Planning for US IYA2009 Susana Deustua American Astronomical Society Co-chair US IYA Program Committee Susana Deustua American Astronomical Society Co-chair US IYA Program Committee

American Astronomical Society ,individual members, ~1,000 foreign affiliate members. Founded in 1899 Publishes ApJ, ApJ Supp, ApJ Letters, AJ, BAAS Activities –5 Divisions: Solar Physics, Dynamical Astronomy, Planetary Sciences, High Energy Astrophysics, Historical Astronomy –Meetings: two/year, plus Divisional mtgs. –Public Policy –Education Member society of the American Institute of Physics (APS, AAPT, AGU) ,individual members, ~1,000 foreign affiliate members. Founded in 1899 Publishes ApJ, ApJ Supp, ApJ Letters, AJ, BAAS Activities –5 Divisions: Solar Physics, Dynamical Astronomy, Planetary Sciences, High Energy Astrophysics, Historical Astronomy –Meetings: two/year, plus Divisional mtgs. –Public Policy –Education Member society of the American Institute of Physics (APS, AAPT, AGU)

The US Astronomy Community: GROUND Ground-based astronomy primarily funded by the National Science Foundation, other gov’t agencies and private sources National Observatories (NOAO, NRAO, NSO, NAIC) International Facilities (Gemini, SOAR) Private observatories (McDonald, Keck, Las Campanas, HET, CfA) –TSIP Future Facilities –Near Term ALMA –Medium Term LSST –Long Term GSMT/T Ground-based astronomy primarily funded by the National Science Foundation, other gov’t agencies and private sources National Observatories (NOAO, NRAO, NSO, NAIC) International Facilities (Gemini, SOAR) Private observatories (McDonald, Keck, Las Campanas, HET, CfA) –TSIP Future Facilities –Near Term ALMA –Medium Term LSST –Long Term GSMT/T

The US Astronomy Community: SPACE Space-based facilities funded by NASA Great Observatories: HST, Spitzer, Chandra Medium to Large Missions: Navigator, New Horizons, WMAP, SWIFT, HETE, FUSE Small to Medium: RHESSI, sub-orbital payloads Future: –Near Term: SOFIA, Herschel, Planck –Medium Term: JWST –Long Term: JDEM, LISA, SIM Space-based facilities funded by NASA Great Observatories: HST, Spitzer, Chandra Medium to Large Missions: Navigator, New Horizons, WMAP, SWIFT, HETE, FUSE Small to Medium: RHESSI, sub-orbital payloads Future: –Near Term: SOFIA, Herschel, Planck –Medium Term: JWST –Long Term: JDEM, LISA, SIM

The US Astronomy Community: Amateurs Robust amateur-astronomy community ~400,000 backyard astronomers ~750 astronomy clubs Astronomical League AAVSO (American Association of Variable Star Observers) ALPO (Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers) ASP (Astronomical Society of the Pacific) IOTA (International Occultation Timing Association) SAS (Society for Astronomical Sciences) Etc. Robust amateur-astronomy community ~400,000 backyard astronomers ~750 astronomy clubs Astronomical League AAVSO (American Association of Variable Star Observers) ALPO (Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers) ASP (Astronomical Society of the Pacific) IOTA (International Occultation Timing Association) SAS (Society for Astronomical Sciences) Etc.

Vibrant Education and Public Outreach in Astronomy National Observatories (visitor centers, teacher programs, press releases…) NASA Centers (teacher programs, web, press releases, curriculum materials, etc.) Private Observatories (McDonald most active (StarDate); Hawai’i ramping up with Imiloa) Professional Societies: Astronomical Society of the Pacific, AAVSO, AAS, International Dark- Sky Association Astronomical League National Observatories (visitor centers, teacher programs, press releases…) NASA Centers (teacher programs, web, press releases, curriculum materials, etc.) Private Observatories (McDonald most active (StarDate); Hawai’i ramping up with Imiloa) Professional Societies: Astronomical Society of the Pacific, AAVSO, AAS, International Dark- Sky Association Astronomical League

Vibrant Education and Public Outreach in Astronomy Planetariums and Science Centers (Adler, AMNH, Smithsonian, Exploratorium, Boston Museum of Science, Griffith Observatory National Parks (visitor centers, docent programs) Astronomy Clubs Boy Scouts Girl Scouts After-school programs Planetariums and Science Centers (Adler, AMNH, Smithsonian, Exploratorium, Boston Museum of Science, Griffith Observatory National Parks (visitor centers, docent programs) Astronomy Clubs Boy Scouts Girl Scouts After-school programs

