Notes from Rio

I've recently returned from two busy weeks at the International Astronomical Union (IAU) General Assembly and I'd like to fill you in on some of the things that happened there and give you an idea of some planning taking place. The IAU General Assembly is held only once every three years so it’s the place to be for astronomers from around the world. This time they all gathered in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The last time the IAU held it's General Assembly it got a lot of attention from the public. That was 2006 in Prague in the Czech Republic when Pluto was officially reclassified as a dwarf planet. There was no headline to match that one coming from Rio de Janeiro this year but there was plenty of action and news that will matter to Astronomers Without Borders.

A three-day Special Session about the International Year of Astronomy (IYA2009) had great presentations showing national events around the world, reports from Cornerstone Projects and more. I presented the results of 100 Hours of Astronomy (100HA), the Cornerstone Project that swept the world in early April. Thanks to amateur astronomers around the world we estimate there were at least one million people looking through telescopes during the 24-hour Global Star Party. We may well have introduced more than two million people to the skies that night but it's not possible to say with certainty. We do know that 100HA was a huge success – the biggest outreach event in history – thanks to so many of you who took part. My favorite comment came from western India where an elderly man who looked through a telescope said that he'd experienced three events that the whole world participated in during his long life: Charles Lindbergh making the first non-stop solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean in 1927, Apollo 11 making the first manned landing on the Moon in 1969, and 100 Hours of Astronomy in 2009. That’s heady company to be in. So for all who took part I give you my congratulations for your part in making history.

At another Special Session on education I gave an invited presentation on AWB, with the focus on continuing the legacy of IYA2009. Cooperation between professionals and amateurs has really improved during IYA2009 and there is a clear movement in the world's premier professional astronomy organization to keep it going beyond 2009. AWB is well-known and expected to have a lead role in keeping this cooperation going, both by continuing some of the IYA2009 programs and by providing a platform and infrastructure for new programs that develop from the continuing cross-pollination between communities.

Looking much further ahead, the IAU approved a new plan for its global strategy over the next 10 years. "The Strategic Plan: Astronomy for the Developing World" focuses on strategies for sustainable development of astronomy in countries that are currently underserved, thereby increasing global participation in astronomy. Seen as a successor to, and continuation of, IYA2009 the plan calls on increased collaboration between professional astronomers, amateur astronomers, educators and others. See the press release for more information about the plan and links to relevant web site.

But let's not forget that there is still a little more than three months left in IYA2009. Galilean Nights is a new Cornerstone Project focusing on sidewalk astronomy that hopes to build on the success of 100HA in bringing more people to the eyepieces of telescopes around the world. Mark your calendars for 22-24 October and be sure to make plans. Watch the IYA2009 Galilean Nights page for the announcement of the project's web site, to be launched soon, and other updates. And watch for news of continuing programs under the AWB banner in 2010 and beyond.

One of the very successful smaller programs during 100HA was an introduction of remote observing to the public. Several observatories with telescopes operated over the internet donated time and thousands of people around the world took over the controls while even more looked on live. This technology has been around for many years (I was involved in one of the earlier projects 20 years ago) but it has great potential that I believe has not yet been tapped. A remote observing program may be a feature of continuing IYA2009 projects and AWB will also be making use of it to bring Affiliates together on common projects.

Plans are underway for an AWB remote observing event that will be announced soon. In the meantime, all AWB Affiliates are invited to join in the celebration of the third anniversary of the Virtual Telescope of Bellatrix Observatory. This facility in Italy, provided and operated by Gianluca Masi, is dedicated to education and outreach. Gianluca was instrumental in organizing the remote observing component of 100 Hours of Astronomy known as 100 Hours of Remote Astronomy.  AWB will partner with the Virtual Telescope to use this technology to build relationships across borders and this is a chance to get a preview of things to come. Gianluca says of the event, "We will offer a journey through the Universe, journeying to some of its gems. Clusters, nebulae, galaxies, comets and planets will keep the excitement and the thrill of discovery high!" The event takes place beginning 21.00 UT on August 26. Just go to the Virtual Telescope's Third Anniversary Event page to participate.

I met many friends and colleagues during the two-week conference and made many new ones. The opportunities for networking were tremendous and there are some good opportunities that came from the meetings. AWB will play an increasingly vital role in providing outreach programs by bringing amateur astronomers and others together, continuing some of IYA2009's legacy and providing an umbrella under which many other projects can flourish. More news will follow as the effort grows.

Clear skies,
Mike Simmons
Founder and President

25 August 2009