As you may know, many Astronomy departments, institutions, organisations, and research centres around the world are implementing and adapting many of their programmes to be accessible to everyone staying at home, so there are tons of online astronomy activities to do. Here at the Office for Astronomy Outreach, we are no different and we are working to support, disseminate and recognize the many inspiring efforts being done.
In this newsletter, we continue to bring you online programmes from astronomy organisations being implemented, we want to bring your attention to the Global Astronomy Month celebrations, by Astronomers Without Borders. We also have some announcements in the Communicating Astronomy with the Public (CAP) realm, with the latest issue of the CAPjournal — a special edition focused on astronomy for development — and updates for the CAP Conference 2020.
Remember to stay safe and protect others, wash your hands for 20 seconds and stay at least 2 to 3 metres away from other people if you can.
Wishing you the clearest skies and best of health! Lina Canas & Izumi Hansen, on behalf of the IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach Team
1) IAU Online Astronomy@Home Awards
With most of us staying inside as best we can, the Office for Astronomy Outreach wants to recognise the at-home outreach activities that you are creating. We’ve set up the IAU Online Astronomy@Home Awards to do just that. Applications around the world are welcome for submission by 31 July 2020.
2) Communicating Astronomy with the Public (CAP) Conference 2020 Update
The organisers for CAP Conference 2020 have been carefully monitoring the COVID-19 situation and this has resulted in a few changes. Currently, the conference will take place during the current dates, but a final decision on when and how the conference will take place will be made by July 2020. The deadline for abstracts and travel grants has been moved to 30 April 2020. This situation continues to be fast-changing, so we encourage you to seek the latest CAP Conference 2020 information on the conference website and social media.
The 27th issue of the Communicating Astronomy with the Public journal is out! This issue, made with guest editors from the IAU Office of Astronomy for Development, highlights astronomy outreach work that supports development in countries around the globe. Some of the projects highlighted in this issue include an after school programme for secondary students in Brazil, efforts to increase astrotourism in Kenya, and a programme to increase curiosity and understanding in Cyprus.
4) IAU100 Celebrations: CAPjournal #28 Special Issue
In 2019, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) celebrated its 100th anniversary. The Communication Astronomy with the Public Journal (CAPjournal) plans to record this year of events in a new issue. Submissission from organisers of any IAU100 outreach project are invited to submit an abstract for an article. Articles of relevant projects funded by the IAU100, as well as IAU100 recommended projects, are particularly encouraged.
5) "IAU 1919–2019: 100 Years Under One Sky Celebration Flagship Ceremony" One Year Anniversary
One year ago the IAU officially started celebrating the its 100th anniversary. Many professional and amateur astronomers gathered in Brussels, Belgium for the "IAU 1919-2019: 100 Years Under One Sky Celebration Flagship Ceremony". Excellent and inspiring talks were presented under the theme "Astronomy with and for Society". Following the two-day event, the first-ever IAU event for amateur astronomers was held in Brussels, highlighting the many contributions that amateur astronomers make to the astronomy field.
April is Global Astronomy Month and the organisation Astronomers Without Borders will be holding multiple events online throughout the month. A number of other organisations have registered their events as well, which will be hosted in multiple languages.
7) First Official Names Given to Features on Asteroid Bennu
The IAU has given official names to 12 features of the asteroid Bennu, the subject of NASA’s first mission to bring an asteroid sample back to Earth. “Bennu” was inspired by an ancient Egyptian deity, depicted as a bird and associated with the Sun, creation and rebirth. The features have all been given names related to mythological bird and bird-like creatures.
8) IAU Astronomers — Join the Meet the IAU Astronomers! Programme
This year the Office for Astronomy Outreach is organising the Meet the IAU Astronomers! Programme, connecting astronomers with school children around the world so students and their communities can learn more about astronomy. If you are an IAU astronomer and would be interested in speaking with schoolchildren and their families more information and a sign up is below.
b) The Cosmic Shambles Network Stay at Home Festival
What: Various science variety, comedy, and Q-and-A shows for all ages
When: Almost every day throughout April BST (+1 UTC)
Where: http://cosmicshambles.com/stayathome
10) IAU Astronomy Outreach Newsletter in Other Languages
Interested in translating our newsletter into your language? Please let us know via outreach@iau.org.
Our newsletter is being translated into the following languages:
Translations into Japanese are available, carried out by Akihiko Tomita through the Astronomy Translation Network: http://bit.ly/2xlNyCR. If you want to receive the Japanese newsletter translation, please subscribe through the Japanese Amateur Astronomers Association (http://www.jaaa-astro.jp/jaaa-ml.html) or the Japanese Society for Education and Popularization of Astronomy (http://www.tenkyo.net/).
Translations into (European) Portuguese are available, carried out by Catarina Leote, João Ferreira & Jonas Souza through the Astronomy Translation Network (ATN) Portuguese Language Group (the previous issue can be found here).
Translations into Russian are available by Artem Mokhnaktin, Central Astronomical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Pulkovo. You can find the latest translations of the newsletter here: https://vk.com/iau_public_outreach.
11) Contributions to the IAU Outreach Newsletter—looking forward to hearing from you in 2020
Here at the IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach, we’re always looking for news about astronomical education and outreach events around the world. Please continue to share your stories with us in 2020! If you are organising large-scale events at a regional or international level, offering astronomy education or communication job positions, have any innovative projects or inspiring stories, looking for professional-amateur collaboration in astronomy, or have created any educational resources, let us know by sending an email to outreach@iau.org.
You can send us your suggestions until the 4th (for issue #1) and the 17th (for issue #2) day of each month. We are looking forward to hearing from you.
