Global Astronomy Month (GAM), organized each April by Astronomers Without Borders, is the world’s largest global celebration of astronomy. GAM 2015 brings new ideas and new opportunities, again bringing enthusiasts together worldwide to celebrate Astronomers Without Borders’ motto “One People, One Sky.” See more at: http://astronomerswithoutborders.org/
MOUNTAIN VIEW – On July 14, NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft will fly past Pluto, offering the first close-up look at that small, distant world and its largest moon, Charon. These denizens of the outer solar system will be transformed from poorly seen, hazy bodies to tangible worlds with distinct features.
Now, the public can help decide what labels will go on the images and maps coming from the flyby. The SETI Institute has announced the launch of its “Our Pluto” campaign, which is soliciting input on how to name features on the surfaces of Pluto and Charon.
“Pluto belongs to everyone,” says New Horizon science team member Mark Showalter, a senior research scientist at the SETI Institute. “So we want everyone to be involved in making the map of this distant world.”
The science team will not have time to come up with names during the quick flyby, so they must assemble a library of names in advance. Consequently, they are inviting the public to visit the web site http://ourpluto.seti.org where they can vote for the names they think should be used to identify the most prominent features on both Pluto and Charon. They can also suggest additional names. These must be associated with a set of broad themes related to mythology and the literature and history of exploration.
After the campaign ends on April 7, the New Horizons team will sort through the names and submit their recommendations to the International Astronomical Union (IAU). The IAU will decide how the names are used.
Currently, the best images of Pluto from the Hubble Space Telescope provide just a hint of what might be in store for the New Horizons cameras. It shows a world marked by sharp contrasts, with some areas as dark as asphalt and others as bright as snow.
“The Pluto flyby this summer will be a major milestone in planetary exploration,” said Alan Stern, Principal Investigator of the New Horizons project. “We are really looking forward to hearing the public’s ideas for feature naming on Pluto and Charon.”
Showalter led the teams that used the Hubble Space Telescope to discover the two smallest known moons of Pluto, Kerberos and Styx. Those satellites were also named via a public campaign.
“The difference is that last time we only needed two names, whereas now we could need more than a hundred,” Showalter notes. “We are eager to gather recommendations from people all over the world.” The web site also includes an extremely simple ballot to allow young children to participate.
More information about the New Horizons mission:
~~If you are working on an Astronomical League Observing Program, Aaron Clevenson (aaron@clevenson.org) has provided two tools that might be of use to you. What’s Up Doc? and What’s Up Tonight, Doc?
The What’s Up Doc is a two page PDF file that is updated each month with information on basic level Observing Programs. It lists those objects that are visible in the evening sky for the next month, by program. These Observing Programs are included: Meteors, Constellations (Northern), Binocular Messier, Deep Sky Binocular, Messier, Caldwell, Double Star, Solar System, and Lunar. To access this document, click the What’s Up Doc? link on this web page: www.humbleisd.net/observatory (about halfway down the webpage).
Also on that webpage is a link to the What’s Up Tonight, Doc? This is a large spreadsheet in Excel (16.5 Mb). It includes all current Astronomical League observing programs. Due to the Macros that are integral to the spreadsheet, this will not run on Apple Macintosh computers. This spreadsheet provide buttons to sort by individual Observing Programs as well as the entire list. The user enters their latitude and longitude and the date and time when they plan to observer (Universal Time). The spreadsheet then provides target objects listed from highest to lowest altitude. There is a column to check off an object once you have observed it (left side) and also columns to include your observing details (right side).
Online conference registration is now available at the ALCon 2015 website at https://alcon2015.astroleague.org/registration/conference-registration/
Tour registration is available at https://alcon2015.astroleague.org/registration/tour-registration/
Wouldn’t it be great to be young again and to be entering amateur astronomy! Now is the time to start considering the Astronomical League’s youth awards for 2015: the National Young Astronomer Award (NYAA), the three Jack Horkheimer Youth Service Awards, and the Horkheimer/O’Meara Journalism Award.
If you know a young person who has been involved in an astronomy-related research project — either of his or her own doing or though an educational institution — please consider nominating that person for the National Young Astronomer Award. He or she must be between 14 and 19 years of age.
If you know a League member, 18 years or younger, who has brought amateur astronomy to your club or to the public through outreach, presentations, writing, or observing, please consider nominating that person for one of the four Horkheimer Service Awards. One of these awards is more specialized than the others — the Horheimer/O’Meara Journalism Award. It requires a person who is 8 to 14 years of age to compose a 300 to 500 word essay on any science related topic.
Since the deadlines for the National Young Astronomer Award is January 31, 2015 and for the Horkheimer Awards is March 31, 2015, now is the time for potential candidates to work on their projects and to participate in various astronomy activities.
If you are a club officer, nominate them. If you don’t, no one else will! Complete information about each award can be found at www.astroleague.org/al/awards/awards.html
Your astronomy club offers a special value to your community that no other organization provides. After all, how many other groups experience firsthand the wonder, beauty and mystery of this incredible universe – and happily share their views with the public! Why not produce your own video highlighting your club and amateur astronomy? You just might connect with your community. The Minnesota Astronomical Society did just that, creating an impressive work. They enlisted the talents of a young member who needed a community service project to fulfill the requirements of the Eagle Scout program. After viewing this impressive video, wouldn’t you want to become a member of the MAS? http://youtu.be/2PRk_HXGapk
The Astronomy in Chile Educator Ambassadors Program is now accepting applications! Here’s your chance for that once in a lifetime experience!
The Astronomy in Chile Educator Ambassadors Program (ACEAP https://public.nrao.edu/look-deeper/aceap/ ) is a collaboration between AUI http://www.aui.edu/ , the National Radio Astronomy Observatory https://www.nrao.edu/ , National Optical Astronomy Observatory http://www.noao.edu/, and Gemini Observatory http://www.gemini.edu/, and is supported by the National Science Foundation http://www.nsf.gov (NSF 1439408). The Program brings amateur astronomers, planetarium personnel, and K-16 formal and informal astronomy educators to US astronomy facilities in Chile. While at these facilities, ACEAP Ambassadors will receive extensive training about the instruments, the science, data products, and communicating science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) concepts. When they return home, the Ambassadors will share their experiences and observatory resources with schools and community groups across the US.
The program is open to amateur astronomers, K through college formal and informal educators who teach astronomy as part of their curriculum or program, and planetarium educators, who are U.S. Citizens.
Check it out at – https://public.nrao.edu/look-deeper/aceap
Our universe is simply awe-inspiring with its vastness, beauty, and mystery that lie before us every time we gaze skyward. Observing is personal and its influence upon us can be profound. It is an activity that is tough to beat.
Support your Astronomical League! The League encourages the active pursuit of astronomy through its various member–directed programs. Your dues and contributions help fund its national recognition awards, the national convention (ALCon), the Reflector, the AL Book Service, and, of course, the many popular observing clubs.
If you enjoy the night sky and want others to discover its wonders, why not give a gift to the Astronomical League today? Mail your tax–deductible donation to the Astronomical League, 9201 Ward Parkway Suite 100, Kansas City, MO 64114.
The Astronomical League is a member supported and member driven 501c(3) nonprofit organization. Because of people like you, the League can offer the programs and benefits that enhance your experience under the stars.
Why not give back to the avocation that has given so much to you?
