What if you have only a few minutes to learn about the impact of dark skies on our lives?

Ten minute audio podcasts on dark skies awareness are available at 365DaysofAstronomy.org. They’re a fun way of learning about serious light pollution issues that affect energy use, our health and wildlife.

2012:
International Dark Sky Week
Dark Skies in Harmony
Global Astronomy Month and the Quest for the Dark (k)Night
GLOBE at Night Kickoff: Seeing the Light
Dark Skies Crusader Challenges Cities during February’s GLOBE at Night Campaign
Dark Skies Crusader, This is Your Light! The 3rd 2012 GLOBE at Night Campaign

To celebrate Global Astronomy Month, the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and NASA invite you to share your own views of the universe in this exciting astrophotography contest. The images that YOU take using online robotic telescopes could be featured on the Observing With NASA home page!

Live at 20:00 UT April 29, 2011 with composer Giovanni Renzo

The new edition of the “Cosmic Concert,” an online musical performance for GAM 2012, is based on the music composed by the Italian pianist and composer Giovanni Renzo. Renzo has worked for a long time with the relationship between music and astronomy (such as star maps changing into scores or compositions based on the beat of the pulsar); and for the last three years he has been invited by Astronomers Without Borders to perform his works live during Global Astronomy Month. This online event is now one of the most successful dates of the general program.

29 April at 23.00 UT

If you have been waiting for your turn to leave for an unforgettable cruise across space and time, Global Astronomy Month (GAM2012) is bringing to you the right chance!

Fasten your seat belt and fly to the stars, just connecting with your computer to this web page! Meet other friends online and share your thoughts with them. The Universe will look as never seen before, are you ready?

To join this free event, you will just need to access the Virtual Telescope webpage at the date and time shown above.

27 April at 19.00 UT

During Global Astronomy Month you can reach the Moon from home! Join our online remote lunar observing session and have fun with plenty of friends from all around the planet. Find your own crater, mount or sea while flying over our ancient satellite, with our live narration. We promise you an unforgettable event.

To join this free event, you will just need to access the Virtual Telescope webpage at the date and time shown above.

24 April 2012, at 20:00 UT  New date, rescheduled due to weather

For GAM2012, Virtual Telescope we will run a very special event, traveling across space and time, leaving the Earth for the Moon, galaxies and the most distant objects in the Universe.

To join this free event, you will just need to access the Virtual Telescope webpage at the date and time shown above.

23 April 2012, at 21:00 UT   New date, rescheduled due to weather

Perhaps, Saturn is the most elegant object in the sky. Looking at its amazing rings truly is a life-time experience and Global Astronomy Month (GAM2012, April 2012) is bringing such a great beauty to you! With just your computer and your internet connection, you will fly to Saturn, discovering its fantastic rings. Meet other friends online and share your thoughts with them. Don't miss this journey of beauty and elegance.

To join this free event, you will just need to access the Virtual Telescope webpage at the date and time shown above.

Following the outstanding success of live online observing events conducted by Virtual Telescope in Italy, Global Astronomy Month 2012 (GAM2012) will again have special online observing programs throughout the month.
Exciting activities using advanced, remotely-accessible observatories will include online guided cosmic shows, free personal remote observing sessions, and special discounts for observing time for those who want to do more. Discover the benefits of remote astronomy and enjoy the sky from the comfort of your own home.

The GAM 2012 Astropoetry Contest is open to all during GAM 2012.
Poems can be submitted now through April 30 using the entry form below.

The contest is intended for both children and adults, worldwide.  There are three categories:
1.    Children grades 1-6
2.    Children & Young Adults grades 7-12
3.    Open (Adults)

26 April 2012, at 18:00 UT   New date, rescheduled due to weather

Would you like to explore the many treasures of the famous Messier Catalogue from home? Would you like to see as many of them as possible, in a single night? This is what is called a Messier Marathon!

Following the huge popularity of the 2010 and 2011, an online Messier Marathon will again open GAM using our robotic telescopes, providing real time images and live comments. All this while chatting and sharing your passion and excitement with friends from all around the world.

To join this free event, you will just need to access the Virtual Telescope webpage at the date and time shown above.

April 1 to 7, 2012

The Moon—Earth’s traveling companion in space—is an integral part of life on Earth. Still, few people notice it or recognize its importance to us.  Through out Global Astronomy Month, the Moon will be celebrated via MoonDays . A week-long special series of programs, from April 1 through 7, will be dedicated to the Moon to help people rediscover our closest companion in space.

Featured Lunar Week Member Blogs:
Timaru, New Zealand

Lunar Week takes place while the Moon is well-placed for observation in the evening sky.  As the Moon's phases and positions change during its orbit around the Earth, there will be Moon-themed star parties to observe the Moon by telescope and naked eye, educational programs, online observing events, competitions and a celebration of the Moon in different cultures.  We will be distributing Moon-related information in various forms, including answers to such common questions as: Why is it important to explore the Moon?  How does the Moon affect our daily life?  Why is the Moon visible during the day or night?  Why do its phases change?  All Moon missions and educational programs are invited to participate.

30 April at 20.00 UT -- GAM 2012 Closing Event

As part of the Remote Observing program for Global Astronomy Month (GAM2012), the Virtual Telescope is proud to again offer unique event offering you the chance to discover an astronomical object: "Write Your Name in The Sky!".

To close GAM 2012, our cutting-edge technology telescopes will start surfing the spring skies, hunting for new, previously unknown asteroids. The images will be made available online, in real time, to make it possible for you to search them and make the discovery! The first to report to us a potential new object will be credited as a co-discoverer of it, when we send the data to the Minor Planet Center! The typical rules for these kind of discoveries will apply.