Exciting times for the IAU100 celebrations! We just reached 115 countries/regions for the IAU100 MoonLanding50 making this event the most geographically representative campaign to date. So please continue to register your events, we are looking forward to disseminating your activities in your region.
IAU100 NameExoWorlds has now successfully reached 107 countries and regions with nearly 60 undergoing national campaigns being implemented. Please let us know if your country is represented and do not miss the chance of naming an exoworld and it’s host star.
The huge success of the celebrations would not be possible without the excellent management of Bethany Downer (MoonLanding50) and Eduardo Penteado (IAU100 NameExoWorlds) and also to the stars of these massive efforts: our IAU National Outreach Coordinators (NOCs) and IAU100 national nodes. And of course, last but not least, the amazingly enthusiastic groups of organizers and participants joining the celebrations around the world!
In this issue, we want to highlight the IAU100 MoonLanding50 celebrations, encourage you to become a mentor for Einstein Schools and don't forget to participate in the Women and Girls in Astronomy Contest.
Wishing you all clear skies and happy celebrations! Lina Canas, on behalf of the IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach Team
Jorge Rivero, on behalf of the IAU Secretariat
1) Moon Landing 50 Prepares for Global Celebration
The IAU100 Moon Landing 50 Global Project was conceived to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first human landing on the Moon in 1969. To date, over 750 events and diverse activities in more than 115 countries have registered for participation. Four new prize categories have been created to stimulate further engagement and excitement for this global event.
The Einstein Schools Programme, a global project of the International Astronomical Union 100 Years Celebration, is looking for mentors to encourage middle and high school students around the world.
This special prize recognizes and celebrates the efforts of event organizers worldwide who promote women and girls in astronomy through the organization of innovative, creative, accessible, and sustainable public outreach events. To participate in the contest, event organisers are invited to register their IAU100 eligible event(s) and submit an evaluation form by 31 July 2019. One winning event organizer will be invited to the IAUS 358 Symposium "Astronomy for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion" in Tokyo, Japan and receive funding to cover registration, travel, and accommodation costs.
On 2 July, the Moon completely covered the Sun during a total solar eclipse. This eclipse’s totality passed over the South Pacific Ocean followed by part of Argentina and Chile. A variety of events took place in Argentina and Chile to celebrate and observe the total solar eclipse.
5) First Inclusive Astronomy Workshop Held in Thailand
From 25 to 28 June 2019, Thai educators and outreach professionals gathered in NARIT Regional Observatory for the Public, Chachoengsao to attend the first national inclusive astronomy workshop in Thailand.
6) Amanar Inspires Refugee Children Through Astronomy
The IAU100 Special Project “Amanar: under the same sky” is using astronomy as a tool to inspire children from the Sahrawi refugee camps near Tindouf, Algeria, and the Canary Islands, Spain. The initiative uses astronomy as an educational and cultural bridge between children from these two communities to foster a sense of global citizenship and mutual understanding.
7) Celebrating Inclusion in Astronomy Around the World
The IAU100 celebrations dedicated to inclusion and diversity in astronomy continue around the world, with several events for the IAU100 Inspiring Stars Global Project planned during the upcoming months with events in Austria, France, United Kingdom, Thailand and Italy.
The IAU100 Endorsed projects provide extra means to achieve the IAU100 main goals and objectives. This project category is intended to provide large global projects, which satisfy the vision of IAU100, with greater international recognition and an opportunity to connect with other celebrations worldwide.
Here you can find a list of astronomy outreach & education conferences and events around the world. Plan ahead for a very special year for Astronomy, full of interesting events!
b) Astronomy Education Conference: Bridging Research & Practice
Date: 16-18 September 2019.
Location: Garching, Munich, Germany,
More Information: http://iau-dc-c1.org/astroedu-conference/
c) IAUS358: Astronomy for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion — a roadmap to action within the framework of IAU centennial anniversary
Date: 12-15 November 2019
Location: Tokyo, Japan
More information: https://iau-oao.nao.ac.jp/iaus358/
d) Art, Visualisation and the Cosmos in Education
Date 5-6 December 2019
Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
e) Robotic Telescopes, Student Research and Education Conference
Date : 8-11 December 2019
Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
More information: https://rtsre.net/
Have we missed something? Then share your astronomy outreach and education international meetings or events with us via outreach@iau.org.
11) IAU Astronomy Outreach Newsletter in other languages
- Translations into Serbian are available, by Dr Liliana Gracanin from Serbia: https://twitter.com/IAU_srpski ;
- 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 to the Japanese Amateur Astronomers Association here: http://www.jaaa-astro.jp/jaaa-ml.html, or the Japanese Society for Education and Popularization of Astronomy here: http://www.tenkyo.net/;
- Translations into Galician are available, by Martin Pawley, Agrupación Astronómica Coruñesa Ío, in Spain here: http://agrupacionio.com/gl/tag/boletin-iau
- Translations into Spanish are available by Emílio Zuniga, the Association of Amateur Astronomers from León, Nicaragua: http://asafile.blogspot.jp/p/blog-page_12.html;
- Translations into Italian are available by Eleonora Piromalli, AstronomiAmo, from Italy here: https://www.astronomiamo.it/DivulgazioneAstronomica/Newsletter-IAU/last
- 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.
- 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).
If you are interested in translating our newsletter into your language, please let us know via outreach@iau.org.
12) Contributions to the IAU Outreach Newsletter—looking forward to hearing from you in 2019
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 2019! 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.
