International sidewalk astronomy night

May 19^th 2007

The latest amateur astronomy event to be held internationally is the “1^st international sidewalk astronomy night”. Besides the international astronomy day it is considered to be a means for astronomy to be publicized between the people living in cities around the world. Just the name it’s self is enough to explain the purpose of this night; that the amateur astronomers bring out their telescopes or simple astronomical devices from their clubs or communities to streets or places that there are lots of people around.

The Astronomical Society of Iran – Amateur Committee (ASIAC) has accepted to cooperate in this international call and is programming to invite the amateur astronomy groups around Iran to participate in this international astronomical event. One special property of this night is that people won’t be expecting such a program on that night in the populated places and so it’s not just the people who know about astronomy or are interested who get exposed to this program. It is everyone who participates, including lots of people that don’t even know they are interested in Astronomy. The truth is that most people aren’t at the observatories; most people are out having dinner, going to the movies, shopping, etc.

The international community has considered a special website for this program in the address: http://www.sidewalkastronomers.us which has given full information about the motives and the purposes of this night internationally. The website will also be listing all the groups that go out that night. There will also be flyers on the website that can be copied and added with the local club’s information to show that they are holding this program as members of a larger community.

In the recent years ASIAC has been the most active organization in Iran promoting amateur astronomy in the public by acting as a connection bridge between the different active associations around the country. In the last years it has achieved much towards its goal and it still has a long way to go. The latest news of its activities on a nationwide scale can be read in the news part of this website (http://www.asiac.ir). The major recent outreach achievement of the ASIAC was the last two very successful programs of the astronomy day on a national scale, reports can be read in the news section of the website, which had audiences of tens of thousands people around the country.

The ASIAC is a branch of the national Astronomical Society of Iran (ASI), which is its self a member of the scientific societies authorized by sciences and technology ministry of Iran. With the aim of promoting amateur astronomy between the public, creating interest in those who have begun amateur astronomy and organizing projects and contests for those who have gained professional skills in amateur astronomy.

For the night of May 19^th, we encourage the amateur astronomy associations, groups and individuals around the country and in neighboring countries to gather their optical instruments and educational material and take the most simple of the above mentioned instruments between the people in places where the public is not expecting such activities at all; shopping markets, cinemas entrance and parks, mosques and religious places, sidewalks of their cities main roads and etc. Since there are lots of people in such places who know nothing about astronomy and would never have thought that sky gazing can be so easy, fascinating and fun…

Source :
Author  : Mohammad Akhlaghi