Greenwich celebrates International Year of Astronomy
Lots to do down at the Royal Observatory
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The Royal Observatory has announced a packed programme of events in celebration of the International Year of Astronomy 2009 (slogan: “The Universe – yours to discover”) - 400 years after Galileo turned his attention to the heavens and made the case for a heliocentric solar system.
The Observatory plans to get ten million people to take their first look through a 'scope in the course of the year, and as part of this will offer "a range of opportunities for visitors to gaze at the sky through its historic telescopes". In March and October, it will run two week-long "Moonwatches", described as the chance to "get a close-up view of the Moon’s mountains and craters through the Observatory’s 28-inch telescope, the largest refracting telescope in the UK".
From 6-15 March, Greenwich celebrates a week of Mars-themed events and activities, "centred around the Invaders of Mars planetarium show". The week also features an evening talk by Dr Tom Pike, mission scientist on NASA’s Phoenix Lander.
June sees Saturn showcased from the 22nd to the 28th with a series of evening talks by the international Cassini probe team. On 27 June, there's an family-based "Saturn Day" which the Observatory promises will be "action packed".
The snappers among you, meanwhile, may be interested in the first UK’s first "Astronomy Photographer of the Year" competition, run in association with Beeb's Sky At Night magazine. You'll be able to submit your entries online from later this month, with the winning photos on display at the observatory from 10 September.
More details on the above and more will be available as events unfold down at the Royal Observatory website. ®
COMMENTS
Re: @Sarah Bee
I'm all in favour of less leaky streetlights, but I'm a bit staggered by the suggestion that wanting enough light to see other people by at night makes me 'paranoid'. I copped a minor assault last year from some little twerp, and I was glad to be able to see his face as I shouted in it. Would have been a hell of a lot scarier in the dark.
And yes, I live in London, and to be honest I've found the quieter places I've lived scarier.
Anyway, this is entirely off-topic and futile, isn't it.
@Sarah Bee
It doesn't take a lot to engineer street lights that don't leak a lot of their light into the sky, the councils/government just don't give a crap.
You must live in a city I take it? try living in a country town/village, you'll find yourself a lot less paranoid at night :)
Re: Street lights
Yeah, but seriously, I'd really rather be able see who's walking behind me before they're close enough to breathe on my neck.
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