Coordinating IYA 2009 in the U.S. Program Committee –Develop themes and activities to support IYA goals –Appreciation of astronomy’s rich scientific and cultural role throughout human history –15 members from leading organizations that engage in astronomy education and public outreach in the United States, plus liaisons to Canada and Mexico –Co-chairs Doug Isbell & Susana Deustua Development Committee –Secure funding and resources to implement IYA activities –10 members from academia, industry, organizations –Chair Peter Stockman Program Committee –Develop themes and activities to support IYA goals –Appreciation of astronomy’s rich scientific and cultural role throughout human history –15 members from leading organizations that engage in astronomy education and public outreach in the United States, plus liaisons to Canada and Mexico –Co-chairs Doug Isbell & Susana Deustua Development Committee –Secure funding and resources to implement IYA activities –10 members from academia, industry, organizations –Chair Peter Stockman

Schedule of US IYA Activities Planning Meetings –Washington, DC, early May, 2007 –AAS Meeting in Honolulu, HI, May 2007 –ASP meeting in Chicago, IL, September 7-8 –AAS Meeting in Austin, TX, January First PR event Proposals to Gov’t agencies Proposals to private foundations, companies Planning Meetings –Washington, DC, early May, 2007 –AAS Meeting in Honolulu, HI, May 2007 –ASP meeting in Chicago, IL, September 7-8 –AAS Meeting in Austin, TX, January First PR event Proposals to Gov’t agencies Proposals to private foundations, companies

US IYA 2009 Goals, Themes, Activities Doug Isbell Co-Chair, US Program Committee Associate Director for Public Affairs & Educational Outreach, National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO) Doug Isbell Co-Chair, US Program Committee Associate Director for Public Affairs & Educational Outreach, National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO)

GOAL for US IYA 2009 “To offer an engaging astronomy experience to every person in the country.”

Six Major US Themes F Looking Through a Telescope F Dark Skies Are a Universal Resource F Astronomy in Arts, Entertainment & Storytelling F Research Experience for Students, Teachers, and Citizen-Scientists F Telescope Building & Optics Challenges F Sharing the Universe Through New Technology F Looking Through a Telescope F Dark Skies Are a Universal Resource F Astronomy in Arts, Entertainment & Storytelling F Research Experience for Students, Teachers, and Citizen-Scientists F Telescope Building & Optics Challenges F Sharing the Universe Through New Technology

Looking Through a Telescope F Star parties F Sidewalk astronomy F Mobile telescope vans F Binocular experiences F Remote telescopes (north + south) F Observing with spacecraft? > 100 million first-time viewers worldwide??? F Star parties F Sidewalk astronomy F Mobile telescope vans F Binocular experiences F Remote telescopes (north + south) F Observing with spacecraft? > 100 million first-time viewers worldwide???

Dark Skies Are a Universal Resource F GLOBE at Night “classic” star counting and digital sky-quality meters F Coordination with Earth-orbiting satellites F Related issues: energy use, health, etc. F Efforts in individual cities F Ex.: Sydney, Australia, “lights out” F GLOBE at Night “classic” star counting and digital sky-quality meters F Coordination with Earth-orbiting satellites F Related issues: energy use, health, etc. F Efforts in individual cities F Ex.: Sydney, Australia, “lights out”

Arts, Entertainment & Storytelling F Documentaries F Hollywood productions (TV, movies) F Marketing opportunities F Native cultures F Public lectures F Galileo impersonators! F Documentaries F Hollywood productions (TV, movies) F Marketing opportunities F Native cultures F Public lectures F Galileo impersonators!

Research Experiences for Students, Teachers, and Citizen-Scientists F Observing at telescopes F Remote observing & image processing F Data mining F Work with members of NASA/ESA science teams (Spitzer under way) F Coordinated ground-space-amateur observing? F Observing at telescopes F Remote observing & image processing F Data mining F Work with members of NASA/ESA science teams (Spitzer under way) F Coordinated ground-space-amateur observing?

