AWB Updates

Selected from submissions by photographers in about 45 countries, the winners of 2013 Earth and Sky Photo Contest display the beauties of night sky and its battle with light pollution.

The winners of the 4th International Earth and Sky Photo Contest on Dark Skies Importance are announced. Organized by international program The World at Night the contest is a collaboration with outreach and education group of the National Optical Astronomy Observatory and Global Astronomy Month, the Astronomers Without Borders annual world-wide program in April. The contest was founded by TWAN and Dark Skies Awareness project in 2008 as a regional program. It was expanded to an international effort in 2009 during the International Year of Astronomy, and it is growing each year. According to the contest criteria the submitted images are taken since the beginning of 2012 and are all created in the “TWAN style”—showing both the Earth and the sky—by combining elements of the night sky set in the backdrop of the Earth horizon, often with a notable scenery or landmark. Known as “landscape astrophotography” this is similar to general "Nightscape Photography" but with more attention to the sky, astronomical perspectives, and celestial phenomena. The contest special attention to preserving night sky as part of our natural heritage is to support global efforts in controlling light pollution (International Dark Sky Association).

Enjoy the winning photography at: http://twanight.org/contest

Pages from GAM 2013 Blog:

Our Place in the Universe by Mike Simmons, USA

"We go about our daily routines without paying much attention to other things. At night we’re watching whatever is in the places that are lit. Few look up to admire the night sky and ponder our place in the Universe, especially in cities where the sight is less than spectacular. We stay focused on what we’re doing in our own personal universe – a tiny part of a small planet in one of billions of galaxies." Continue reading...

Blasting Off Into GAM by Jessica Santascoy, USA

"When I left San Francisco for New York City, I knew I wanted to stay in astronomy communication. I wanted to work with people who were bold and unafraid to take strategic risks, while being inclusive and far-thinking. I'd fallen in love with amateur astronomy, and I am one of the few women of color working in astro communication. I feel strongly that more people of color need to participate in astronomy outreach and develop programs, if we want to attract minorities and underserved groups in the sciences, and in astronomy in particular." Continue reading...

AstroPoetry Blog:

U are the Dazzling Sun i revolve around by Bill Schohl, USA
Partial Lunar Eclipse by Andrei Dorian Gheorghe and Valentin Grigore, Romania
Eta Aquarid Meteor by Andrei Dorian Gheorghe and Valentin Grigore, Romania

Enjoy more astropoetry at the AWB AstroPoetry Blog. Email your poem or any content for the blog to: astropoetry@astronomerswithoutborders.org

AstroArts Blog:

My Messages To Mars by Jon Lomberg

"The final mini-disk is made of very hard and chemically inert silica glass instead of plastic. The label on the disk tells future humans on Mars the specific technology required to play the disk. Finally on Nov. 16, 1996 the Mars 96 spacecraft was launched from Kazahkstan….. and fell into the Atlantic Ocean minutes later. The mission ended almost as soon as it began. When that happens to a spacecraft, everyone involved sees years of work destroyed in an instant. There is no Plan B. Painful barely describes it. Oh well, I thought, so much for getting my art to Mars." Continue reading...

How the First Ever Image of Mars Was Hand-Drawn by Adrian Fartade

"In late 1964, two missions were launched by NASA with destination Mars! They were Mariner 3 and Mariner 4. Both of them were sent to flyby the Red Planet and take the first pictures and scientific observations, transmitting to Earth precious information about interplanetary space and Mars. At that point in history no one had ever seen how Mars looked like. There was a lot of speculation and with earth telescopes it was possible to see that Mars had an atmosphere and changes in color and many so dark patterns forming seasonally. So there was a hope in many that maybe, just maybe, we could see signs of vegetation on the surface, and life! So when these to missions were sent, there was an incredible historical feel to it. Everyone was very excited to see the first glimpses of Mars!" Continue reading...