In this Newsletter, we feature an opportunity to enter to win a telescope in association with the NameExoWorlds 2022 competition. Form a team, do an outreach event (or events!), propose a name for one of 20 exoworlds (exoplanet together with its host star), and enter to win a BRESSER NANO AR-70/700 AZ telescope! The deadline to propose a name is 11 December. You can find more details linked within the Feature below.
We are once again requesting that each of you participate in our survey to improve the IAU Astronomy Outreach Newsletter. If you haven't already, and you have a spare 5 minutes, please consider filling out the form below.
There are several new exciting opportunities for people of all ages to get involved in astronomy. We also highlight a special project that amplifies the voices of hundreds of astronomers who identify as women, called AstroVoices. We hope you find something that inspires you.
Finally, we thank all of our IAU National Outreach Coordinators for their efforts to build bridges within their communities, to ensure astronomy is for everyone.
May your skies be dark and quiet,
Kelly Blumenthal, on behalf of the IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach Team
Creativity: Has the event brought about an imaginative or unusual approach to enthusing the public about astronomy?
Community Engagement: Has the event garnered participation from communities that aren’t focused on astronomy or made efforts to connect to non-astronomy enthusiasts?
For more information on contest eligibility, terms and conditions, please read this document.
Please notice that the selection of the best outreach events does not necessarily overlap with the selection of names for exoplanets and their host stars.
1) Participate in our IAU Astronomy Outreach Newsletter Survey
For years, the IAU Astronomy Outreach Newsletter has brought you news from the IAU, the astronomy outreach community, our National Outreach Coordinators, and opportunities and resources from all over the world. Looking forward, we want to shape the Newsletter into something that better serves our communities. By taking this survey, you will be helping us improve the resources we provide. Thank you, in advance, for your contribution.
2) First Announcement: Second AstroEdu Conference 2023
The Astronomy Education Conference: Bridging Research & Practice, to be held at the University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada, May 10 - 12, 2023. This meeting follows the first AstroEdu conference held in 2019, which brought together researchers and educators in astronomy education. The aim of the AstroEdu Conferences is to increase the quality, quantity, community, and impact of astronomy education research and practice.
To get updates as details become available, please visit their website.
3) IAU Applauds Important Federal Communications Commission Step Towards Regulation of Space
Last month the IAU sent a letter on behalf of the global astronomy community, urging the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to seriously consider the risks that satellite constellations pose to the science of astronomy, the appearance of the pristine night sky, and the environment.
At a Satellite Industry Association event on 3 November 2022, the FCC chairwoman, Jessica Rosenworcel, referenced the rapidly rising numbers of satellites being proposed for launch. She announced her intention to address this by reorganising the FCC’s International Bureau into a new Space Bureau and an Office of International Affairs. This would give the proposed Space Bureau more resources to deal with this pressing issue.
As part of Space4OurPlanet, the IAU is participating in an exhibition at the UN Headquarters in New York City during October and November 2022. In this exhibition, the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that the IAU contributes to will be highlighted, including the work of the IAU CPS.
For more information, see the IAU Announcement here.
4) EXPLORE Lunar Challenges for the Public and Schools
Lunar enthusiasts of all ages and from all over the world are challenged to help identify features on the Moon that might pose a hazard to rovers or astronauts exploring the surface in an exciting new series of EXPLORE Data Challenges:
The Classroom Lunar Data Challenge has interactive and engaging activities about Machine Learning and lunar exploration.
Tasks include labelling surface features and plotting a lunar traverse.
Activities, targeted at 10-14 year-olds, can be completed online or in the classroom.
The EXPLORE Public Lunar Challenge is open to everyone that wants to have a go - submit your lunar traverse before 1 December 2022 and enter into a draw to win prizes, including a piece of lunar meteorite!
5) AstroVoices Released
AstroVoices is a project that aims to celebrate female astronomers and students, giving them a “voice” to share their passion for astronomy, thus hopefully encouraging young girls to get closer to the fascinating field of astronomy.
You can view and listen to the AstroVoices project on YouTube.
For more information, see the IAU Announcement here.
6) Updates from the IAU National Outreach Coordinators (NOCs)
a) NOC Jordan
Our NOC Jordan, Awni Mohammad Khasawneh, collaborated with the Arab Union for Space Sciences and Astronomy to deliver a talk entitled “The importance of space in promoting and supporting sustainability” during World Space Week.
b) NOC Sudan
Our NOC Sudan, Mohammed Yahya, led an event to observe the partial solar eclipse using an innovative telescope and projection design. They were also able to see several sunspots on the disk of the sun!
c) NOC United Arab Emirates
Our NOC UAE, Hamid.M.K.AL-Naimiy, participated in an event for the partial solar eclipse last month at the UAE/Sharjah Academy for Astronomy and Space Sciences. More than 600 people attended the event in-person, and 45,000 people tuned in to watch the live broadcast. Watch more here: https://youtu.be/hGp6JoG9Ljc
7) Opportunities
a) PCST Venice Symposium
The PCST Symposium will occur in September 2023 in Venice, Italy, under the theme “Science communication education and training. Challenges and strategies for research and academic institutions”. Register today at their website.
8) Cool Resources
a) 50 Years of Astronomy in Sutherland
The latest SAAO external e-newsletter commemorates 50 years since the establishment of the Sutherland site.
b) Astronomy Outreach & Education Resources from OAD
Check out these resources from the IAU Office of Astronomy for Development. Guides range from starting your own astronomy club to inclusive astronomy.
c) The Public Engagement Principles [Content in English and German]
Presented at Berlin Science Week, The Public Engagement Principles aim to help those who engage the public with science, including a unified definition of “public engagement”. Find out more at their website.
9) IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach Newsletter in Non-English Languages
Our newsletter is being translated into the following languages:
Arabic
Translations are thanks to the members of the Bahrain Stargazers Astronomy Club.
Chinese (Simplified)
Translations are thanks to Dr Chen Cao, Shandong Astronomical Society (SDAS) of China.
Portuguese (European)
Translations are thanks to Catarina Leote and João Ferreira through the Astronomy Translation Network Portuguese Language Group.
Spanish
Translations are thanks to Andrea Ahumada of the Observatorio Astronómico, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, and Ileana Andruchow of the Instituto Astrofísica de La Plata, Universidad Nacional de La Plata. For translations of previous Newsletters in Spanish, thanks to Emílio Zuniga of the Association of Amateur Astronomers in León, Nicaragua, click here.
If you are interested in translating the IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach Newsletter into your language, please email public@oao.iau.org.
10) Contribute to the IAU Astronomy Outreach Newsletter
We are always looking for material about astronomy outreach, communication and public engagement from around the world to include in our next IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach Newsletter. If you have an astronomical event, job, opportunity, educational resource, or anything else that would be of interest to the astronomy outreach community, send us an email at public@oao.iau.org with more information.
Please send us your suggestions through the 4th for issue #1 and the 17th for issue #2 of each month. We look forward to hearing from you!