Telescope Building & Optics Challenges F “Telescope amnesty” F A new telescope kit? ($5-10 each x 1 million copies?) F Hands-On Optics F Contests & Science Festivals F Internships with big telescope projects? F “Telescope amnesty” F A new telescope kit? ($5-10 each x 1 million copies?) F Hands-On Optics F Contests & Science Festivals F Internships with big telescope projects?

Sharing the Universe Through New Technology F Planetaria F Science Centers F Blogging and Podcasting F YouTube -type portals for self-made videos (contests?) F Videoconferencing F RSS news feed F Real-time Web counter of IYA participation? F Planetaria F Science Centers F Blogging and Podcasting F YouTube -type portals for self-made videos (contests?) F Videoconferencing F RSS news feed F Real-time Web counter of IYA participation?

US IYA 2009 Program ◊Each theme supported by 1-3 working groups of 6-8 people each (professional and amateur) ◊Supported by Web AAS ◊Kick-off event at National Air & Space Museum? ◊Each theme supported by 1-3 working groups of 6-8 people each (professional and amateur) ◊Supported by Web AAS ◊Kick-off event at National Air & Space Museum?

Sky Events and Related Opportunities Rick Fienberg Editor in Chief, Sky & Telescope Member, AAS Program Committee for the International Year of Astronomy

Looking Through a Telescope Astronomy is experiential — anyone can see what Galileo saw. So let’s give everyone a chance to look through a telescope!

Schedule sidewalk astronomy events on weekends closest to first-quarter Moon 2009 Jan 4 (Sun), Feb 2 (Mon), Mar 4 (Wed), Apr 2 (Thu), May 1 (Fri), May 31 (Sun) - “blue Moon” Jun 29 (Mon), Jul 28 (Tue), Aug 27 (Thu), Sep 26 (Sat), Oct 26 (Mon), Nov 24 (Tue), Dec 24 (Thu)

Some Other Sky Events in 2009 Mercury best in evening sky: April 26, near crescent Moon Venus best in evening sky: mid-January, then sinks down Mars opposition: Jan. 29, 14 arcsec, not good in ’09 Saturn opposition: March 8, ring-plane crossing Sept. 4 Perseid meteors: mid-August (ruined by moonlight) Leonid meteors: mid-November (dark sky) Geminid meteors: mid-December (dark sky) Partial lunar eclipse: December 31 (last night of IYA!); visible almost exclusively in the Eastern Hemisphere

Jupiter and the Galilean Satellites Opposition Friday-Saturday, August Coincides with end of IAU GA in Rio de Janiero Jupiter and Neptune barely 3 degrees apart Bonus! Jupiter and Neptune fit together in a low- power eyepiece field 3 times! late May (morning sky) early July (late evening/early morning sky) late December (evening sky)

Longest Total Solar Eclipse of the 21 st Century

“First Looks” and “Telescope Amnesty” Each IAU national node could set up a website to collect people’s comments on their IYA telescopic observations, especially reactions to “first looks” Set national targets (U.S. could aim for 10 million) Fly comments on a space-astronomy mission?! At all IYA events where amateurs set up telescopes, the public could be invited to bring their little-used scopes to get advice on repairs, improvements, and/or replacements.

Dark Skies Are a Universal Resource Build on existing efforts, e.g., International Dark-Sky Association U.S. National Park Service GLOBE at Night draws attention to light pollution without getting into difficult political issues of safety and security raised by “lights out” events. GLOBE at Night 2009: “Great Backyard Star Count” Count naked-eye stars in Orion One week observing window in March 2009 Report data to central clearinghouse

Arts, Entertainment & Storytelling Two IYA 2009 TV productions already in the works! 400 Years of the Telescope: A Journey of Science, Technology, and Thought Produced by Kris Koenig Written by Don Goldsmith and David H. Levy Companion planetarium show in development The Quest to See Infinity: The 400 th Anniversary of the Telescope Produced by Richard Hudson and David Axelrod Senior advisor: science historian Albert van Helden

Research Experiences for Students, Teachers, and Citizen-Scientists Next eclipse begins mid-2009! (First in the Digital Age.)

Telescope Building & Optics Challenges “A Telescope in Every Pot” Project STAR telescope kit: 16x refractor, $5 per scope! (Price could be drastically reduced with volume discount.)

Sharing the Universe Through New Technology

All I Want for IYA 2009 Is…