In this issue, we want to highlight the Communicating Astronomy with the Public (CAP) Journal special issue on Astronomy for Development (the deadline for submissions is July 20). We want to encourage you to celebrate the diversity of families around the world by participating in the NAOJ Telescope Kit giveaway "One Family, One Telescope". And, last but not least, we want to invite you to listen to the IAU100 moto "100 Years Under One Sky" recited in six endangered languages and welcome you to make a difference and raise awareness to the International Year of Indigenous Languages.
We would like to send a warm farewell to our colleague Yukiko Shibata. Yukiko was an important part of our IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach team for the past five years. Her dedication to the IAU Astronomy Translation Network (ATN) as Project Manager is an inspiration to us all. We want to thank Yukiko for the friendship, support and great contributions to the office throughout the years, and that we wish our best to her new professional endeavours.
Wishing you all clear skies and happy celebrations!
Lina Canas, on behalf of the IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach Team
1) Astronomy for Development: CAP Journal Special Issue
The IAU’s Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD) and Office for Astronomy Outreach (OAO) have teamed up to publish the first edition of the Communicating Astronomy with the Public (CAP) Journal focused on communicating astronomy for development. This special issue will feature articles addressing how outreach, public engagement and the popularisation of astronomy can be used effectively for development. Abstract submission closes on 20 July 2019.
The National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ and the IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach are celebrating the beautiful diversity of families around the world with a telescope giveaway! Share a photo of you and your family, and let us know (max. 280 characters) how will you celebrate astronomy in your neighbourhood or with your extended family if you win this small telescope. The best 30 entries will be selected to win a NAOJ Telescope KIT. Email us at outreach[at]iau.org. Deadline: 30 July 2019.
3) The IAU Catalyst — a Revival of the IAU Bulletin
One definition of a catalyst is something which facilitates or incites activity. This is exactly one of the main objectives of the IAU Catalyst, the revived IAU Bulletin which is now returning after a several-year-long hiatus. In addition to stimulating discussion and activity, the IAU Catalyst is intended as a tool for the direct communication of the various IAU structures with members and with other international scientific organisations and institutions.
4) IAU100 Inspiring Stars — Celebrating Inclusion in Astronomy Around the World
The IAU100 celebrations continue around the world, with several events for Inspiring Stars project planned during the month of June in Austria, France, United Kingdom, Thailand and Italy. The Inspiring Stars events are dedicated to inclusion and diversity in astronomy.
5) Celebrate Diversity with Astronomy: the Year of Indigenous Languages
Help raise awareness of the alarming rate languages around the world are disappearing by highlighting the importance of astronomical knowledge of indigenous peoples and inspire other regions to take actions for the appreciation of our cultural diversity. Hear the "100 Years Under One Sky" recited by native speakers in Garífuna, Miskito and Tol, indigenous languages from Honduras in Central America. And also Northern Thai and Yong language, a Thai indigenous language with a different phonetic from Northern Thai language. The latest addition is Minderico, a language from a small region in Portugal. We want to thank Catarina Leote, co-coordinator of the Portuguese Language Group of the IAU Astronomy Translation Network for sharing it with us.
Recently, networks known as satellite constellations, have been deployed and are planned in ever greater numbers in mainly low-Earth orbits for a variety of purposes, including providing communication services to underserved or remote areas. Until this year, the number of such satellites was below 200, but that number is now increasing rapidly. The International Astronomical Union (IAU), in general, embraces the principle of a dark and radio-quiet sky as not only essential to advancing our understanding of the Universe of which we are a part, but also as a resource for all humanity and for the protection of nocturnal wildlife and urges appropriate agencies to devise a regulatory framework to mitigate or eliminate the detrimental impacts on scientific exploration as soon as practical.
Global Himalayan Expedition is an organization that electrifies remote villages in the Himalayan mountains in India. In 2018, the team received funding through the IAU Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD) call for proposals to leverage the amazing night skies of the region and use astronomy as a vehicle for spurring development. Recently the project launched their first Astro Homestay, a novel concept wherein tourists stay in the homes of locals and experience the night sky from trained community members, thus adding economic value to the region.
You can watch the teaser video here (a documentary will be released soon) and find more information about the project here.
For more information, you can also contact Sonal Asgotraa (sonal[at]ghe.co.in) and Paras Loomba (paras[at]ghe.co.in).
8) SYSTEMSounds -- Listen to 50 Years of Lunar Exploration
System Sounds is a science-art outreach project that translates the rhythm and harmony of the cosmos by creating videos, interactive applications, and public exhibits that inspire, educate, and make astronomy more accessible to the visually impaired. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first Moon landing, System Sounds was invited by NASA to convey the history of the Apollo mission’s influence through sound. The project aligns with the mission of the International Astronomical Union by using astronomy to promote societal benefits and has been funded twice by the IAU under the Office of Astronomy for Development annual call for proposals.
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!
a) 3rd Workshop on Dissemination and Education of Astronomy (WDEA III)
Dates: 2 July (Solar Eclipse), 4- 5 July 2019
Location: San Juan, Argentina
More information at http://sion.frm.utn.edu.ar/WDEAIII/
c) Astronomy Education Conference: Bridging Research & Practice
Date: 16-18 September 2019.
Location: Garching, Munich, Germany,
More Information: http://iau-dc-c1.org/astroedu-conference/
d) 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/
e) Art, Visualisation and the Cosmos in Education
Date 5-6 December 2019
Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
f) 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.
10) 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.
11) 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.
