO.

Take some time to view the recorded event from CTIO.

KPNO

As part of the webcast from KPNO, we relased an image of the Medusa nebula. This image was taken on Oct 24th, 2008 at the Mayall telescope with the mosaic camera

Take some time to view the recorded event from KPNO.


IYA 2009 in the popular press